Hepatitis C Virus Screening and Treatment

Author

Dani Loftus, Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleFollow
Emily Machens, Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleFollow
Crista Jamous, Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-2019

Document Type

DNP Project

Project Team Faculty Member

Dr. Valerie Griffin

Project Team Faculty Member

Dr. Frank Lyerla

Keywords

Hepatitis C, Hep C, HCV, screening, testing, treatment, intervention, birth cohort, risk factor, US or United States, Midwest, Missouri, St. Louis, risk assessment, cost effective, cost analysis, baby boomer, health policy, morbidity, mortality, CDC guidelines, AASLD

Abstract

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is classified as a contagious liver disease that can be either acute or chronic, and the illness ranges in severity from mild to lifelong. It is estimated that 2.7 million people in the United States (US) have HCV, but only half are diagnosed. The CDC recommends testing by birth-cohort, focusing on adults born between 1945 and 1965. Three main objectives for this project included implementation of a clinical decision support system (CDSS) for providers, increasing HCV screening by providing education to the support staff in primary care clinics of a local hospital which would increase the consults, and sharing resource information with patients diagnosed with HCV about the clinic and available treatments. While a CDSS was not established, in-services by clinic educators regarding HCV and screening were conducted. Education about HCV and the hospital-based HCV clinic were shared with local health departments and the Red Cross. Regarding the hospital-based HCV clinic utilization, there was a 48% increase in patients referred following implementation

Recommended Citation

Loftus, Dani; Machens, Emily; and Jamous, Crista, "Hepatitis C Virus Screening and Treatment" (2019). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 69.
https://spark.siue.edu/dnpprojects/69

Download Full Text Above