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Results from a Geographically Focused, Community-Based HCV Screening, Linkage-to-Care and Patient Navigation Program
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Results from a Geographically Focused, Community-Based HCV Screening, Linkage-to-Care and Patient Navigation Program

Stacey B. Trooskin, Joanna Poceta, Caitlin M. Towey, Annajane Yolken, Jennifer S. Rose, Najia L. Luqman, Ta-Wanda L. Preston, Philip A. Chan, Curt Beckwith, Sophie C. Feller, …
Journal of general internal medicine : JGIM, v 30(7), pp 950-957
01 Jul 2015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-015-3209-6
PMID: 25680353
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-015-3209-6View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Maybe Open Access (Publisher Bronze),  Open

Abstract

General & Internal Medicine Health Care Sciences & Services Life Sciences & Biomedicine Medicine, General & Internal Science & Technology
Many of the five million Americans chronically infected with hepatitis C (HCV) are unaware of their infection and are not in care. We implemented and evaluated HCV screening and linkage-to-care interventions in a community setting. We developed a comprehensive, community-based HCV screening and linkage-to-care program in a medically underserved neighborhood with high rates of HCV infection in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We provided patient navigation services to enroll uninsured patients in insurance programs, facilitate referrals from primary care physicians and link patients to an HCV infectious disease specialist with intention to treat and cure. Philadelphia residents were recruited through street outreach. We measured anti-HCV seroprevalence and diagnosis, linkage and retention in care outcomes for chronically infected patients. We screened 1,301 participants for HCV; anti-HCV seroprevalence was 3.9 % and 2.8 % of all patients were chronically infected. Half of chronically infected patients were newly diagnosed; the remaining patients were aware of infection but not in care. We provided confirmatory RNA testing and results, assisted patients with attaining insurance and linked most chronically infected patients to a primary care provider. The biggest barrier to retaining patients in care was obtaining referrals for subspecialty providers; however, we obtained referrals for 64 % of chronically infected participants and have retained most in subspecialty HCV care. Several have commenced treatment. Non-clinical screening programs with patient navigator services are an effective means to diagnose, link, retain and re-engage patients in HCV care. Eliminating referral requirements for subspecialty care might further enhance retention in care for patients chronically infected with HCV.

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75 citations in Web of Science
80 citations in Scopus

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Health Care Sciences & Services
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