James Gemelas1, Rachel Locker1, Stephen Rudd2, Carol Prevost1, Brigg Reilley3, Jessica Leston4. 1. Warm Springs Health and Wellness Center (WSHWC), Warm Springs, OR, USA. 2. Indian Health Service, Portland Area Office, Portland, OR, USA. 3. Indian Health Service, Albuquerque, NM, USA brigg.reilley@ihs.gov. 4. Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, Portland, OR, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In August 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released recommendations to screen persons born from 1945 to 1965 for hepatitis C virus (HCV). In September 2012, Warm Springs Health and Wellness Center (WSHWC) initiated a quality improvement (QI) project to conduct HCV screening among all patients in this birth cohort. METHODS: Screening rates were tracked using a nationally standardized HCV screening measure in the Indian Health Service. At the end of the project period, WSHWC staff took a brief survey to review the impact of the HCV QI Project. RESULTS: Screening for HCV among eligible patients at WSHWC increased from 5% (47/938) in September 2012 to 76% (593/785) in September 2014. Survey data indicated that clinicians felt increased screening for HCV had a positive impact on patient communication and care. CONCLUSIONS: Primary care clinics can successfully increase HCV screening in a relatively short time period. Age based screening recommendation may provide opportunities to increase communication with others at risk for HCV. As more patients are screened, it will be important to ensure appropriate linkage to care for HCV patients.
BACKGROUND: In August 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released recommendations to screen persons born from 1945 to 1965 for hepatitis C virus (HCV). In September 2012, Warm Springs Health and Wellness Center (WSHWC) initiated a quality improvement (QI) project to conduct HCV screening among all patients in this birth cohort. METHODS: Screening rates were tracked using a nationally standardized HCV screening measure in the Indian Health Service. At the end of the project period, WSHWC staff took a brief survey to review the impact of the HCV QI Project. RESULTS: Screening for HCV among eligible patients at WSHWC increased from 5% (47/938) in September 2012 to 76% (593/785) in September 2014. Survey data indicated that clinicians felt increased screening for HCV had a positive impact on patient communication and care. CONCLUSIONS: Primary care clinics can successfully increase HCV screening in a relatively short time period. Age based screening recommendation may provide opportunities to increase communication with others at risk for HCV. As more patients are screened, it will be important to ensure appropriate linkage to care for HCVpatients.
Authors: Bryce D Smith; Rebecca L Morgan; Geoff A Beckett; Yngve Falck-Ytter; Deborah Holtzman; Chong-Gee Teo; Amy Jewett; Brittney Baack; David B Rein; Nita Patel; Miriam Alter; Anthony Yartel; John W Ward Journal: MMWR Recomm Rep Date: 2012-08-17
Authors: Lauren E Cipriano; Shan Liu; Kaspar S Shahzada; Mark Holodniy; Jeremy D Goldhaber-Fiebert Journal: Med Decis Making Date: 2018-08-22 Impact factor: 2.583