TY - JOUR
T1 - Slicing through silos
T2 - Development and evaluation of a hospital-based telehealth hepatitis C virus treatment program
AU - Babiarz, J.
AU - Ryu, H.
AU - Williams, C.
AU - Ham, Y.
AU - Rivera Sarti, J.
AU - Levander, X. A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2024/5
Y1 - 2024/5
N2 - Background: There exist many barriers to hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment for those with substance use disorder (SUD) or who lack access to routine medical care. A hospital-based telehealth program was developed to provide treatment opportunities for hospitalized patients living with HCV. Methods: This single site prospective cohort study conducted from July 2022 to March 2023 aimed to measure linkage to care with an HCV clinician and initiation of HCV treatment in hospitalized patients. Patients were assessed in-person by a social worker then seen via telehealth by a clinician who prescribed either glecaprevir/pibrentasvir or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir. Treatment was initiated with pharmacist assistance. The team conducted in-person and/or telephonic outreach during and after hospitalization. Cure was confirmed by sustained virologic response at 12 weeks (SVR12) post-treatment. Results: A total of 25 patients were enrolled and completed telehealth visits. All patients had a history of SUD and 18 (72 %) were unstably housed. Nineteen patients (76 %) initiated treatment, and 14 (56 %) successfully completed treatment. Twelve patients (48 %) completed post-treatment labs, including two who prematurely discontinued treatment. Eleven patients (44 %) achieved confirmed cure with SVR12. Conclusion:: A hospital-based, multidisciplinary telehealth program can be an innovative care model to successfully treat HCV in a difficult-to-treat patient populations.
AB - Background: There exist many barriers to hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment for those with substance use disorder (SUD) or who lack access to routine medical care. A hospital-based telehealth program was developed to provide treatment opportunities for hospitalized patients living with HCV. Methods: This single site prospective cohort study conducted from July 2022 to March 2023 aimed to measure linkage to care with an HCV clinician and initiation of HCV treatment in hospitalized patients. Patients were assessed in-person by a social worker then seen via telehealth by a clinician who prescribed either glecaprevir/pibrentasvir or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir. Treatment was initiated with pharmacist assistance. The team conducted in-person and/or telephonic outreach during and after hospitalization. Cure was confirmed by sustained virologic response at 12 weeks (SVR12) post-treatment. Results: A total of 25 patients were enrolled and completed telehealth visits. All patients had a history of SUD and 18 (72 %) were unstably housed. Nineteen patients (76 %) initiated treatment, and 14 (56 %) successfully completed treatment. Twelve patients (48 %) completed post-treatment labs, including two who prematurely discontinued treatment. Eleven patients (44 %) achieved confirmed cure with SVR12. Conclusion:: A hospital-based, multidisciplinary telehealth program can be an innovative care model to successfully treat HCV in a difficult-to-treat patient populations.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104396
DO - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104396
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85189775045
SN - 0955-3959
VL - 127
JO - International Journal of Drug Policy
JF - International Journal of Drug Policy
M1 - 104396
ER -