Best Practices
- Regular distribution and review among staff involved in HCV treatment of current treatment guidelines.
- Implement interdisciplinary care team meetings that include case discussions that foster discussion and questions.
- Provide onsite educational sessions, including tailored HCV training to staff roles (accessible training).
- Identify one or more clinical champions to serve as mentors and to provide consultation. An infectious disease (ID) physician may serve as an HCV resource and a mentor to help train other providers to treat HCV.
- Provide small group and 1-on-1 didactics for providers who wish to start treating HCV. Consider using these as opportunities to review cases and provide orientation to treatment guidelines.
- Consider using apps such as Hep iChart (Apple, Google) as well as clinical calculators.
- Implement and document procedures/workflows and ensure that all members of the care team receive orientation to the procedures and that they are centrally accessible to all.
- Get administrative support and provider buy-in across the clinic, recognizing the need to treat HCV in the medical home and the concordance with the health center’s mission.
Resources
- Education and Training for Primary Care Providers
The Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, Massachusetts Department of Public Health in collaboration with the New England AIDS Education and Training Center (NEAETC) offers training and education for primary care providers. Clinics interested in learning more about training opportunities may contact BIDLS at BIDLS.OHCP@mass.gov - Treatment Guidelines (Source: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, and Infectious Disease Society of America)
HCV Guidance: Recommendations for Testing, Managing, and Treating Hepatitis C is a publication of American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, and Infectious Disease Society of America. The guidelines address all aspects of identification and treatment of HCV infection and are updated regularly. A complementary tool for providers, A Simplified HCV Treatment Algorithm for Treatment Naïve Adults without Cirrhosis is available for download. - Hepatitis C Online (Source: University of Washington Infectious Diseases Education and Assessment program)
Hepatitis C Online This is a self-study resource for clinicians regarding HCV, including the natural history, pathogenesis and treatment of HCV, including an in-depth review of HCV medications. CME credit and CNE/CE contact hours are available. Pharmacology CE for advance practices nurses is also available. Clinical calculators such as the APRI and FIB-4 calculators are available. Continuing education credits are available, and the site includes many helpful calculators, illustrations and tables. - Hepatitis C Project ECHO (Source: UMass Chan Medical School, Center for Integrated Primary Care)
Primary care doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other clinicians participating in ECHO engage in a virtual community with peers to share information and learn from each other, and with the support of experts. Learning is case based. UMass Chan Medical School is a Project ECHO Hub for HCV.