studies

1124A AASLD ABSTRACTS HEPATOLOGY, October, 2015
1874
Linkage to Care and Treatment of Hepatitis C in a Federally
Qualified Health Center in New Haven, Connecticut
Izona Bock 1 , Mina A. Garcia 1 , Robert Bruce 1,2 ; 1 Infectious Diseases,
Cornell Scott Hill Health Center, New Haven, CT; 2 Yale
Center for Clinical Investigation Scholar, Yale University, New
Haven, CT
Introduction: Approximately 2.7-3.9 million persons are
infected with hepatitis C in the United States. The current standard
therapy of hepatitis C is revolutionary given the high
cure rates, short treatment duration, and relatively mild side
effects. Our Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serves
approximately 39,000 underserved patients in New Haven
County and provides treatment of substance abuse and chronic
hepatitis C. The goal of this study was to develop a hepatitis
C treatment cascade chart by determining the rates of linkage
to care and treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis
C in our center. Methods: With use of the electronic health
record, we retrieved a list of patients coded with hepatitis C
between 2013 and 2015. By performing a chart review, we
determined the number evaluated specifically for hepatitis C
treatment, those who were started on therapy, and the number
who achieved virologic suppression. Results: Of the 7716
patients screened for hepatitis C between 2013 and 2015,
786 patients (10.2%) were identified as having hepatitis C.
32% (250) of these patients were evaluated by a provider who
treats hepatitis C. Ultimately, 10.4% (82) of patients started
therapy and 6.8% (54) of those were found to have a hepatitis
C viral load