Category: Federal Forum Posters
Purpose: Hepatitis C virus (HCV), the most prevalent blood-borne viral pathogen, can cause cirrhosis and progress to hepatocellular carcinoma if left untreated. HCV is commonly contracted through illicit intravenous drug administration, unlicensed tattooing, and blood transfusions prior to the 1990s. Due to improvements in treatment options and significant rise in case incidence, there is a nationwide effort to treat patients with HCV. The objectives of this project are to determine the efficacy of a pharmacist-led Hepatitis C treatment program and the financial feasibility of such a program compared to current treatment pathways.
Methods: Pending the approval by the Institutional Review Board, medical charts will be reviewed at Cherokee Indian Hospital (CIH) to identify HCV-positive patients served by the facility, and a small cohort will be designated for inclusion in this pilot program. Patients with Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score of 4 and/or with hepatocellular carcinoma and patients that are not willing to begin or complete treatment will be excluded from this program. Pharmacy personnel in collaboration with primary care providers will direct patients through the HCV treatment program. Data will be collected on viral loads and sustained virologic response, willingness to start and complete treatment, and adherence rates throughout treatment. Data will also be collected on the cost of the medications, reimbursement rates, and healthcare personnel cost per patient/time spent. This information will be analyzed to quantify the direct and indirect costs of operation and treatment efficacy of a pharmacy-based clinic, which will be compared to current treatment options to determine the feasibility of maintaining a pharmacist-ran HCV clinic at CIH.
Results: not applicable
Conclusion: not applicable
Christopher Thirkill
– Pharmacy Resident, Cherokee Indian Hospital, Cherokee, NC157 Views