Theme: Clinical Research Year: 2019
background & aims: There are multiple challenges in the hepatitis C [HCV] care cascade. Electronic
health engagement could emerge as a tool in linking patients to the HCV care cascade. There is an
emerging epidemic of HCV among people who inject drugs (PWID). Our aim is to link PWID that are HCV
RNA positive to care and utilize our online patient database management system (PDMS) with
Substance Abuse Treatment Centers to fulfill the linkage portion.
method: Longitudinal prospective cohort study with HCV screening at the above centers and utilization
of a HIPPA compliant PDMS (www.linkagetocare.com). A centrally located Linkage to Care Specialist
(LTCS) is notified immediately when an individual’s information is entered in the system by the
treatment center or self-referred. The LTCS educates the individual and proceeds to link them to care.
results: January 2017 – October 2018, 1838 patients were referred to LTC; 53% self-referred and 47%
referred from 38 facilities in 27 states; 94% Texas; 69% were uninsured; 55% were between the ages of
21-40; 59% males. 855 HCV RNA positive patients; 680 (80%) patients were contacted by LTCS; 470
(69%) referred to a medical provider; 22% patients awaiting lab results; 9% lost contact. 172 (37%)
patients made it to their first appointment; 83(48%) initiated therapy; 52% were completing evaluation;
62 (75%) finished therapy or achieved SVR12; 88% were seen in office vs. 12% through telemedicine.
conclusions: Targeting PWID is an effective way of reducing the prevalence of HCV infection and
ultimately eliminating HCV in our communities. Our study accentuates a promising role for patient
engagement in electronic health portals as a tool in linking patients to the hepatitis C care cascade. With
the LTC program, there is an increase in patient compliance with linkage to care as compared to current
care models.
disclosures: Nothing to disclose. No pharmaceutical grants were received in the development of this
study.