HCV Management in Primary Care: Improving Screening and Treatment in Rural and Underserved Communities

Target Audience
This activity is designed to meet the educational needs of primary care clinicians, registered nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses who care for patients from rural and underserved areas.

Program Overview
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, and most people with the virus are unaware of their condition. In recent years, the incidence of HCV infection has increased significantly in rural communities and among pregnant women, likely owing to increased injection drug use. Thus, improved identification of individuals with HCV, prompt follow-up care, and initiation of appropriate treatment are critical. Fortunately, highly effective oral direct-acting antiviral therapies are now available, allowing primary care clinicians to treat and manage patients with HCV infection. In this activity, expert faculty will discuss current recommendations for screening and follow-up care for individuals testing positive for the virus. Evidence-based treatment guidelines for HCV and strategies to overcome barriers in rural and underserved settings will also be explored.

This enduring activity is a recorded session from the 2nd Annual Rural Health Clinical Congress that took place on November 21, 2020.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

Apply current recommendations for HCV screening to all adults (pregnant and nonpregnant)
Utilize effective counseling and follow-up care for patients with a confirmed HCV diagnosis
Implement evidence-based guidelines to appropriately treat patients with HCV infection
Discuss strategies to overcome barriers to HCV management in rural and underserved settings