Scientific Poster Session III: Resident and Fellows Research-in-Progress

Residents and Fellows Research in Progress
  Monday, November 13, 2023
  01:00 PM–02:30 PM

Abstract

Introduction: Treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) can prevent progression of liver disease, decrease the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, and decrease mortality and end-stage liver disease. Treatment initiation can be delayed for several weeks due to extensive documentation needed for insurance approval. Pharmacists play critical roles in facilitating staging and treatment approval. However, a gap in the literature exists related to pharmacy-driven transitions of care protocols between the inpatient and outpatient settings to facilitate and initiate hepatitis C treatment approval.

Research Question or Hypothesis: Does implementation of a rapid start hepatitis C program within an inpatient ID service impact the rate of treatment initiation?

Study Design: Non-randomized, prospective, single-center study conducted at a large academic medical center.

Methods: Patients at least 18 years of age admitted to inpatient infectious diseases (ID) services at a large academic medical center will be screened for HCV from September 1^st, 2023 to February 29^th, 2024. Patients will be excluded if they: have decompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, or are pregnant/breastfeeding; if they are currently on hepatitis C treatment or are treatment experienced, if they are currently undergoing evaluation for transplant and/or have received an organ transplant or have less than 12 months life expectancy. Patients with active hepatitis C must opt into treatment at hospital discharge in the outpatient ID clinic. The inpatient ID pharmacy team will complete a pre-treatment workup before hospital discharge and provide handoff to the outpatient ID specialty pharmacist to initiate treatment approval, provide counseling, and ensure patients are scheduled for follow-up after discharge. Patients will be followed from treatment initiation to sustained virologic response (SVR). Additional outcomes to be collected include time from screening to treatment initiation, time from screening to achieving sustained virologic response, time from discharge to treatment initiation, and treatment completion.

Results: In-progress

Conclusion: In-progress

Presenting Author

Sophea Chan PharmD, MPH
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Authors

Laura Bobbit PharmD, BCIDP
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Austin Ing PharmD, BCIDP
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Ryan Moss PharmD, AAHIVP
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Christo Cimino PharmD, BCIDP
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Benjamin Ereshefsky PharmD, BCIDP
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Ana Simonyan PharmD, BCACP
Vanderbilt University Medical Center