ECHO-Chicago: Hepatitis C

The ECHO-Chicago curriculum in Hepatitis C (HCV) is designed to expand primary care capacity for HCV screening and evidence-based care at community health centers in some of Chicago’s most underserved neighborhoods. HCV has surpassed HIV/AIDS as the leading chronic virus infection leading to death in the United States. Early detection and treatment in the primary care setting can contribute to lower rates of morbidity and mortality, reduce the risk of disease progression, and maximize the benefits of emerging treatment options. ECHO-Chicago training provides primary care providers with the knowledge to identify persons at risk for HCV and conduct risk assessments. Additionally, they will be able to test, diagnose, counsel, stage, monitor, and treat persons with HCV.

At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Identify patients at risk for hepatitis C;
• Describe CDC-recommended hepatitis C testing guidelines;
• Describe staging and symptoms at each stage of cirrhosis of the liver;
• Recognize proper treatment options and medication regimens for each genotype, both with and without cirrhosis;
• Determine challenges and solutions in obtaining medications for underinsured and Medicaid patients;
• Relate how to discuss and monitor the treatment plan with patients and families;
• Identify the availability of case management services for HCV patients in Chicago;
• Define HIV-HCV coinfection and identify common treatment options;
• Discuss harm reduction techniques with respect to HCV transmission.