Enhancing Access to Hepatitis C and HIV Care in the Community

Submitted by aerose on

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes liver swelling, called inflammation. Hepatitis C can lead to serious liver damage. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) spreads through contact with blood that has the virus in it. 

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. HIV infects and destroys cells of your immune system, making it hard to fight off other diseases. When HIV has severely weakened your immune system, it can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). 

Why this matters: 

There is a high hepatitis C disease burden in SWVA yet the number of providers offering treatment remains disproportionately low. Many individuals do not access care due to stigma, barriers to specialty access, and limited awareness of updated screening recommendations and highly effective treatment options. This leaves hepatitis C untreated, leading to poor health outcomes and ongoing community transmission.  

What are we doing?

Dr. Mariana Gomez from the Infectious Disease team is partnering with the Community Education Group (HIV/HCV Preparedness Training) to provide training for clinicians in Southwest VA, West VA, and Kentucky. By empowering providers to deliver hepatitis C treatment and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), it addresses the accessibility issues that many individuals face when trying to receive care in high-need regions.  

Enrollment for the free 4-hour virtual training course is available at Hepatitis C and HIV Training Program | Carilion Clinic. Completion of the course will help strengthen the capacity of healthcare providers in screen, diagnose, and treat hepatitis C and prevent HIV in SWVA. 

You will gain:

  • Practical skills to expand testing and prevention services in your practice. 
  • 4 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits. 
  • Access to our exclusive hepatitis C e-consult service for clinical support. 
  • Resources and job aids to improve patient care and outcomes. 

Together, we can broaden access, strengthen engagement, and deliver compassionate care to the communities we serve. 

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The Infectious Diseases team launched a new Hepatitis C mobile unit. By bringing care directly to patients, this effort reduces barriers like transportation, time, and stigma. The unit helps patients connect with a provider and receive guidance and information right at their home, bringing the care directly to where it is needed most.  

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Jillian Smith, LPN, standing next to ID Mobile unit
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The Infectious Diseases Team's New Hepatitis C Mobile Unit
Key Points HTML

There is a high hepatitis C disease burden in SWVA yet the number of providers offering treatment remains disproportionately low. 

Dr. Mariana Gomez from the Infectious Disease team is partnering with the Community Education Group (HIV/HCV Preparedness Training) to provide training for clinicians in Southwest VA, West VA, and Kentucky. 

Enrollment for the free 4-hour virtual training course is available at Hepatitis C and HIV Training Program | Carilion Clinic.