Chicago Docs Introduced to Viral Hepatitis Action Plan, Encouraged to Engage

Physicians across Chicago recently read about the National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan and were invited to engage in efforts to achieve its national goals thanks to an article by some of my colleagues in Chicago Medicine.  The Chicago Medical Society publishes the journal for its 17,000 members who serve more than 5 million patients across the Chicagoland area.

The primer on HCV infection and its impact as well as our national response was co-authored by several federal colleagues, including Jim Lando, MD, MPH, and Corinna Dan, RN, MPH.  Jim, now retired, was Assistant Surgeon General/Rear Admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service and the Regional Health Administrator at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health in Region V (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI). Corinna is the Viral Hepatitis Policy Advisor in the Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy at HHS.

I was delighted to see this regional outreach and awareness-raising among healthcare providers who are critical allies in our work to prevent new HCV infections, prevent disease progression and cure those living with HCV, and ultimately reduce HCV-related health disparities. Their thoughtful piece provided several suggestions on how healthcare providers can play a significant role in achieving our national viral hepatitis goals. These included raising further awareness among their colleagues, implementing screening recommendations from the CDC and USPSTF, and using the new all-oral therapies that allow patients to experience the benefits of viral eradication and avoid liver disease and liver cancer. They also encouraged providers to explore ways of integrating viral hepatitis services in settings where people at high risk for HCV receive other services, such as substance misuse treatment, primary care, HIV care, and mental health. These excellent recommendations are ones we should all consider regardless of our profession or work setting. Achieving our national goals depends on all of us doing what we can to leverage our own strengths and abilities to affect change and to further not only our own efforts, but to foster opportunities for collaboration and coordination to identify the most efficient and effective ways that you and others can contribute. 

Please consider sharing this article with your colleagues and networks and join in expanding our national response to viral hepatitis. Are you, or the organizations that you lead or are a part of, doing your part to help the United States achieve the goals of the National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan? Are you making a real difference in the lives of people living with hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection? We are always interested in learning about the policies, plans, prevention activities, and research that are truly making a difference all around the country in the lives of people living with viral hepatitis and those who are at-risk for infection. Send information about your viral hepatitis activities to Corinna Dan by email at [email protected].