Improving Healthcare Systems to Reduce Healthcare Disparities in Viral Hepatitis

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and C (CHC) represent significant public health problems worldwide. Combined, over 7 million persons in the USA are chronically infected with either the hepatitis B or the hepatitis C virus. Although the populations affected by the viruses differ, both CHB and CHC are ideal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Digestive diseases and sciences 2016-10, Vol.61 (10), p.2776-2783
Main Authors: Chak, Eric W., Sarkar, Souvik, Bowlus, Christopher
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Asian Americans - statistics & numerical data
Biochemistry
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - mortality
Communication Barriers
Culture
Delivery of Health Care
Discrimination in medical care
Drug Users - statistics & numerical data
Early Diagnosis
Early Medical Intervention
Electronic Health Records
Gastroenterology
Health aspects
Health care disparities
Health care reform
Health Services Accessibility
Healthcare Disparities
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis B, Chronic - diagnosis
Hepatitis B, Chronic - ethnology
Hepatitis B, Chronic - therapy
Hepatitis C virus
Hepatitis C, Chronic - diagnosis
Hepatitis C, Chronic - ethnology
Hepatitis C, Chronic - therapy
Hepatology
Humans
Liver
Liver Diseases - mortality
Liver Neoplasms - mortality
Mass Screening
Medical records
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Mortality
Oceanic Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data
Oncology
Prevalence
Quality Improvement
Review
Socioeconomic Factors
Substance Abuse, Intravenous - epidemiology
Transplant Surgery
United States - epidemiology
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Summary:Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and C (CHC) represent significant public health problems worldwide. Combined, over 7 million persons in the USA are chronically infected with either the hepatitis B or the hepatitis C virus. Although the populations affected by the viruses differ, both CHB and CHC are ideal conditions for preventive screening because of a high prevalence and low rate of diagnosis; an early asymptomatic period; highly sensitive and specific test; and treatments which have been shown to result in improved clinical outcomes including liver-related mortality and hepatocellular carcinoma. Improving healthcare delivery for CHB and CHC requires interventions that will increase screening for the infections, expanded capacity for evaluation and monitoring of the infection, and ultimately improved access to treatment. Many of these interventions may leverage opportunities within electronic health records, but must also address unique social, cultural, and language barriers that may prevent effective implementation of novel interventions. Herein, we will review current knowledge related to strategies employed to improve healthcare systems to reduce disparities in viral hepatitis.
ISSN:0163-2116
1573-2568
DOI:10.1007/s10620-016-4205-3