State of the Science in HIV: Navigating Advances in Testing and Treatment to Optimize Patient Outcomes

In this activity, which is based on recent live meetings held in Baltimore and Cambridge, Maryland, clinicians practicing on the front-lines of the intersecting hepatitis C and opioid epidemics offer thought-provoking perspectives on identifying HCV among people with substance use disorders who live in urban and rural healthcare settings and successfully engaging them in care to achieve better patient and community outcomes.

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Evaluate patients with, or at risk of, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in order to make appropriate referrals for screening, diagnosis, treatment, or follow-up
• Apply evidence-based strategies for supporting patients with injection drug use in harm reduction and adhering to potential HCV treatment and monitoring regimens
• Integrate patient-centered HCV education into substance abuse/addiction center visits and programs
• Collaborate with addiction professionals, social workers, case managers, primary care providers, infectious disease physicians, and HCV specialists to facilitate an interdisciplinary approach to HCV care and treatment for people who inject drugs (PWID)