Hepatitis C virus (HCV) kills approximately 483 people in Australia each year – despite being curable in primary care.
That means every death from HCV is avoidable and the elimination of hepatitis C in Australia is a very real possibility.
But to get there, there is still plenty of work to do. Hepatitis C is still highly stigmatised by many in the community, while others simply do not have knowledge or awareness of the condition. So while we can now cure people who present with HCV, we first need to find them, and then make sure we engage them in care.
Beyond the C is a national program aimed at supporting clinics in Australia with case finding and treatment of HCV. It provides ongoing support and education, aimed at building literacy around hepatitis C and helping to find people who may require testing or treatment.
Lana Cordwell, Practice Manager at Amiens Clinic and Connewarre Clinic in Tasmania, credits Beyond the C with helping to embed hepatitis C care and literacy into the practices.
“We did an audit a few years ago, trying to see if we could get some of our patients tested and treated for hepatitis C,” says Lana.
“But the timing wasn’t good, and I didn’t fully have my head around it. It was more the doctors that were involved – I was a bit out of it, and the nurses were out of it. That meant we didn’t have the procedural changes we’ve had this time around with Beyond the C. It didn’t become as well-oiled then as we’ve made it now.”
For Lana, one of the key benefits of joining Beyond the C was the access to tools and resources to embed hepatitis C care into the practice, as well as the wraparound support that comes with the program.
“It’s been fantastic. I love that if I have any problems, I can just flick an email or have a quick chat to work it out together,” says Lana.
While Beyond the C focuses on supporting clinics through case finding and treatment, it extends to all aspects of HCV care. For example, when Lana had a patient confirmed to be living with HCV but reluctant to access treatment, she was able to work with the Beyond the C team for advice.
“Lisa pointed me to a website that provides that offers patients who test and start treatment a cash incentive, so I’ve got that in my pocket as an option now,” says Lana.
Since joining the program, Lana says the clinic has become more aware and knowledgeable of hepatitis C – which is rolling on through to patients, too.
“We’ve added questions related to hepatitis to a number of our regular health assessments, so they’re things we’re looking at regularly now. We’re not just doing it for the audit, it’s becoming a part of our standard assessments,” says Lana.
Importantly, that increase in awareness and knowledge has led to increased confidence engaging with patients with hepatitis C.
“Back in the day, it was a case of if we have a patient who is positive, refer them to the hospital. Now we know that if they’re positive we can treat them here, and we might be better off keeping them engaged in treatment than the hospital,” says Lana.
At the end of the day for Lana and her clinic, it all comes back to the community they serve.
“We have to be looking at where we’re falling down, so that we can improve our systems and so that patient outcomes are improved,” she says.
Attendees at the 14th Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference can hear more about Beyond the C at the conference in Darwin next week. Access the full program and plan your time at the conference here.
