JOURNAL ARTICLE

Automated Opt-Out Hepatitis C Testing to Reduce Missed Screening Opportunities in the Emergency Department.

  • Published In: American Journal of Public Health, 2024, v. 114, n. 11. P. 1228 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Sperring, Heather; Ruiz-Mercado, Glorimar; Yun, Brian J.; Twitchell, David; Shah, Bhavesh; Schechter-Perkins, Elissa M. 3 of 3

Abstract

This article evaluates the impact of transitioning from an opt-in to an automated opt-out hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening model in the emergency department (ED) of Boston Medical Center, an urban academic hospital with a high prevalence of HCV. The opt-out model automatically orders HCV tests for eligible patients during blood draws, significantly increasing HCV antibody testing by 502% and identification of active HCV infections by 212% over nine months compared to the prior opt-in approach. The intervention reduced provider burden, improved linkage to outpatient care, and demonstrated sustainability, suggesting that ED settings with high-risk populations may benefit from adopting opt-out HCV screening to enhance diagnosis and treatment access.

Additional Information

  • Source:American Journal of Public Health. 2024/11, Vol. 114, Issue 11, p1228
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Consumer Health
  • Publication Date:2024
  • ISSN:0090-0036
  • DOI:10.2105/AJPH.2024.307783
  • Accession Number:180031777
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of American Journal of Public Health is the property of American Public Health Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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