Open Access
Feature Article

Part 5. Practical steps in your practice

Open Access
Feature Article

Part 5. Practical steps in your practice

David Baker, ANNE BALCOMB, JOSS O’LOAN, Jessica Howell
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Dr Baker is a GP at East Sydney Doctors; and Senior Lecturer at the University of Notre Dame Sydney, Sydney, NSW. Dr Balcomb is a GP in Orange; and Honorary Lecturer at The University of Sydney, NSW. Dr O’Loan is a GP at Medeco Medical Centre Inala; Director of the Kombi Clinic; and Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld. Dr Howell is a Consultant Gastroenterologist at St Vincent’s Hospital; Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Disease Elimination, Burnet Institute; and Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic.

Tools

Rural GPs may need to manage all stages of diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C, including the care of patients with cirrhosis (Box 6). GP outreach models have also been developed, in which GPs provide assessment and care in the community, as described above (Box 3). 

Conclusion

Australian GPs are leading the world in curing hepatitis C. GPs can treat and cure most people living with hepatitis C with well-tolerated DAA therapy. Finding and treating patients with hepatitis C is straightforward and fits well with the skills that GPs use every day. Curing hepatitis C is rewarding for the treating doctor as well as life-changing for the patient. Eliminating hepatitis C from your practice is a great step towards hepatitis C elimination in Australia.      MT

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COMPETING INTERESTS: Dr Baker has received clinical trial funding and conference sponsorship and serves on the advisory board for AbbVie, Gilead and MSD. Dr Balcomb has received funding and conference sponsorship from Gilead and AbbVie. Dr O’Loan has received funding and conference sponsorship from Gilead and MSD. Dr Howell: None. 

 

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References

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