Pharmacist-initiated hepatitis C virus screening in a community pharmacy to increase awareness and link to care at the medical center

ObjectiveTo describe the design and implementation of a pharmacist-led hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening and education program in a community pharmacy with a protocol for linkage to care at the affiliated hepatology clinic for patients born between 1945 and 1965.SettingOutpatient pharmacy affiliated with the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System.Practice descriptionThe community pharmacist resident conducted the HCV screening at the health system-based community pharmacy.Practice innovationCommunity pharmacists provided patients with HCV screening and education while patients waited for their prescriptions to be ready or upon appointment. Patients were given a questionnaire before and after HCV education to assess the impact of pharmacist-provided education on patient knowledge. A protocol was developed to link patients with a positive HCV antibody test result to care with a hepatologist for confirmatory testing at a follow-up appointment at the medical center.EvaluationInvestigators assessed the feasibility of providing the screening and education, recorded the number of patients screened, and recorded the differences in the questionnaire responses before and after education.ResultsPharmacist-led HCV screening services were implemented successfully at the community pharmacy. All patients had a negative antibody result; therefore, linkage to care at the medical center, although available, was not necessary. The self-reported posttest HCV knowledge scores were significantly higher than pretest scores.ConclusionThis article outlines the methodology for providing a multidisciplinary HCV screening, education, and referral program in a community pharmacy affiliated with a medical center. Pharmacist-initiated HCV screening in a community pharmacy can assist with identifying patients at risk for HCV infection and provide patients with linkage to care in the health system. This report may encourage community pharmacists to conduct future prospective trials to evaluate clinical and economic outcomes of community-based HCV screenings.