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ANNOUNCING the “FIND 50” Program for BC Physicians and Clinics
“FIND 50” is an exciting World Hepatitis Day challenge for physicians and clinics in BC (or anywhere)! If you or your clinic can find 50 HCV+ individuals and engage them in care, you are going a long way to do your part in eliminating this terrible disease. The Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre (VIDC) is currently on a mission to treat not only 50, but 500 individuals from our clinic living with HCV this year, as a way to work together towards the WHO’s goal of HCV elimination by 2030. We have developed the FIND 50 PLAN, and dedicate ourselves deeply to being a part of this global initiative, and we hope to share it with members of BC’s hepatitis C community. Once you or your clinic reach your FIND 50 goal this year, let VIDC or HepCBC know, and we’ll put you on our FIND 50 Honour Roll!
The Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre (VIDC) uses a multidisciplinary care model for the delivery of health care providing expert, state-of-the art diagnosis and treatment of chronic infectious diseases and related conditions (including addiction and pain management), with a focus on HIV and HCV infections. Dr. Brian Conway, Medical Director and President of VIDC, has worked in the field of chronic infectious disease management for more than 20 years. His group has developed an innovative model of care for inner city populations, focusing on the medical, psychological, social and addiction-related needs of this vulnerable population. This “four-legged chair” model is the subject of many national and international lectures and conferences given by Dr. Conway.
The WHO has proposed the elimination of HCV as a public health concern as a goal for 2030. This is a goal whose global momentum should be harnessed as motivation to eliminate HCV in British Columbia, particularly amongst vulnerable populations, such as current and former people who use drugs (PWUD). In Canada, 44% of people chronically infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) are unaware of their status. The highest risk population for acquisition of HCV infection consists of PWUD, making up 56% of the total cases, as well as the majority of new cases. This population faces complex, interrelated challenges of poverty, crime, substance use, and mental health issues. One of the main challenges we currently face is finding people to treat and effectively engaging them in care.
Developing an HCV elimination plan for this population is an ambitious but achievable goal if the correct care models are designed. We have developed a “Find 50” plan whereby the first step is to identify and engage targeted individuals with HCV. People on OST (Opioid Substitution Therapy) represent a group with a high HCV prevalence. They have intermittent contact with the medical system but likely haven’t engaged for HCV workup/treatment. VIDC has established strategic plan with OST physicians – we visit OST physician clinics to conduct point-of-care HCV testing for individuals who are there for their OST prescription. Not only do they actively engage individuals into the healthcare system through providing free testing, but the direct interaction with them becomes a platform for offering multidisciplinary care to the more vulnerable populations where we address social, psychological and addiction- based concerns.
Engagement, multidisciplinary and durability of care is key towards reaching the Find 50 goal!