Integrating treatment for hepatitis C virus infection into an HIV clinic.

In the United States, one-third of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients are also coinfected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Of 228 coinfected patients whose charts were reviewed in our 2000 study, only 2 had received therapy with interferon. To address low rates of treatment, in 2001 we implemented a program to shift the primary responsibility for oversight of care for HCV-infected patients from the liver clinic to HIV primary care clinicians and to provide education and support regarding adherence to patients.