Assessment of an education tool to improve knowledge and reduce stigma of a syringe service program (SSP) at a VA Medical Center.

Background: Drug overdose deaths are a growing epidemic in the United States owing in part to inadequate support from health care systems. In response, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) plans to implement syringe service programs (SSPs) across VHA medical centers. This SSP education project aims to positively affect health care staff perceptions regarding SSPs and reduce the stigma surrounding substance use.

Assessment of hepatitis C monitoring adherence after viral eradication in veterans with substance use to improve care and surveil reinfection.

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) incidence rates are rising for patients with substance use and/or SUDs. Guidelines provide monitoring recommendations to ensure remission after successful treatment. The study's objective was to identify gaps in follow-up for patients with documented substance use and/or SUD through assessment of adherence to guideline-recommended HCV RNA lab 12 months post-treatment.

HCV eradication in veterans with underlying mental health disorders and substance use.

Objective: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) disproportionately affects those with mental health disorders and those with substance use, and the increasing HCV transmission in the United States is driven by the opioid epidemic. However, patients with a mental health disorder, substance use, or combination of both historically have had limited access to HCV treatment. The goal of our study was to compare sustained virologic response (SVR) rates of HCV treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) between subjects with and without a mental health disorder, substance use, or combination of both.

Pharmacist-driven multidisciplinary pretreatment workup process for hepatitis C care: A novel model for same-day pretreatment workup.

Objectives: The objective is to describe and quantify the impact of a novel practice model for pharmacist involvement in care coordination and patient education in hepatitis C virus (HCV) care.

Setting: This practice model was implemented in the gastroenterology clinic at the Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.