2026 Eastern States Conference

Title: Evaluation of a pharmacist-led hepatitis C testing and counseling protocol on attainment of sustained virologic response at 12 weeks

Authors: Ethan Chandler, PharmD; Jacob Osborne, PharmD, MBA, BCIDP; Leigh Ann Keeton, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP

Learning Objective: Discuss potential role inpatient pharmacists have in HCV identification and treatment initiation

Background: This study aims to assess the impact of a community hospital's pharmacist-led hepatitis C (HCV) testing and counseling protocol on the achievement of sustained virologic response at 12 weeks (SVR12).

Methods: De-identified charts of patients aged 18 years or older from January 1 to April 30, 2023 (pre-implementation period) and January 1 to April 30, 2025 (post-implementation period) will be selected for retrospective review if they had an active HCV infection as evidenced by a positive HCV viral load. Patients previously treated with DAAs, pregnant patients, deceased within 90 days following a positive HCV RNA result were excluded from analysis. The primary endpoint compared rates of SVR12 between the two periods. Secondary endpoints assessed the mean time between discharge and initial outpatient follow-up, rates of referral to appropriate outpatient treatment, rates of complete HCV follow-up appointment adherence, and rates of identified drug-drug interactions between the two groups. Additional reported information will include patient demographics, HCV genotypes, and rates of hepatitis A and B vaccinations.

Results: A total of 160 patients within the pre-implementation period (PIP) and 183 patients in the post-implementation period (POP) met inclusion criteria. The rates of SVR12 were not statistically significant between the two groups (16.9% vs. 20.8%, p = 0.408). A shorter average time between discharge and initial outpatient follow-up appointments was observed in the POP (68.5 days vs. 82.3 days), and a higher proportion of patients in the POP were referred to appropriate outpatient follow-up (79.8% vs. 68.8%). Patients in the Rates of complete outpatient follow-up (82.6% vs. 79.9%) were similar between the two groups. Rates of hepatitis A and B vaccinations and identified drug-drug interactions were low in both groups.

Conclusion: The pharmacist-led HCV testing and counseling protocol did not significantly alter the observed rates of SVR12, but it was associated with improved patient linkage to outpatient follow-up and shorter follow-up times from discharge. Poor rates of outpatient appointment adherence impacted the observed rates of SVR12; further protocol adjustments should be aimed at implementing measures to improve appointment adherence.