Combining Technology and Novel Educator Touchpoints to Enable Greater Hepatitis C Screening

Hepatitis C continues to pose a major public health challenge in the United States, with millions of individuals living with chronic infection. One of the biggest challenges is that many individuals remain undiagnosed due to low screening rates and the disease’s often silent progression. As health systems look for ways to improve detection and linkage to care, new approaches that combine technology with patient-centered outreach are gaining traction.

Pruthvi Patel, MD MPH, associate professor of medicine, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, emphasizes the urgency of improving screening and treatment uptake, particularly given the availability of highly effective therapies.

“Hepatitis C remains an incredibly significant burden of chronic viral hepatitis in the United States,” Patel explained, noting that most infected individuals will not clear the virus on their own and may remain asymptomatic until serious complications arise.

To address gaps in screening, Mount Sinai has implemented system-wide changes within its electronic medical records (EMR). These include automatic hepatitis C antibody testing with reflex to confirmatory PCR, embedded into both emergency room workflows and routine outpatient health maintenance. This streamlined, “one-click” approach reduces provider burden while ensuring more consistent screening across care settings.

Beyond technology, the program incorporates human support systems such as health educators in emergency departments to engage patients who initially decline testing. Together, these efforts aim to normalize hepatitis C screening and improve early detection, particularly among populations less likely to access traditional care.

Despite these advances, Patel highlighted that significant barriers remain, especially among disenfranchised groups facing challenges like unstable housing, substance use, or limited access to healthcare. Expanding screening into nontraditional settings, such as opioid treatment centers and mobile health units, is a key next step.

“We’re always looking for ways to provide testing and treatment to this very disenfranchised population,” said Patel, pointing to the need for flexible, community-based solutions.

One promising concept under exploration is a “test-and-treat” model within emergency departments, where patients could not only be diagnosed but also begin treatment during the same visit. While still under study, this approach could dramatically reduce loss to follow-up and accelerate care delivery.

“There’s definitely a lot of research supporting the idea that this population does well…their cure rates are extremely high because the treatments are so effective,” said Patel.

As healthcare systems continue to refine these strategies, integrating digital tools with proactive outreach may prove essential in reducing the burden of hepatitis C and moving closer to elimination.