Targeting viral hepatitis: a roadmap for providers - about 2.4 million americans are living with the hepatitis c virus (HCV) and an estimated 850,000 americans are living with the hepatitis b virus…

Targeting viral hepatitis: a roadmap for providers - about 2.4 million americans are living with the hepatitis c virus (HCV) and an estimated 850,000 americans are living with the hepatitis b virus (HBV). Certain populations are disproportionately impacted by viral hepatitis, with higher incidence, prevalence, and mortality rates. People who inject drugs, asians/pacific islanders, american indians/alaska natives, and non-hispanic black persons are considered to be priority populations. We have identified two gaps in healthcare providers? (hcps?) knowledge and practice based on a needs assessment. GAP 1: many clinicians lack the knowledge, confidence, and skills to incorporate the latest recommendations to evaluate, treat, and manage viral hepatitis, especially in priority populations. Need summary: clinicians will benefit from education on the latest recommendations for evaluating, treating, and managing HBV and HCV. GAP 2: clinicians lack awareness of evidence-based strategies to deliver equitable viral hepatitis care for priority populations. Need summary: education on evidence-based strategies for delivering equitable care has the potential to improve viral hepatitis screening and treatment for priority health populations. An education initiative for hcps can address the identified needs and elevate their awareness of the impact of viral hepatitis on priority populations; build the capacity required to reduce rates of infection; improve the identification, linkage to treatment, and management of treatment for persons living with viral hepatitis; and reduce healthcare disparities. Webmd health corp. (webmd) proposes using the medscape platform and collaborating with strategic partners to reach hcps who provide services to priority populations affected by viral hepatitis. We will collaborate with the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) and create a dedicated webpage within medscape to provide hcps with free and direct access to viral hepatitis education and supportive resources. We w ILL build on existing medscape HBV and HCV website resources through development of a data-informed online medical education program. Existing supportive resources will be linked to the destination page, including relevant articles in medscape reference and existing hepatitis b and hepatitis c resource centers. Over the course of 5 years, webmd will develop 1 or 2 CME/CE-certified educational activities each year, planned in collaboration with CDC, to form an educational curriculum titled ?targeting viral hepatitis: a roadmap for providers.? This curriculum comprises three related components: free comprehensive educational activities, free certified CME/CNE credits, and an active marketing and promotional campaign directly targeting hcps. Curriculum development will be iterative in nature and driven by annual outcomes analyses that measure learners? Knowledge and identify continued learning needs. Tactics will feature approaches that meet learners where they are along the adult learning continuum - awareness, agreement, adoption, or adherence - with varying levels of experience and learning styles. Webmd will identify segments of hcps who may benefit from viral hepatitis training using medscape?s internal membership data supplemented by third-party data. Through an array of engagement tactics, targeted HCP learners will be drawn to the viral hepatitis education destination page and accredited training modules. Further, webmd will collaborate with strategic partners to market and promote the training and supportive resources to target HCP audiences that serve the priority populations, thus amplifying the program?s reach and impact.