BRIDGE HCV

Purdue University College of Pharmacy, an equal access/ equal opportunity institution, is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Target Audience

This educational initiative is intended for addiction services/substance use disorder providers, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) providers, social workers, case managers, peer educators, peer advocates, as well as clinical (MDs, NPs, PAs, RNs, pharmacists) and nonclinical office staff.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this program, participants will be better able to:

• Review national and local HCV epidemiology and infection risks among persons who inject drugs (PWID)
• Contrast HCV antibody positivity, HCV RNA positivity, and reflex testing and describe the role of each in HCV treatment
• Explain the importance of universal screening in light of updated HCV testing guidelines
• Provide education and counseling to PWID and others living with HCV to support referral to community-based HCV treatment providers

Program Description

This exciting grassroots initiative will tap into the strengths and resources of communities in inner-city and metropolitan areas to provide effective therapy for HCV-positive PWID. Expansion of DAA treatment to individuals with recent or ongoing injection drug use can lead to substantial reductions in HCV prevalence and transmission, benefiting both the individual and the community. These benefits are especially effective when combined with harm-reduction interventions.¹ Strong local HCV-care networks with structured collaboration further help build bridges to HCV-infected PWID and allow these high-risk individuals access to the care they need and deserve.²

1. Grebely J, Dore GL. Treatment of HCV in persons who inject drugs: Treatment as prevention. Clin Liver Dis. 2017;9(4):77-80.
2. Gonzalez SA, et al. Medical and behavioral approaches to engage people who inject drugs into care for hepatitis C virus infection. Addict Disord Their Treat. 2017;16(2 suppl 1):S1-S23. 
3. Wilson DP, et al. The cost-effectiveness of harm reduction. Int J Drug Policy. 2015:26(suppl 1):S5-S11.

Physician Accreditation Statement

Purdue University College of Pharmacy, an equal access/ equal opportunity institution, is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physician Credit Designation

Purdue University College of Pharmacy designates this Live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Pharmacist Accreditation Statement

Purdue University College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This is a knowledge-based, continuing education activity of Purdue University, an equal access/equal opportunity institution. Universal Activity Number (UAN): 0018-9999-23-035-L01-P, 1.0 contact hour (0.1 CEU).

Nurses Accreditation Statement

Purdue University Continuing Nursing Education is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.  This program has been approved for 1.0 contact hour.  

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

The Purdue University College of Pharmacy requires instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals who are positioned to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest (COI) they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified COI are thoroughly vetted and resolved according to The Purdue University College of Pharmacy policy.  The existence or absence of COI for everyone in a position to control content will be disclosed to participants prior to the start of each activity.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Event staff will be glad to assist you with any special needs (ie, physical, dietary, etc). Please contact Mara Simpson prior to the live event at msimpson@integritasgrp.com.

Fee Information

There is no fee for this educational activity.

Purdue Contact Information

For information about the accreditation of this program, please contact Dawn Sinclair at The Purdue University College of Pharmacy at sinclaid@purdue.edu or 765-494-5457.