ServicesHIV-Hepatitis C Co-Infection ClinicThe HIV-Hepatitis C (HCV) Co-infection Clinic is a designated consult clinic within Boston Medical Center’s Center for Infectious Diseases (CID) and CHACR. It was formed to help meet the medical and psychosocial needs of patients diagnosed with both HIV and HCV infection. Established in January 2000, the clinic was one of the first in the country to recognize the growing demand for a specialty clinic to address the unique needs of this population. The Co-infection Clinic utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to care. Staffed by physicians and nurses specialized in infectious diseases and hepatology, patients seen in the Co-infection Clinic also receive the psychosocial support offered to all patients within the CHACR, including psychiatry, psychotherapy and case management. Patients are referred to the clinic by their primary care provider and undergo a standardized and comprehensive evaluation, including medical history, physical examination and laboratory tests. Referrals for substance abuse treatment, clinical research trials, medical case management, pharmacotherapy and psychiatric services are also offered. Patient education is an important part of any visit to the clinic, and patients have the time and opportunity to discuss their concerns and questions with their medical providers. In addition to clinical services, qualifying patients may also participate in research studies, both interventional and observational trials, such as the CHARM (Hepatitis C, HIV And Related Morbidity) Study. Like its predecessor, the HALO (Hepatitis And Liver Outcomes) Study, the CHARM study is a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored prospective study that was initiated in 2000. It seeks to identify strategies to prevent adverse outcomes associated with HIV-HCV co-infection. Patients in the clinic have the opportunity to meet with study investigators to further discuss any clinical research options and to decide if they would like to participate. For additional information, please contact Sheila Tumilty, RN at 617.414.7083 or sheila.tumilty@bmc.org |
