A winding road to a bright city, symbolizing patient navigation overcoming barriers to hepatitis C cure.

Cracking the Code: How Patient Navigation Can Revolutionize Hepatitis C Care

Nico Varela in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how a targeted approach to patient care is transforming outcomes for those most in need."

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) silently infects millions, yet a cure is within reach. However, many individuals, particularly those facing socioeconomic challenges, struggle to access and complete the necessary treatment. This disparity highlights a critical gap in our healthcare system.

Groundbreaking research from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is shedding light on a promising solution: patient navigation. Their "Check Hep C" program demonstrates how targeted support can dramatically improve treatment rates and outcomes for high-need patients.

This article will explore the key findings of the Check Hep C program, revealing how patient navigation addresses barriers to care, improves treatment adherence, and ultimately helps more people achieve a cure. Discover how this model could be a game-changer in the fight against hepatitis C.

The Check Hep C Model: A Bridge to Better Outcomes

A winding road to a bright city, symbolizing patient navigation overcoming barriers to hepatitis C cure.

The Check Hep C program focused on providing intensive support to patients diagnosed with chronic HCV, particularly those facing challenges like homelessness, substance use, or mental health issues. The program's core strategy was patient navigation (PN), a system designed to guide individuals through the complexities of the healthcare system.

Patient navigators worked closely with a multidisciplinary team to provide personalized support, including:

Risk assessment
Health education
Treatment readiness counseling
Medication adherence support
Medication coordination

The results were remarkable. Of the 388 participants enrolled, a significant 33% initiated treatment, and an impressive 91% of those achieved sustained virologic response (SVR), essentially a cure. Moreover, patients receiving on-site clinical care were significantly more likely to start treatment compared to those linked to off-site care.

A Path Forward: Scaling Up Patient Navigation for Hepatitis C

The Check Hep C program provides compelling evidence that patient navigation is a powerful tool for improving hepatitis C care, especially among vulnerable populations. By addressing the unique barriers faced by these individuals, we can significantly increase treatment rates and achieve better outcomes.

While the study highlights the success of on-site clinical care, it also underscores the importance of adapting patient navigation strategies to different settings. Further research is needed to optimize these models and ensure their effectiveness across diverse communities.

Ultimately, the widespread adoption of patient navigation programs could be a game-changer in the fight against hepatitis C. By investing in these services, we can move closer to eliminating this disease and improving the health and well-being of countless individuals.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1093/cid/ciw806, Alternate LINK

Title: From Care To Cure: Demonstrating A Model Of Clinical Patient Navigation For Hepatitis C Care And Treatment In High-Need Patients

Subject: Infectious Diseases

Journal: Clinical Infectious Diseases

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Authors: Mary M. Ford, Nirah Johnson, Payal Desai, Eric Rude, Fabienne Laraque

Published: 2016-12-10

Everything You Need To Know

What is patient navigation in the context of Hepatitis C care?

Patient navigation (PN) is a system designed to guide individuals through the complexities of the healthcare system. In the context of Hepatitis C care, patient navigators provide personalized support to those diagnosed with chronic HCV, especially those facing challenges like homelessness, substance use, or mental health issues. The Check Hep C program, for instance, utilized patient navigation to improve treatment rates and outcomes for high-need patients. This involves risk assessment, health education, treatment readiness counseling, medication adherence support, and medication coordination.

Why is patient navigation so important for Hepatitis C patients?

Patient navigation is crucial because many individuals struggle to access and complete Hepatitis C treatment due to various barriers, particularly those facing socioeconomic challenges. These barriers include lack of knowledge, difficulty navigating the healthcare system, and challenges related to their living situations or health conditions. The Check Hep C program's success demonstrates that patient navigation addresses these barriers, leading to significantly improved treatment rates and outcomes. By providing personalized support, patient navigators help patients overcome obstacles and receive the care they need to achieve a cure.

What is the Check Hep C program and what is its significance?

The Check Hep C program is a specific initiative by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. It's a practical application of patient navigation focused on improving Hepatitis C care. The program provided intensive support to patients diagnosed with chronic HCV. The Check Hep C program is noteworthy because it demonstrates the effectiveness of patient navigation in the real world, showing how targeted support can dramatically improve treatment rates and outcomes, especially among vulnerable populations. The program's success highlights the potential for broader implementation of patient navigation strategies to improve healthcare outcomes.

What specific services does the Check Hep C program provide?

The core components of the Check Hep C program include risk assessment, health education, treatment readiness counseling, medication adherence support, and medication coordination. Patient navigators offered these services to individuals diagnosed with chronic HCV. Risk assessment helps identify individual needs and challenges, health education provides crucial information about Hepatitis C and its treatment, treatment readiness counseling prepares patients for the process, medication adherence support ensures patients stay on track with their medication, and medication coordination streamlines the process of obtaining and taking medication. These components collectively address various barriers patients face, leading to higher treatment completion rates and better outcomes.

What are the implications of the success of the Check Hep C program?

The implications of the Check Hep C program's success are significant. It provides compelling evidence that patient navigation is a powerful tool for improving Hepatitis C care, especially among vulnerable populations. This model could be a game-changer in the fight against Hepatitis C by addressing the unique barriers faced by these individuals, increasing treatment rates, and achieving better outcomes, ultimately leading to more people being cured of Hepatitis C. The program's findings can inform the development of healthcare policies and practices, potentially leading to wider adoption of patient navigation models in other healthcare settings and for other diseases.