Nurse practitioners are being called upon to play a significant role in eliminating viral hepatitis in the United States, according to a May 26 article from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
The Centers for Disease Control has developed four plans addressing viral hepatitis, with its latest initiative aiming to eliminate the public health threat of viral hepatitis by 2030. The plan includes five goals: preventing new infections, improving health outcomes for those infected, reducing disparities and inequities, enhancing surveillance and data usage, and achieving coordinated efforts among all stakeholders. Efforts focus on hepatitis A through C and require participation from national, state, local and tribal organizations as well as healthcare providers.
Individual states are also implementing their own elimination strategies. For example, the Minnesota Department of Health launched a Viral Hepatitis Elimination Plan outlining more than 100 actions aimed at preventing, diagnosing, treating and responding to viral hepatitis A, B and C. Jessica Hancock-Allen said in a recent press release that, “preventing and treating viral hepatitis is essential to protecting the long-term health of Minnesotans across the state.”
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners provides several resources for nurse practitioners including infographics on adult vaccination guidelines for hepatitis A and B. An article in the Journal for Nurse Practitioners suggests that nurse practitioners can improve vaccination rates by providing patient reminders, scheduling follow-up visits preemptively, and offering referral pathways.
Additional educational materials such as downloadable guides on prevention methods are available through AANP’s website. Nurse practitioners can also access podcast episodes featuring experts discussing populations most at risk for infection and strategies during outbreaks. Continuing education opportunities include presentations at upcoming conferences as well as online courses covering transmission differences between types of viral hepatitis.
Nurse practitioners interested in further engagement can join AANP’s Infectious Disease/HIV and Immunology-Rheumatology Community, which offers resources on disease containment strategies along with professional development opportunities.
