Featured Partner

The CDC NPIN Featured Partner resource offers HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STD, and TB prevention-focused organizations a platform to showcase their services, programs, and materials. Our goal is to highlight the work of CDC's prevention partners and encourage partners to connect with each other to share information and strategies. Organizations are nominated by CDC or their peers, or are self-nominated. Those selected are featured on the NPIN Web site for the month.

In 2006, The Seattle STD/HIV Prevention and Training Center (Seattle PTC), on behalf of the National Network of STD/HIV Prevention Training Centers (NNPTC) and the Northwest AIDS Education and Training Center, (NWAETC) in partnership with the University of Washington Schools of Medicine, and Public Health and Community Medicine, created a comprehensive, interactive case-based Web site for delivery of educational content on viral hepatitis. The overall objectives of this effort are to support, develop, implement, and evaluate health education activities to prevent and control viral hepatitis and its consequences.

This program integrates multiple aspects of viral hepatitis prevention in the context of public health programs, including those aspects that provide care and assessment for persons at risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STD), including HIV/AIDS. The program includes specific modules for provider training that use a case-based format, evidence-based approaches, and guidance for counseling and educating patients, including those with substance abuse issues and in corrections facilities. Recognizing that health educators and counselors provide critical support to people at risk for or living with viral hepatitis, an additional track was developed for health educators and counselors. In addition, the site offers free continuing medical education (CME) credits and continuing nursing education (CNE) credits. As of March 2013 over 5,000 CME and 6,000 CNE credits have been issued.

Evaluation feedback and the number of CE credits awarded for this case-based approach are indicators of success. However, with this success, a second need emerged through the new and ongoing discussions with colleagues both in clinical practice and in educational institutions: a visually appealing, updated, comprehensive, modular, and evidence-based course that would summarize the major developments in the fast-moving field of hepatitis C diagnosis, monitoring, and management.

The Hepatitis Training Center was a leader in this effort, with Dr. Spach beginning in 2012 to develop what is now a new online curriculum that utilizes a novel and very user-friendly platform to deliver a comprehensive Hepatitis C Online course. This new Hepatitis C Online Course (http://hepatitisc.uw.edu/) features six learning modules:

1. Screening and Diagnosis of Hepatitis C Infection
2. Evaluation, Staging, and Monitoring of Chronic Hepatitis C
3. Management of Cirrhosis-Related Complications
4. Evaluation and Preparation for Hepatitis C Treatment
5. Treatment of Hepatitis C Infection
6. Treatment of Special Populations and Special Situations

Each module has multiple lessons and each lesson includes core concept summaries, mini-lectures, review of best practices, resources and guidelines, self-assessment knowledge quizzes, assessments of applied clinical scenarios, a master progress tracker, a visual glossary, and a master hepatitis C bibliography. CME and CNE credits will be provided.

This project features a strong collaboration with the International Antiviral Society-USA (IAS-USA), whose nationally recognized expert faculty are creating content and lectures for the course.

Contact the NPIN Outreach Team for more information on Featured Partner nominations—info@cdcnpin.org

Archives

Visit the Featured Partner Archive to learn about other Featured Partners.