title: Provision of on-site medical care to patients with hepatitis C in drug treatment units.
abstract: Substance abusers are at high risk for hepatitis C (HCV) infection and also constitute a group that is medically underserved and hard to reach. We conducted a nationwide survey with 445 randomly selected drug treatment units in the United States to determine unit and patient characteristics associated with the provision of on-site medical services for HCV-infected drug users. Eighty-four percent of the 322 units that estimated having at least one HCV-infected patient reported that they provided patients with HCV-related medical care. Drug treatment units were more likely to provide at least some of this care on site if they were residential, part of a network, or affiliated with a hospital; had medical staff; and required that their patients undergo a medical examination before entering treatment. Some organizational factors appear to influence the provision of on-site medical services to HCV-positive patients in drug treatment units. Further research on the role of such factors could inform the development of effective models of care for patients with hepatitis C in drug treatment organizations.
authors.forename: Zdravko P
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Vassilev
authors.forename: Shiela M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: Janetta M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Astone
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Friedmann
authors.forename: Don C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Des Jarlais
mesh_terms: D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014481:United States