Promotion of measures for patients who tested positive for the hepatitis virus by assigning epatitis medical care coordinators to the ophthalmology department

Abstract

Ophthalmology was the nonspecialty department in the hospital with the highest number of patients who tested positive for the hepatitis virus. Therefore, we investigated whether measures against patients with positive results would be improved by assigning hepatitis medical care coordinators to the ophthalmology department. We assigned three coordinators. As a result, the referral rates increased to 26.5% from 14.9%. In addition, the unsupported rate was defined as the percentage of patients who needed to be addressed, such as those who do not regularly visit the hospital among hepatitis virus positive patients. As a result, the unsupported rates were reduced from 42.5% to 4.1%. In conclusion, our findings suggested that assigning hepatitis medical care coordinators to nonspecialty departments can help boost hepatitis measures.