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Michelle Thorne, MSN, FNP-BC, AAHIVS
Calhoun County Public Health Department
Practice Address: 190 East Michigan Avenue, Battle Creek, MI 49014
Provider Specialty: Family Medicine
Supplemental Services Offered: STI/HIV testing and treatment, PrEP and nPEP services, Family Planning services, and Hepatitis C testing and treatment
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What are successes and barriers to testing or treating hepatitis C?
The greatest success is making a difference in someone's life. These people come to the clinic and feel like they have been treated like dirt because of a diagnosis they have been given. Once you call them to let them know they are cured, they are so very happy and self-motivated!
The greatest barrier is trying to get them to stick with the process and return when they should. Many just fall out of care and quit taking their meds or forget to return for the 3-month blood draw. I try to impress upon them how important the follow-up is. Unfortunately, they continue to forget or move on and then we don't officially get the CURED diagnosis!
Can you share an experience with the ease of treating hepatitis C?
At first, I was so intimidated about looking at all the labs and medications and afraid I would do something wrong or miss something. I frequently called the MATEC Hepatitis C Consultation line [313-962-2000] having 2-3 cases to review. One day after sending in 6 cases to review the ID physician said to me, "Michelle, you have got this. We do not need to review every case you have. Just give us the complicated ones!" That was when I knew I was ready to do this on my own with just some back up from the experts with difficult cases.
What is something you'd like to share with other providers who may not yet be testing and treating their patients for hepatitis C?
This is such an easy way to make such a huge difference in your patient's lives. The [MDHHS clinical] consultation groups make it so easy for you to follow criteria and to know what a simplified case is and what should be referred due to its difficulty.
What are your thoughts on the We Treat Hep C Initiative?
Without having barriers removed, such as Medicaid prior authorizations, substance abuse cessation and referral to ID or GI for treatment*, I would have never been able to initiate such a positive impact on a very marginalized population.
*Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan beneficiaries living with hepatitis C can be cured at little to no cost regardless of the prescriber's specialty, patient's past or current use of alcohol or drugs, or liver damage. For more information, visit: We Treat Hep C - Information for Health Care Providers.
Please share any additional thoughts or takeaways.
Using a step-by-step approach has made this process very straightforward for me. I cannot tell you how appreciative the clients are and they are the ones that market my services. They tell each other to come get treated and how easy it is. I never tire of telling someone they are CURED of hepatitis C!
Contact Michelle Thorne: mthorne@calhouncountymi.gov
New to curing hepatitis C? Free clinician-to-clinician support is available!
Webinars:
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MI-TRAIN - We Treat Hep C: Focus on Michigan Medicaid
0.75 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Purpose, Objective, and Disclosures Document | Course Link
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MI-TRAIN - We Treat Hep C: Eliminating HCV in Michigan
1.50 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Purpose, Objective, and Disclosures Document | Course Link
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Empire Liver Foundation - Special Topics in Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis C Treatment in People Experiencing Homelessness
- Thursday, November 21, 2024 (4:30 pm-5:30 pm EST)
- 1 CME/CNE/CEU
- Hepatitis C in People of Reproductive Age, Pregnancy and Children
- Thursday, December 5, 2024 (4:30 pm-5:30 pm EST)
- 1 CME/CNE/CEU
Register
Fact Sheets:
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We Treat Hep C: Clinical Fact Sheet - clinical fact sheet summarizing hepatitis C, the We Treat Hep C initiative, CDC hepatitis C testing recommendations, and provider trainings and resources.
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We Treat Hep C: Patient Fact Sheet - public-facing fact sheet summarizing hepatitis C, the We Treat Hep C initiative, CDC hepatitis C testing recommendations, hepatitis C treatment, and resources for the public.
Henry Ford Hepatitis C Clinical Consultation Program - a free consultation line is available Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. for all health care professionals with questions about HCV disease management and treatment 313-575-0332. Non-urgent inquiries/consults can be submitted here for a response within 24-48 hours.
Midwest AIDS Training + Education Center (MATEC) Michigan - offers free hepatitis C clinical decision support and consultation on a monthly basis available to all health care professionals. Click here for the session schedule and registration information. For all other consultation, technical assistance, or training requests, call 313-962-2000, or e-mail MATECMichigan@wayne.edu.
Overdose Prevention Engagement Network (OPEN) - provides hepatitis C provider consultations for substance use related cases and education, both online learning and live webinars. In addition, OPEN has a number of programs offering various resources to communities and providers. To learn more, click here.
Michigan State University & Michigan Center for Rural Health - Assist providers and members of the health care team throughout northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula to manage infectious disease patients more effectively and confidently through Project ECHO model. Free CME available.
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