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Hepatitis C Virus

Find assessment and management information at Brisbane South HealthPathways under:

Useful management information

  • Consider alternative referral pathways (local availability) including treatment options in primary care
  • HCV RNA (patient is eligible for one test per year under Medicare)

Medical management

  • Screening and vaccination for Hepatitis A for patients
  • Screening and vaccination for Hepatitis B of sexual contacts and immediate family members
  • Natural history of disease, transmission risks and precautions
  • Lifelong monitoring of disease for hepatocellular cancer screening with USS and AFP if advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis disclosure and treatment options
  • Address misuse of other substance (illicit and prescription drugs)
  • Lifestyle modification (increased activity, dietary, weight, smoking, alcohol)
  • Consider cessation of alcohol, hepatotoxic medication, herbal preparations, supplements, NSAIDs and benzodiazepines

Useful assessment and management information can be found at Brisbane South HealthPathways under:

Minimum referral criteria (Does your patient meet the minimum criteria?)

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?

Category 1
(appointment within 30 calendar days)

If you feel your patient meets Category 1 criteria, please mark “urgent” on your referral

  • Acute and/or chronic Hepatitis C with concerning features or ALT >500
    • Evidence of liver decompensation i.e. jaundice and/or ascites and/or encephalopathy

NB: For urgent drainage for ascites collection, please contact the PAH Hepatology Fellow/Registrar on-call to discuss the case and arrange the appropriate management

Category 2
(appointment within 90 calendar days)
  • Acute and/or chronic Hepatitis C without concerning features
Category 3
(appointment within 365 calendar days)
  • No category 3 criteria

If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria

  • Find assessment and management information at Brisbane South HealthPathways under:
  • If the patient does not meet the criteria for referral but the referring practitioner believes the patient requires specialist review, a clinical override may be requested:
    • Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
    • Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service

Standard referral information (To be included in all referrals)

Reason for request

  • To establish a diagnosis
  • For treatment or intervention
  • For advice and management
  • For specialist to take over management
  • Reassurance for GP/second opinion
  • For a specified test/investigation the GP can't order, or the patient can't afford or access
  • Reassurance for the patient/family
  • For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
  • Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary

Relevant clinical information about the condition

  • Presenting symptoms (evolution and duration)
  • Physical findings
  • Details of previous treatment (including systemic and topical medications prescribed) including the course and outcome of the treatment
  • All conservative options that have been pursued unsuccessfully prior to referral
  • Body mass index (BMI)
  • Details of any associated medical conditions which may affect the condition or its treatment (e.g. diabetes, BMI), noting these must be stable and controlled prior to referral
  • Any special care requirements where relevant (e.g tracheostomy in place, oxygen required)
  • Current medications and dosages
  • Drug allergies
  • Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use
  • A comprehensive capture of information in relation to MSH Referral Criteria

Clinical modifiers

  • The presence of clinical modifiers may impact the categorisation of the patient.
  • Impact on employment
  • Impact on education
  • Impact on home
  • Impact on activities of daily living functioning – low/medium/high
  • Impact on ability to care for others
  • Impact on personal frailty or safety
  • Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

Patient's Demographic Details

  • Full name (including aliases)
  • Date and country of birth
  • Residential and postal address including whether patient resides at an aged care facility
  • Telephone contact number/s – home, mobile and alternative
  • Medicare number (where eligible)
  • Name of the parent or caregiver (if appropriate)
  • Name of delegate and contact details (Department of Corrective Services)
  • Preferred language and interpreter requirements
  • Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
  • Any special needs, access requirements and/or disability relevant to the referral

Referring Practitioner Details

  • Full name
  • Full address
  • Contact details – telephone, fax, email
  • Provider number
  • Date of referral
  • Signature
  • Nominated general practitioner’s details (if known), if the nominated general practitioner is different from the referring practitioner

Other relevant information

  • Willingness to have surgery (where surgery is a likely intervention)
  • Choice to be treated as a public or private patient
  • Compensable status (e.g. DVA, Work Cover, Motor Vehicle Insurance, etc.)

 

Essential referral information for Hepatitis C Virus referrals (Referral will be returned without this)

  • Height, weight and BMI
  • ELFT, FBC, HBV, HIV, Fasting glucose & Lipids results
  • HCV serology results
  • HCV RNA qualitative/quantitative and genotype
  • Upper abdominal USS reports

If a specific test result is unable to be obtained due to access, financial, religious, cultural or consent reasons a Clinical Override may be requested. This reason must be clearly articulated in the body of the referral.

Additional referral information for Hepatitis C Virus referrals

  • Alcohol and illicit drug history
  • Medication history including non-prescription medications, herbs, supplements
  • Record of previous liver function tests, imaging and/or liver biopsy results

Out of catchment

Metro South Health is responsible for providing public health services to the people who reside within its boundaries. Special consideration is made for patients requiring tertiary care or services that are not provided by their local Hospital and Health Service.  If your patient lives outside the Metro South Health area and you wish to refer them to one of our services, inclusion of information regarding their particular medical and social factors will assist with the triaging of your referral.

Last updated 10 January 2023