St. Louis-based SSM Health is offering routine HIV and hepatitis C testing for patients in Wisconsin emergency rooms to identify and treat those unaware they are infected, the Wisconsin State Journal reports.
The health system expanded testing to ER patients in April.
"It's a population that has a lot of unmet needs," said Eric Huckins, a pharmacy supervisor at SSM Health. "Most patients aren't going to show symptoms until it's too late, where they're going to have an opportunistic infection that's going to kill them or debilitate them. Now, with this screening program, we can identify them, link them into care and get them treated."
Madison, Wis.-based UnityPoint Health-Meriter offers the tests in the ER to patients with emergent risks, including those who have been sexually assaulted, spokesperson Leah Huibregtse told the Wisconsin State Journal.
Using a $200,000 grant from Gilead Sciences, SSM Health hired two coordinators for the testing program.
Physicians or nurses offer the tests to ER patients in targeted age groups, and patients can refuse. Patients receive results within a few days, and can be referred for treatment if they test positive.
Fewer than 5 percent of eligible patients have agreed to testing. The goal is to reach 20 percent or more. Mr. Huckins attributes the low percentage to stigma, and hopes public education can help raise this number.