Patients closer to PCP location vs. specialists who provide HCV testing

PHILADELPHIA — Distance to a primary care provider office for a patient was shorter compared with a hepatologist, gastroenterologist or infectious disease specialist that can provide screening for hepatitis C virus infection, according to data presented at IDWeek 2014.

Researchers from the CDC analyzed HCV-related test records, including antibody, nucleic acid and host IL28B, provided by LabCorps that were conducted between February and July 2012 to evaluate the approximate distance patients traveled to visit a provider who administers HCV testing. SASHELP.zipfile was used by the researchers to calculate the median distance between the center of the patient and provider zip codes, by state and specialty.

There were 1,112,105 test records shared by LabCorps during the time period; 83% were antibody, 16% nucleic acid and less than 1% were IL28B.

Researchers found the HCV testing-to-provider ratio was 8 to 1, with infectious disease (23.7) and Hepatology (26.1) specialists ranking higher compared with family practice (6.4), general practice (6.6) and internal medicine (7.3) primary care providers.

The median distance a patient traveled to see a primary care provider for family practice (11.5 miles), general practice (10 miles) and internal medicine (8 miles) was shorter compared with median distance patients traveled to see a hepatologist or gastroenterologist (22.7 miles vs. 12.4 miles, respectively). The median travel distance was not different according to test type; 12 miles for antibody test and 12.4 miles for nucleic acid test.

The overall median distance between patient and provider zip codes was 12.1 miles.

“Patients were closer in proximity to primary care providers and if these can be trained to test and provide care and treatment, then more infected persons could be diagnosed,” the researchers stated in the abstract.

For more information:

Klevens M. Abstract 1151. Presented at: IDWeek, Oct. 8-12, 2014; Philadelphia, PA.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.