CASE STUDIES FOSTERING A HEALTH-FOCUSED COMMUNITY
The Story of a Journey of One Hepatitis
Patient with Baylor Shape the Future of Health in Communities by Being
Among Adolescents and Young Adults
The new interferon free hepatitis C treatment has
dramatically changed the lives of people living with
hepatitis C because it offers the hope of a quick
cure. But how easy is to access treatment and what
happens after the treatment is over? How often are
the patients supposed to see their physician and
why? How important is to have a healthy lifestyle?
Baylor Black Sea Foundation provides answers to
these questions for our beneficiaries.
One patient in our care is now a 73-year-old male. He
was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2012, when he was
67, through the Baylor infectious diseases screening
service. Because of his age he was not eligible for
the interferon treatment, the only one available at
that time. He enrolled himself for monitoring in the
care and support program for patients with chronic
hepatitis. However, he became eligible for the new
interferon free treatment in 2016, when patients with
stage 4 fibrosis were, finally, included in the national
treatment program.
Enrolled in treatment in September 2017 at 71 years
old, he was adherent and had a good evolution,
closely following the lifestyle recommendations.
The patient obtained sustained virologic response in
March 2018. He received financial help from Baylor
for the evaluation lab tests that are not included in
the medical insurance. For both treatment and follow
up, the patient travelled constantly to Bucharest
because the attending physician transferred to
Bucharest after the man began treatment. After the
end of the treatment, the patient continued to be
part of the Baylor follow-up program, which reminds
patients about their doctor visits and lifestyle
recommendations. He understood that the effects
the virus had on the liver remained and that close
medical monitoring is mandatory even after the end
of a successful treatment.
The mandatory follow-up period for HCV patients is
up to three months after treatment completion. Our
patient’s follow-up plan included medical evaluations
at six months in the first year and once a year from
the second year. At his 2019 medical evaluation, he
was diagnosed with hepatocarcinoma, a form of liver
cancer. The patient went through surgery to have his
liver nodules removed. He is now recovering at home
with support from his family and from Baylor staff. He
credits Baylor for his quick diagnosis: He understood
the importance of his doctor’s follow-up plan and
stuck with it.
It is vital for Baylor Black Sea Foundation to integrate health education among
the other services it provides, and therefore the team constantly works to
inspire the young generations to live healthy lives. In 2019, our psychologists
spent time with kids in both urban and rural areas of Constanţa County.
Mihai Viteazul Technological
High School, Mihai Viteazu
Mircea cel Bătrân College,
Constanța
Ion Bănescu Technological
College, Mangalia
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