More adults of certain age groups are being asked by their doctor to voluntarily take an HIV and Hepatitis C test as part of their routine physical.
It’s part of an effort put in place earlier this year by the Everett Clinic to reach more patients. The Everett Clinic now routinely asks patients between the ages of 18-64 to get one-time HIV testing and people born between 1945-1965 to get Hepatitis C virus testing. Communications Director Michele Graves tells MyEverettNews.com it is part of their adult preventative guidelines…
“Our clinicians have been recommending these guidelines since 2014 as the right thing to do for our patients,” said Graves. “When our providers talk with their patients about the reasons for these screenings, most patients go ahead with them.”
Graves explained that a person with Hepatitis C may not have symptoms, but the virus causes serious liver disease. “It’s treatable,” said Graves. She added that treatment of HIV is also highly effective and can help prevent the spread of infection to others.
“Patients between certain ages are being asked,” said Graves. “It’s voluntary, recommended by our providers, an independent task force, and, yes, the CDC too.”
If you’d like to learn more, here’s a link to the Adult Preventive Guidelines used by The Everett Clinic.
September 3, 2016
Everett