Project Summary
The Victorian Linkage to Information and Care for people notified with hepatitis B service pilot (LINC-B) is a twelve-month pilot program that aims to maximise linkage to healthcare services for people diagnosed with hepatitis B, and ensure they receive the information and care they need in a culturally appropriate and safe manner, as soon as possible following notification.
LINC-B is being led by the Victorian Infectious Diseases Services (Royal Melbourne Hospital) at the Doherty Institute.
Objectives
The LINC-B Service Pilot will seek to enhance and support (not duplicate) the work that LPHUs undertake in hepatitis B notification follow-up through workforce development; maintaining a system to monitor specialist clinic waitlists and access to hepatitis B s100 prescriber GPs across Victoria; and facilitating the connection of cases with appropriate GP or specialist services where LPHU staff identify this may be required.
LINC-B will build on recent changes to Victorian public health arrangements, with the establishment of Local Public Health Units (LPHUs) and integration of responsibility for follow-up for hepatitis B notifications.
Investigators
WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Project Lead: Prof Benjamin Cowie
Linkage to Care Coordinator: Mielle Abbott
System Navigator: Tepy Hoeung
Epidemiologist: Nicole Romero
Epidemiologist: Jennifer MacLachlan
Project Manager: Amelia Savage
Project Officer: Roisin McColl
Support
Sexual Health and Viral Hepatitis Program, Department of Health Victoria.