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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Catherine A. O'Connor, MSN, ACRN¹, Carol A. Patsdaughter, PhD, ACRN², David Patterson, RN, MSN(c)¹, Adam Butler³, and Eliza J. Wheeler, BA⁴. (1) Bouve College of Health Sciences - School of Nursing, Northeastern University, 102 Robinson Hall Room 207A, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, 781-964-3856, hivinnovations@aol.com, (2) Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, HLS II-569, Miami, FL 33199, (3) Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Services, Boston Public Health Commission, 723 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, (4) Harm Reduction Services, Cambridge Cares About AIDS, Inc., 17 Sellers St., Cambridge, MA 02131

Background: The Next Stop Care Project is an initiative involving NEP staff in collaboration with senior nursing students and faculty to prevent illness due to viral hepatitis. Involvement of health departments and an academic institution have been integral to model development and implementation. Target Population: The target population includes clients from two NEP's, which include active injection drug users with co-morbid conditions of mental illness, homelessness, poly-substance use, viral hepatitis, and/or HIV infection. Project Description: This project provides clients accessing NEP's with viral hepatitis prevention education, vaccination and referral services for primary and specialty care which may be difficult to access through traditional venues. Services are provided by senior nursing students and faculty for one six hour session weekly. Clients are engaged through street outreach and a mobile health van utilizing a harm reduction philosophy. Clients' past histories of screening and immunizations for viral hepatitis are assessed. Food incentives are offered for client participation. Results/Lessons Learned: This initiative has allowed for experiential learning for students through collaborative efforts while delivering a viral hepatitis prevention and education program to NEP clients. State and municipal health departments in collaboration with academic institutions may consider this model as a way to maximize resources for underserved clients in an environment of fiscal constraint to meet the needs of emerging and underserved populations at risk for and living with viral hepatitis.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation participants will be able to

1.Describe a mobile model that (
• assesses immunization and screening history for viral hepatitis and (
• delivers viral hepatitis prevention education, vaccine distribution and referral for specialty care to Needle Exchange Program (NEP) participants.
• Discuss innovative strategies that maximize resources for active injection drug users at risk for or living with viral hepatitis in a climate of fiscal constraint.

Keywords: Syringe Exchange, Hepatitis B

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered