Hepatitis C Virus

Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV can cause scarring (cirrhosis) of the liver and even liver cancer. The liver is the largest organ inside the body and works as a filter, factory and storage tank. The liver helps with digestion and fighting disease. HCV is spread when blood that contains HCV gets into your blood stream.

In the United States, injecting drugs with needles, syringes or other injecting equipment used by a person who has HCV is the most common way to get infected. For a minority of people, hepatitis C is a short-term illness, but for most who become infected develop a long-term, chronic infection. HCV is the only viral infection curable with medication.

People with newly acquired HCV infection usually are without symptoms or have mild symptoms that are unlikely to prompt a visit to a healthcare professional. When symptoms do occur, they can include fever, right sided abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Some people may notice their skin looking yellow (jaundice). A blood test can determine if a person has been exposed to the HCV virus (antibody screening test), while another test indicates if there is a chronic infection (HCV RNA viral load). Several types of healthcare workers can effectively provide care for people infected with HCV, including internal medicine and family medicine physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and pharmacists. Over 90% of people infected with HCV can be cured of their infection, with 8–12 weeks of safe, effective, well-tolerated pills. Once cured, people with liver scarring (cirrhosis) need life-long medical follow-up. People at risk of reinfection need long-term repeat HCV RNA retesting and help with preventing reinfection.

For more information visit www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv and HCVguidelines.org
For HCV testing, please talk to your primary care provider
or visit one of the HCV testing sites listed here

Clinics which Provide Hepatitis C Treatment in Rhode Island

Clinic NameHealthcare worker or Clinician name (s)Clinic LocationClinic Contact InfoClinic
Website
Lifespan Infectious Diseases ClinicKaren Tashima, MD
Jennie Johnson, MD
Curt Beckwith, MD
Marguerite Neill, MD
Joseph Garland, MD
Jerome Larkin, MD
Maria Mileno, MD
Donald Rice, MD
Natasha Rybak, MD
Martha Sanchez, MD
180 Corliss St, 3rd Floor
Providence, RI 02904
401-793-2928https://www.lifespan.org/centers-services/infectious-diseases
Open Door HealthPhilip A. Chan, MD, MS
Michaela Maynard, NP
7 Central Street, Providence, RI 02907401-648-4700https://odhpvd.org/
University GastroenterologyThomas Sepe, MD, FAASLD, FACG, AGAF33 Staniford Street Providence, RI 02905
 
148 West River Street, Suite 3, Providence, RI 02904
 
1407 South County Trail, Building 4, East Greenwich, RI 02818
 
110 Clock Tower Square
Portsmouth, RI 02874
 
(16 satellite locations)
401-421-8800
 
 
 
401-421-6306
 
 
 
401-886-4040
 
 
 
 
401-293-5600
https://www.universitygi.com/health-topics#hepatitis_c
Thundermist Health CenterSapna Chowdhry, MD

Michael Poshkus, MD
450 Clinton Street Woonsocket, RI 02895

186 Providence Street, West Warwick, RI 02893
401-767-4100

401-615-2800
https://www.thundermisthealth.org/
Gastroenterology AssociatesBrett Kalmowitz, MD44 West River Street
Providence, RI 02904
 
333 School Street, Suite 303, Pawtucket, RI 02860
 
905 Pontiac Avenue
Cranston, RI 02910
 
1 Commerce Street, 2nd Floor Lincoln, RI 02865
401-274-4800https://newenglandgastro.com/
Providence Community Health CenterVinod Thomas, MD40 Candace Street Providence, RI 02905401-415-4972https://www.providencechc.org/
Tri-County Health CenterWill Giordano-Perez, MD, AAHIVS, EMBA
Elizabeth Langthorn, MD, MPH
Nicole Coggins, APRN
Rose Tilus, FNP
Edmundo Smith, FNP
Maria Gilman, NP
Karen LaChapelle, RNP
1126 Hartford Avenue Johnston, RI 02919401-519-1940https://www.tricountyri.org/
Blackstone Valley Community Health CareCharlie Imonah, DNP39 East Avenue Pawtucket, RI 02860401-722-0081https://www.bvchc.org/
Gastrointestinal Medicine Associates, Inc.Robert Bierwirth, MD1150 Reservoir Avenue,
 Ste 201, Cranston, RI 02920
401-943-1303https://gimedri.com/

Important: Please contact each individual clinic for information on financial assistance for uninsured patients and accepted insurance plans.

Additional resources:

APRI | ACOS | PWR | CODAC