STOP-HCV-HCC Program: Privacy-Preserving Innovation for Remote Data Access Analytics at Federally Qualified Health...

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Public Health Informatics
• Cancer Prevention

Background:

• Hepatitis C (HCV) and Hepatitis B (HBV) are leading causes of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC).
• Electronic health record (EHR) systems present barriers to effective data reporting for public health programs.
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) serve vulnerable populations crucial for screening and prevention efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement a novel cloud-based platform for the STOP-HCV-HCC program.
• To overcome EHR-related barriers in reporting for HCV and HBV screening and HCC prevention.
• To facilitate data collection without direct data transfer from FQHCs.

Main Methods:

• Deployment of a privacy-preserving, cloud-based platform across four FQHCs in South Texas.
• Integration of the platform to enable reporting on HCV screening, treatment, HBV vaccination, and HCC prevention activities.
• Utilizing a system designed to avoid direct electronic health record data transfer.

Main Results:

• Successful implementation of the cloud platform in a real-world clinical setting.
• Demonstrated feasibility of a privacy-preserving reporting system for public health initiatives.
• Established a model for overcoming EHR interoperability challenges in FQHCs.

Conclusions:

• The cloud-based platform effectively addresses EHR barriers for public health reporting.
• This privacy-preserving approach supports comprehensive hepatitis C and B management and HCC prevention.
• The initiative enhances the capacity of FQHCs to participate in critical public health screening programs.