Holy Name Press Releases

Holy Name Medical Center Offering Free Hepatitis B Screening For Chinese Americans

Free Hepatitis C Testing Also Offered

March 10, 2016

Holy Name Medical Center is offering free screenings for hepatitis B, a viral infection that can attack the liver and often causes no symptoms. The hospital's Chinese Medical Program is using a $50,000 grant awarded by the Center for Viral Hepatitis (CVH) – a leading non-profit organization for hepatitis B screening and linkage to care – for the testing, focusing on the Chinese American population where the disease is so prevalent.

"Holy Name has become a national model for delivering culturally-appropriate care and part of that mission is knowing the specific needs of our diverse communities," said Michael Maron, President and CEO of Holy Name. "We are pleased to be able to offer, among our advanced medical practices, the education, screenings and treatment for diseases that are so common in our different populations."

Nearly one out of every 20 Americans is infected with the hepatitis B virus, which is transmitted through blood and bodily fluids, often from mother to child during childbirth. But the virus is much more common in members of the Asian community: Asian Americans are at least 10 times more likely to have or develop hepatitis B than Caucasians.

In an attempt to reach a large number of people within the Chinese-American community, staff members and volunteers of the Chinese Medical Program are organizing screenings at community churches. Hepatitis B screenings and vaccines are also available at the hospital's Teaneck campus.

"We are grateful to be able to partner with the CVH for the hepatitis B screening program," said Kyung Hee Choi, Vice President of Asian Health Services at Holy Name. "Chinese Americans have the highest prevalence rate in populations in this area and getting the screening done is the first step in achieving early detection and preventive care for this community."

Many people with the virus do not experience symptoms and don't know they are infected. Those who do have symptoms may have yellowing of the skin and eyes, dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

When left untreated, 25 percent of those carrying the virus will develop a chronic liver infection, cirrhosis of the liver or liver failure that can result in death. Treatment can stop the progression of the acute disease and chronic hepatitis B infection can be successfully treated with drugs.

The most effective way to prevent the hepatitis B infection is with vaccination. Financial subsidies for vaccines are available for those with low incomes. Anyone interested in learning more about being screened or receiving a hepatitis B vaccination should call 201-833-3388.

Holy Name is also offering free hepatitis C testing through the emergency department for baby boomers, anyone born between 1945 and 1965. The hepatitis C virus is prevalent among this population, for reasons not quite understood, and Holy Name is using a $300,000 Gilead Sciences grant to fund the screenings. It is the only Bergen County hospital providing the free testing. For information about hepatitis C, call 201-833-3344.