Morgan E. Stacey, DNP, APRN, is the Liver Disease Clinical Advisor for the Hepatitis C CURES program at the University of Kentucky, where she helped design a simplified HCV treatment pathway that eliminates the need for an outpatient clinic visit. 

Under the CURES model, all adults undergoing labs in the UK Emergency Department are screened annually for HCV. Treatment-naïve patients with positive antibodies are evaluated by the CURES pharmacy team during their ED or inpatient encounter. Uncomplicated cases begin treatment at discharge; complex cases are referred to Hepatology with a complete workup in place; and previously treated patients are assessed for cure and ongoing care needs. 

The program aims to develop replicable, evidence-based models that improve HCV treatment access across Kentucky and Appalachia. Community hospitals have now adopted the CURES model, contributing to declining seroprevalence in the communities served.