Resources

Past Presentation

HCV Diagnosis and Linkage to Care in One Visit: HCV RNA PoC Testing in Action | July 22, 2026

Date of Presentation: July 22, 2026

Type: Past Presentation  

Audience: Clinical  

Program: Hepatitis C  

Keywords: #elimination  #hcv  #hep  #hep c  #hepatitis  #point of care  #rna  #Screening  

In this presentation, Dr. Mera provides an overview of point-of-care HCV RNA testing and its role in enabling hepatitis C diagnosis and linkage to care within a single visit. He reviews practical implementation strategies and clinical considerations for integrating HCV RNA point-of-care testing into routine practice to improve timely treatment initiation.

Presented by:

Dr. Jorge Mera
Dr. Jorge Mera
Faculty

Dr. Jorge Mera is the director of the Infectious Disease Department at the Cherokee Nation Health Services, the largest tribally operated health care system in the United States. In 2014, in response the HCV national epidemic he launched the first ProjectECHO hub in the state of Oklahoma. This hub was focused on Hepatitis C treatment and elimination and has provided treatment recommendations to over 1400 American Indian/Alaska Native patients with HCV. In addition, Dr. Mera has been instrumental in the implementation of other ECHO hubs across Indian Country. These hubs have focused on COVID-19, HIV, HIV PrEP, infectious diseases, substance use disorders and eliminating the HIV/HCV/SUD/Syphilis syndemic. Dr. Mera completed his fellowship in Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas and is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Infectious Diseases. He is an Associate Professor in the Infectious Diseases Division at the University of New Mexico, Health Science Center, Strategic Advisor for Project ECHO in Latin America, as well as the ECHO Medical Director for the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. Dr. Mera is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.

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Resources Provided:

Date added: July 10, 2026