Quality of life and hepatology are important topics to us. Traditionally, hepatology has been considered a sub-specialty of gastroenterology that focuses on the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. As this area of study has grown, many doctors, known as hepatologists, have specialized in this field. We partner with these doctors to treat patients with hepatitis and more. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that 325 million people live with viral hepatitis B and C. At Paragon, though, you aren’t just another number or statistic; you are part of our family. We see the challenges you face and are here to provide clinical resources to best support you where you’re at on your journey. Our goal is to help you overcome hurdles related to your health, comfort, and happiness in order to improve your overall quality of life.

What is Quality of Life?

"Quality of Life" is defined as the standard of health, comfort, and happiness experienced by an individual or group. The CDC states, “Health is more than the absence of disease; it is a resource that allows people to realize their aspirations, satisfy their needs, and to cope with the environment to live a long, productive, and fruitful life.”

Quality of life asks questions like, “Do you perceive that your life is going well?” This question must consider your joy and grief, housing, employment, relationships, and overall sense of well-being. These factors are not easy to measure since well-being is a subjective concept, but these areas are critical to painting a picture of your quality of life.

What types of challenges do hepatology patients often face?

No two patients are the same, and neither is their experience with a hepatology condition. We know that a child’s experience is different from that of a teen, adult, or elderly patient with a similar condition. When you come on our service to treat your hepatology condition, our team considers multiple lifestyle factors when building your customized plan. We partner with your physician and you to ensure you have a care plan tailored to your specific needs.

Many patients with hepatitis or a related disease have reported the following:

• Feeling discomfort related to symptoms of their condition. Hepatitis and other related diseases can cause pain and discomfort for the patient. Each situation is different, but many patients may experience fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and more. These symptoms can interfere with how a patient feels throughout the day, making it essential to find positive ways to manage symptoms and the condition itself.
• Feeling embarrassed or anxious due to stigma about the disease. Many people with hepatitis C have reported high anxiety and exaggerated fear of transmitting the disease to another person. People with hepatitis B have frequently said that they face stigma and discrimination. While it may not be possible to eliminate the stigma surrounding hepatitis overnight, education and awareness can help relieve the confusion and fear of others.
• Feelings of isolation or frustration. For many people with hepatitis or a related condition, isolation often results from the perceived stigma surrounding the disease. You are not alone, though. Our team here at Paragon is ready to support you right where you’re at, with no judgment. We are here to provide you with clinical resources, education, and more.

There is hope. Our heart is to see you thrive in life and reach each goal you set for yourself, big or small. There are multiple online resources, community support groups, specialty therapies, and helpful information available. Whether you have been diagnosed with hepatitis or a related condition, we’re here to provide the infusible and injectable therapies needed to manage your symptoms and stop the progression. Together with your physician, caregivers, and family, we believe you can live your life to its fullest.

What resources are available to hepatology patients?

• American Liver Foundation – “Although liver disease is among the ten major causes of death in the United States, there was no national voluntary health agency devoted exclusively to combating liver diseases until 1976, when the American Liver Foundation was formed. ALF’s mission is to promote education, advocacy, support services, and research for the prevention, treatment, and cure of liver disease. These values guide our work as volunteers and staff of the American Liver Foundation as we move toward our ultimate goal of a world without liver disease. By living these values every day, we offer hope to all those affected by liver disease.”
• AASLD Foundation – “AASLD Foundation is a charitable organization that invests in innovative hepatology research and in the people who study and treat liver disease. We firmly believe that tomorrow's cures for liver disease need funding today, and we are dedicated to leading the way - with our generous supporters and talented researchers and clinicians - toward finding those cures. As the largest private supporter of hepatology research and career development in the United States, the Foundation fills the void between bright, talented researchers and clinicians and the financial resources needed to encourage their discovery, keep pace with the need for more physicians and health care professionals trained to provide care for patients with liver disease, and share cutting-edge hepatology knowledge with physicians worldwide.”
• Hepatitis Education Project – “The Hepatitis Education Project is committed to improving health of underserved communities disproportionately impacted by viral hepatitis. With authenticity and kindness, the relationships we build are grounded in the appreciation for a person’s autonomy. We admire self-expression, recognize the power of community, and promote the re-humanization of our health care system. We believe every person should have a fair opportunity to attain his or her full health potential, and no one should be disadvantaged from living a long, healthy life.”
• Hepatitis C Association – “The focus of the Hepatitis C Association is to educate the public, both patients and medical providers, about hepatitis C virus. We offer factual information through educational programs and support materials. We offer support and help with access to patients living with this insidious disease by making information available online, in our brochures, and as the Managing Partner of TSP, through Help-4-Hep, a peer-operated toll-free support line.”

As the healthcare industry shifts to focusing on gastroenterology and hepatology patients’ experience, physicians and providers alike are recognizing that happy and healthy patients are the sum total of a positive physical, mental, and emotional state. Quality of life is a term used to encompass more than just a patient’s physical symptoms from their health condition. Our goal is to empower you to take charge of your health by learning practical ways to manage your condition.

For more information about Paragon Healthcare, visit https://paragonhealthcare.com/.