Physicians

The Liver Institute uses a multi-disciplinary team approach to provide you with the best, most-comprehensive care. At your first visit, you will meet with a benefits counselor who will help you navigate the insurance process. The Liver Institute accepts a variety of major insurances and even if you currently are uninsured, the benefits counselor may identify insurance options that you can obtain at no or little cost.

Patients will be assigned to one of our Infectious Disease or Internal Medicine physicians, who are experts in the field of Hepatitis B & C. We also have an on-site pharmacy team member who will provide you with personalized treatment education, including how to take your prescribed medication and potential side effects.

Why Get Treatment

Early treatment significantly reduces the risk of cirrhosis, liver cancer and the potential need for a liver transplant. If you received hepatitis C treatment before and didn't tolerate it or it didn't work, there are new Hepatitis C treatments which offer:

–Higher Efficacy and Cure Rates

–Reduced Side Effects

–Lower Pill Burdens (as low as one pill per day)

–Shorter Treatment Durations (average 12 weeks)

We accept most major health plans. Contact us to confirm your insurance is accepted.

Mission Statement

The Liver Institute's multidisciplinary team is dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized, state-of-the-art Hepatitis B & C care.

STATE OF THE ART FIBROSCAN TECHNOLOGY

FibroScan is also known as transient elastography and it is used to assess liver stiffness. The FibroScan machine sends a painless sound wave through your liver. The speed with which the wave passes through the liver is measured and is correlated with how elastic the liver is. A liver that is damaged or fibrotic is less elastic (or "stiff"); while a liver that is healthier is more elastic. The FibroScan results—along with your lab tests—allow us to assess the state of your liver and determine which hepatitis treatment is right for you.

Although it's been used for some time in Europe, FibroScan technology was first approved by the FDA in October 2013. It has quickly become a preferred method of measuring liver health since liver biopsies, an older testing method, was invasive and more risky. FibroScan is used to evaluate 1.5 million men, women and children each year. It has been featured in more than 750 peer-reviewed articles and is often used in hepatitis research studies.

What can I expect from the exam?

The exam is performed in our office and is painless, non-invasive (i.e., does not require needles or injectables) and requires no down time. This test gives us a real-time assessment of the health of your liver (how elastic it is). You will be asked to fast for 2-3 hours prior to your FibroScan test and the exam itself lasts about 10 minutes.

During your exam, you will be asked to lay down on your back with your right arm raised behind your head. Our experienced operator will place a small amount of ultrasound gel on the ultrasound probe and then move the probe on the skin over your liver. You will feel a bit of pressure but the test is not painful.

Dr. Hakim Serhrouchni, founder of West Village Eyecare Optometry practice began his specialized studies at Descartes College in Rabat, Morocco where he received his Bachelor's Degree in mathematics and science. He went on to Tours University of Medicine in France to study Optometry. Dr. Serhrouchni furthered his studies at the Center Of Optometry in Belgium and at the Institute of Audiology in Brussels. In 1991 Dr. Serhrouchni moved to the United States where he proceeded to further his education at Suny College of Optometry in New York and graduated with a doctorate degree.In 1998 Dr. Serhrouchni opened his own practice in New York City and founded West Village Eyecare. Using cutting edge technology, applying his international knowledge, and years of experience, Dr. Serhrouchni has become one of the most prominent and influential doctors in his field. His expertise and personalized patient care practices are highly regarded both in the United States and internationally. Dr. Serhrouchni is an active member of The American Optometric Association and The New York Optometric Association.Dr. Ann Chang graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in science and business management. She obtained her doctorate degree in optometry from New England College of Optometry in 1999. She has been on staff at the Ophthalmology Department at St. Barnabas Hospital since 2001. She also has worked as a contact lens specialist at the Corneal and Refractive Surgery of New York and co-managed pre and post-operative lasik patients for numerous years. She resides with her husband and daughter in Greenwich Village.Dr. Lisa DeClemente is experienced in all aspects of primary eye health and vision care. She graduated from SUNY State College of Optometry in 2003 and then went on to complete a residency in Primary Eye Care. While entering into private practice after her residency, "Dr. D" continued her research and was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. This distinction was bestowed after her demonstrated research and case work in several aspects of ocular health including dry eye and contact lenses. She is excited to bring her experience and knowledge to West Village Eyecare!