The RWHAP Best Practices Compilation gathers and disseminates interventions that improve outcomes along the HIV care continuum. Explore the Compilation to find inspiration and new ideas for improving the care of people with HIV. Learn more about the Best Practices Compilation and submit your innovation today for possible inclusion.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9
This nine-month program tailored services for people with HIV by bundling three to five evidence-informed care strategies for each client, such as mental health referrals, transportation assistance, appointment reminders, and pill boxes. A primary care physician, case manager, and pharmacist coordinated with each client to address their specific needs. After the intervention, 70.1% of previously non-suppressed clients were virally suppressed.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
People with HIV
Viral suppression
Support service delivery model
Kansas City, KS
POP-UP provides low-barrier comprehensive HIV primary care, substance use services, mental health services, and case management to people who are homeless and unstably housed with the goal of retaining clients in care and improving viral suppression. Among POP-UP participants, 44% who were unstably housed and not virally suppressed at the start of the study were virally suppressed 12 months after enrollment.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
People who are unstably housed
Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Clinical service delivery model
San Francisco, CA
The goals of the Emergency Department and Hospital-Based Data Exchange for Real-Time Data to Care (ED Alert) intervention are to reengage people with HIV in care and to improve viral suppression rates. This is achieved using a real-time data exchange system that connects clients presenting to the emergency department with health department linkage specialists. ED Alert increased viral load testing and viral suppression over six months following a provider visit in the post-intervention period.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
People with HIV who are not in care
Linkage to HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Clinical service delivery model; Data utilization approach
Seattle, WA
The University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Medicine (UNMC/NM) Specialty Care Center (SCC) is the largest provider of comprehensive HIV care—including primary and HIV-focused medical services as well as multiple support services—in Nebraska. In March 2020, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the clinic integrated telehealth into its care delivery model to continue serving patients beyond the clinic structure, and developed algorithms that allowed any team member to quickly identify a patient's eligibility for a telehealth visit. The algorithms include the date of the most recent office visit, stability of HIV disease, most recent viral load and CD4 count, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) refill histories as a proxy for medication adherence. Overall, viral suppression rates remained high for all patients regardless of visit type, indicating that telehealth is a successful alternative to in-person visits for providing HIV care.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
All clients
Viral suppression
Clinical service delivery model; Use of technology and mobile health
Omaha, NE
The University of Mississippi Medical Center implemented a Postpartum Retention and Engagement Quality Improvement Initiative in 2017 to improve linkage to care, retention in care, and viral suppression among postpartum women with HIV. This intervention uses a combination of care coordination, printed materials, case management services, and improved collaboration and coordination between the Adult Special Care Clinic, which provides comprehensive HIV medical care, and a Perinatal HIV Program. The comprehensive intervention significantly improved retention in HIV care and increased viral suppression at both six and 12 months postpartum.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
Women; Pregnant and postpartum people
Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Support service delivery model
Jackson, MS
Three participating clinics—MetroHealth, the University of Kentucky Bluegrass Care Clinic, and Centro Ararat—participated in a RWHAP Part F SPNS initiative from 2016 through 2019 to implement integrated buprenorphine treatment and HIV care. Research has shown that care integration improves HIV outcomes, engagement in substance use disorder treatment, and quality of life for people with HIV. Clients participating in this intervention received integrated opioid use disorder (OUD) and HIV care to improve retention in care, viral suppression, and engagement in OUD treatment.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
People with opioid use disorder
Linkage to HIV medical care; Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Clinical service delivery model
Cleveland, OH
Lexington, KY
Ponce, PR
Ten organizations across the U.S. integrated Community Health Workers (CHWs) into their multidisciplinary care teams. Enrolled clients had statistically significant improvements in viral suppression, antiretroviral therapy prescription, and appointment attendance after six months in the program.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
People with HIV
Retention in HIV medical care; Prescription of antiretroviral therapy; Viral suppression
Support service delivery model
Birmingham, AL
Mobile, AL
Fort Myers, FL
Lake Charles, LA
New Orleans, LA
Baltimore, MD
Routine Universal Screening for HIV (RUSH) provides non-medical case management services, opt-out HIV testing, and linkage to care for emergency department patients. The intervention automatically screens patients for HIV if they are aged 16 years or older, are having an IV inserted, or are having blood drawn for other reasons, unless the patient opts out. RUSH provides access to testing earlier in disease progression, bridging disparities that primarily impact people of color. It also promotes linkage to and retention in care for those with a positive HIV test result. Clients with a positive HIV test in the emergency department who had a prior diagnosis of HIV were more likely to be retained in care and to reach viral suppression.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
All clients
Linkage to HIV medical care; Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Clinical service delivery model
Houston, TX
Hispanic and Latino clients served by the team received culturally responsive care and linkages to external community resources, with resulting greater retention in care and improved viral suppression rates.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
Hispanic/Latina(o/x) people
Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Clinical service delivery model
Kansas City, MO