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.
Search Results
Displaying 1 - 10 of 47
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
The HIV Clinical Pharmacist Services intervention shortens the time between referral to and engagement in care by allowing newly referred clients to see pharmacists in addition to other clinical providers for their initial appointment. This intervention is supported by findings from a retrospective cohort study that took place from 2013 to 2017 at a RWHAP-funded clinic. In addition to significantly decreasing the time between referral and initial visit, clients who saw a pharmacist also experienced shortened time to antiretroviral therapy initiation and viral suppression compared to those who only saw non-pharmacist providers.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
People with HIV; People with a new diagnosis of HIV
Linkage to HIV medical care; Prescription of antiretroviral therapy; Viral suppression
Clinical service delivery model; Systems/structural interventions
Oklahoma City, OK
The Undetectables is a client-centered model of integrated care that uses innovative, superhero-themed, anti-stigma social marketing, agency cultural change, and a toolkit of evidence-based antiretroviral therapy adherence strategies to support treatment adherence and viral suppression among people with HIV. A two-year demonstration project evaluation showed a significant increase in the proportion of clients who were virally suppressed from 39% to 62%.
Emerging Intervention
People with diagnosed mental illness; People who are unstably housed; People experiencing food insecurity; People who use drugs; People with a history of trauma
Viral suppression
Clinical service delivery model; Systems/structural interventions
New York City, NY
The PC4H initiative employs a mobile app and a digital literacy workshop to improve engagement, retention in care, and medication adherence for young people with HIV. These strategies aim to reach young people who are disproportionately affected by HIV, including young men who have sex with men, young transgender women, and youth of color, with a focus on serving people who know their status but are inconsistently engaged in care. Developed by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Philadelphia FIGHT, PC4H was evaluated through the RWHAP Part F SPNS Social Media Initiative. The evaluation found that PC4H had positive impacts on retention in care and viral suppression.
Emerging Intervention
Black/African American people; Youth ages 13 to 24; Young adults ages 25 to 34; Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM); Transgender men
Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression; Beyond the care continuum
Use of technology and mobile health
Philadelphia, PA
This intervention to rapidly re-house people with HIV was implemented at multiple New York City shelters and was associated with significant improvements in viral suppression.
Evidence-Based Intervention
People who are unstably housed
Viral suppression; Beyond the care continuum
Support service delivery model
New York, NY
The RWHAP Part F SPNS program funded the Building a Medical Home for Multiply Diagnosed HIV-Positive Homeless Populations initiative from 2012–2017, to provide coordinated housing supports and HIV, behavioral and mental health care to people experiencing homelessness. Nine funded demonstration sites created partnerships with housing providers, integrated behavioral health and HIV care, and provided intensive patient navigator services. A multi-demonstration site evaluation found that, compared to baseline, participants were more likely to be virally suppressed after 12 months in the intervention.
Evidence-Based Intervention
People who are unstably housed
Retention in HIV medical care; Prescription of antiretroviral therapy; Viral suppression; Beyond the care continuum
Support service delivery model
Pasadena, San Diego County, San Francisco, CA
New Haven, CT
Jacksonville, FL
Cumberland, Hoke, Harnett, Johnston, and Sampson Counties, NC
Multnomah County, OR
Dallas and Harris Counties, TX
The Max Clinic, located within the University of Washington’s Harborview Medical Center complex in Seattle, offers walk-in services and incentives to clients reengaging in HIV care, especially those who have not been well served by the traditional health care model—including clients who are experiencing homelessness, or who have mental health and substance use issues. The Max Clinic offers rapid antiretroviral therapy, incentives, a flexible clinical model, and access to comprehensive support services. Max Clinic clients were significantly more likely to reach viral suppression after 12 months than a comparable control group.
Evidence-Based Intervention
People with HIV who are not in care
Viral suppression
Clinical service delivery model
Seattle, WA
This data-to-care (D2C) initiative, implemented by the San Francisco Department of Public Health and its affiliated clinics from 2015–2017, used three sources of data to identify people not in care: HIV surveillance data, healthcare provider referrals, and electronic health record (EHR) data. LINCS navigators then used disease intervention searching tools and EHR data to locate clients and connect them to an HIV care provider. LINCS navigators followed up with clients for 90 days to support engagement in care. LINCS participants were more likely to be retained in care and virally suppressed after the intervention than before.
Evidence-Based Intervention
People with HIV who are not in care
Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Outreach and reengagement activities; Data utilization approach
San Francisco, CA
Five clinics implemented Tailored Motivational Interviewing (TMI) to better serve young people with HIV as part of a RWHAP Part F SPNS initiative. Motivational interviewing is a well-documented approach to engage youth in care and facilitate behavior change in a variety of contexts. Clients participating in TMI received integrated HIV medical care and TMI, and demonstrated improved engagement in care and health outcomes.
Evidence-Based Intervention
Youth ages 13 to 24
Viral suppression
Support service delivery model
Los Angeles, CA
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Baltimore, MD
Detroit, MI
Philadelphia, PA
LINK LA is a 12-session, 24-week peer navigation intervention for people with HIV who are scheduled to be released from incarceration. LINK LA peer navigators focus on behavioral changes that promote medication adherence and retention in care, while providing social support and facilitating communication with medical providers. LINK LA showed improvements in linkage to and retention in HIV care and viral suppression among people with HIV re-entering the community after incarceration.
Evidence-Based Intervention
People who are justice involved
Linkage to HIV medical care; Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Outreach and reengagement activities; Support service delivery model
Los Angeles, CA