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 - 10 of 10
The Navigator Case Management intervention helps people with HIV who are incarcerated and are leaving to return to the community. The intervention uses harm reduction, case management, and motivational interviewing techniques to promote healthy behaviors. Enhanced case management including peer support and connection to other needed services both immediately before and after release supports increased linkage to and retention in HIV care for people transitioning to the community from jail.
Evidence-Based Intervention
People who are justice involved
Linkage to HIV medical care; Retention in HIV medical care
Support service delivery model
San Francisco, CA
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
Project ACCEPT is designed to improve engagement and retention in medical care for youth ages 16 to 24 years with newly diagnosed HIV. The educational and skill-building intervention was deployed at four demonstration sites and increased rates of medication use and appointment adherence in comparison to a control group. Although originally developed for cisgender youth, Project ACCEPT may be adapted for gender-diverse people.
Evidence-Based Intervention
People with a new diagnosis of HIV; Youth ages 13 to 24
Retention in HIV medical care
Support service delivery model
Chicago, IL
Detroit, MI
Memphis, TN
Miami, FL
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Center for Care of Infectious Diseases, Pittsburgh Area Center for Treatment (PACT) began implementing the Food Assistance Program in August 2017 to serve as a supplemental resource for people with HIV receiving care who experience food insecurity. The program helps bridge gaps in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and monthly food costs while promoting access to healthy foods and retention in HIV care.
Emerging Intervention
People experiencing food insecurity
Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression; Beyond the care continuum
Support service delivery model
Pittsburgh, PA
By integrating comprehensive HIV medical care with addiction services and medication protocols for substance use disorder (SUD), clients with HIV and SUD saw improvements in retention in care and viral suppression.
Emerging Intervention
People who use drugs
Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Clinical service delivery model
Camden, NJ
The Rutgers New Jersey Medical School created a transgender health program and integrated it into their Infectious Disease Practice. The program conducted community outreach to engage transgender men and women in care, trained all staff on gender affirming care, hired transgender staff, provided gender affirming care and hormone treatments onsite, and offered mental health support to patients.
Emerging Intervention
Transgender women
Prescription of antiretroviral therapy; Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Clinical service delivery model
Newark, NJ
Lehigh Valley Health Network Comprehensive Health Services implemented a trauma-informed approach to care delivery, including training staff on how trauma can affect people’s health and how microaggressions in healthcare environments can potentially trigger trauma responses. This approach positively impacted care delivery and the program’s retention in care rate.
Emerging Intervention
People with a history of trauma
Retention in HIV medical care
Clinical service delivery model
Allentown, PA
MacGregor Infectious Diseases, a hospital-based clinic affiliated with the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, implemented a multidisciplinary approach to strengthen outreach to clients and improve care retention. As compared to clients in standard care, clients served with the multidisciplinary approach had higher rates of retention in care, particularly among clients who were not virally suppressed.
Emerging Intervention
People with HIV
Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Clinical service delivery model
Philadelphia, PA
The Test and Treat initiative, implemented by Oklahoma State University, connects people to antiretroviral therapy (ART) within 14 days of HIV diagnosis through streamlined intake and initial clinic visit protocols and 30-day medication starter packs. Participants in Test and Treat are linked to care and reach viral suppression sooner, and are more likely to be retained in care, as compared with people in standard care.
Emerging Intervention
People with a new diagnosis of HIV
Linkage to HIV medical care; Prescription of antiretroviral therapy; Viral suppression; Retention in HIV medical care
Clinical service delivery model
Tulsa, OK