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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The STEP Program is a multidisciplinary intra-campus health care transition program to support youth with HIV as they transition from pediatric to adult HIV care using individualized transition plans. Ninety-five percent of youth enrolled in STEP were still retained in adult care at 12 months compared to only 50% of a pre-STEP cohort.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
Youth ages 13 to 24
Retention in HIV medical care
Clinical service delivery model; Systems/structural interventions
Baltimore, MD
Clínica Bienestar (Spanish for “Wellness Clinic”) was developed to provide comprehensive, integrated HIV primary care services to Spanish-speaking and bilingual people of Puerto Rican ancestry, with HIV who inject drugs. Clínica Bienestar is a multilevel, multipronged intervention combining evidence-based practices in behavioral health and HIV medical care with a transnational approach to care. Clínica Bienestar positively impacted retention in HIV medical care and viral suppression.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
Hispanic/Latina(o/x) people
Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Clinical service delivery model; Support service delivery model
Philadelphia, PA
The Huntridge Family Clinic launched the Rapid Start Initiative to provide same-day ART treatment and comprehensive case management to clients with a new diagnosis of HIV. Over 90% of clients received ART on the same day as diagnosis, and 78% of clients were retained in care within the first year of starting treatment.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
People with a new diagnosis of HIV
Linkage to HIV medical care; Retention in HIV medical care; Prescription of antiretroviral therapy
Clinical service delivery model
Las Vegas, NV
HHOME offers mobile HIV primary care, behavioral health care, and connection to housing services to people with HIV experiencing homelessness. A centralized HHOME team acts as a hub to meet clients where they are, refer them to housing and support services, and provide ongoing case management and HIV primary care services. Clients participating in HHOME experienced increased retention in care, viral suppression, and connection to stable housing.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
People who are unstably housed; People with substance use disorder; People with diagnosed mental illness
Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression; Beyond the care continuum
Clinical service delivery model; Support service delivery model
San Francisco, CA
STYLE 2.0 is a multi-component intervention designed to help reduce stigma and social isolation for Black gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. The intervention relies on health care navigators who facilitate linkage and engagement activities. They also connect clients to behavioral health providers who conduct motivational interviewing, as well as to a mobile application that supports all intervention activities. STYLE 2.0 participation has been associated with positive trends across HIV care continuum outcomes, including retention in care and increased viral suppression.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM); Black gay and bisexual men
Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Clinical service delivery model; Outreach and reengagement activities
Durham, Orange, and Wake Counties, NC
Columbia, SC
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
The Patient-Centered HIV Care Model (PCHCM) integrates the services of community-based HIV specialized pharmacists and HIV medical providers to deliver patient-centered care for people with HIV. PCHCM expands upon the medication therapy management model by including information sharing between partnered pharmacy and clinic teams; collaborative medication-related action planning between pharmacists, medical providers, and patients; and quarterly follow-up pharmacy visits. Patients participating in the intervention had improved retention in care and viral suppression rates.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
People with HIV
Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Clinical service delivery model
Palm Springs, CA
Washington, DC
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Miami, FL
Albany, GA
Chicago, IL
Buprenorphine Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in HIV Primary Care is an integrated care approach designed to reduce opioid use and overdose while improving client engagement in HIV care. Greater Lawrence Family Health Center and Med Centro, Inc. implemented this integrated care approach as part of E2i, an initiative funded by the RWHAP Part F SPNS program from 2017–2021. Clients who participated in this intervention received integrated care—treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) and HIV in a single setting—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
Lawrence, MA
Ponce, PR
SBIRT is designed to screen clients for drug and alcohol use, educate clients on the risks of use, and connect them to substance use treatment services if necessary. SBIRT is an evidence-informed intervention that has been adapted by HIV experts in collaboration with community members to improve health outcomes among people with HIV. Two sites implemented SBIRT as part of E2i, an initiative funded by the RWHAP Part F SPNS program from 2017–2021. Among the clients enrolled in SBIRT, the percentage with a prescription of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and who reached viral suppression both increased significantly.
Evidence-Informed Intervention
All clients
Retention in HIV medical care; Prescription of antiretroviral therapy; Viral suppression
Clinical service delivery model
Wilton Manors, FL
Newark, NJ
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