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 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
Through the Test & Treat Rapid Access (TTRA) Program, clients with a new HIV diagnosis in Miami-Dade County can access ART, receive other services and counseling, start enrolling in RWHAP, and connect to HIV primary care during the initial visit. At Borinquen Health Care Center, one of the clinical sites participating in TTRA, 76% of clients were virally suppressed within three months of receiving a rapid ART start, and 95% were retained in care for 12 months.
Evidence-informed intervention
People with a new diagnosis of HIV; People with HIV who are not in care
HIV diagnosis; Linkage to HIV medical care; Prescription of antiretroviral therapy; Viral suppression
Clinical service delivery model
Miami-Dade County, FL
Nine sites implemented four evidence-based interventions, collectively known as Addressing STIs: Ask.Test.Treat.Repeat. The four intervention components are audio computer-assisted self-interview sexual history taking, patient self-collection of urogenital and extragenital site chlamydia/gonorrhea nucleic acid amplification test specimens, sexual and gender minority welcoming indicators, and provider training, with the overall goal to routinize STI screening, testing, and treatment in primary care. The interventions increased routine STI screening and testing of bacterial STIs based on reported behavioral risk.
Evidence-informed intervention
All clients
Beyond the care continuum
Clinical service delivery model
Washington, DC
FL
LA
The Adolescent Quality Learning Network (AQLN) identified barriers to sexual health care in four areas: sexual health assessment; receipt of sexual health counseling; three-site STI testing; and receipt of STI treatment. The AQLN then tested approaches to address the identified barriers including opt-out testing, self-rectal swabs, and creating a sex positive environment in the clinic. After one year, the AQLN found improvements in the percentage of clients assessed for sexual health risks, as well as improvements in testing and treatment of STIs.
Emerging intervention
Youth ages 13 to 24
Beyond the care continuum
Clinical service delivery model; Quality improvement
NY
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
Through the Practice Transformation Project, the Native American Community Clinic and Midwest AIDS Education and Training Center developed strategies to increase testing and linkage to care within the American Indian/Alaska Native population, and for those who inject drugs and are experiencing homelessness. These ongoing efforts have increased HIV testing rates by 10 percentage points through harm reduction, community outreach, and culturally sensitive strategies.
Emerging intervention
American Indian/Alaska Native people; People who inject drugs (PWID); People who are unstably housed
HIV diagnosis; Linkage to HIV medical care
Clinical service delivery model
Minneapolis, MN
The YGetIt? Program engaged youth and young adults with HIV in care through three components: a health management mobile application (GET!), Peer Engagement Educator Professionals (PEEPs), and a graphic serial (Tested). Tested received over 200,000 views, and viral suppression rates among YGetIt? participants increased from 79% to 86% over the course of the program.
Emerging intervention
Youth ages 13 to 24; Young adults ages 25 to 34
Viral suppression
Use of technology and mobile health
Long Island , NY
The Oregon Health Authority awarded contracts to local public health authorities across the state to work with community partners to integrate early intervention services and outreach services, link people to HIV care, and provide support to help clients reach viral suppression. Quick linkage to care resulted in a median of 57 days to viral suppression for Early Intervention Services and Outreach clients in 2019.
Emerging intervention
People with HIV who are not in care; People with undiagnosed HIV
HIV diagnosis; Linkage to HIV medical care
Support service delivery model
OR
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services was one of seven health departments funded by Leveraging a Data to Care Approach to Cure Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Within the RWHAP Part F SPNS initiative implemented from 2020–2022. With the support of the Yale University School of Medicine, which served as the Technical Assistance Provider, MDHHS matched RWHAP and HIV and HCV surveillance data, calculated HCV viral clearance cascades for coinfected populations, and worked with three RWHAP clinics to generate clinic-based lists of coinfected clients and conduct outreach and linkage to HCV treatment.
Emerging intervention
People with HCV
Beyond the care continuum
Data utilization approach; Outreach and reengagement activities
MI
Viviendo Valiente aims to reduce ethnic disparities in HIV care and outcomes by providing culturally responsive services to the Latino/a community, specifically to people of Mexican descent. It is a multi-level intervention, featuring individual-, group-, and community-level activities, that links people to HIV care, offers HIV education and health literacy in group sessions, and promotes community-level testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Viviendo Valiente had positive impacts on HIV testing, retention in care, viral suppression, and client satisfaction.
Emerging intervention
Hispanic/Latina(o/x) people
HIV diagnosis; Retention in HIV medical care; Viral suppression
Outreach and reengagement activities
Dallas, TX
