141st APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

291997
Linkage and retention in HIV care: Lessons learned from the Louisiana positive charge access to care initiative


Monday, November 4, 2013 : 9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.

Peter Gamache, PhD, MBA, MLA, MPH, Louisiana Public Health Institute, New Orleans, LA
Russell Brewer, DrPH, CHES, Louisiana Public Health Institute, New Orleans, LA
Sarah Chrestman, MPH, Division of Evaluation and Research, Louisiana Public Health Institute, New Orleans, LA
Snigdha Mukherjee, PhD, Louisiana Public Health Institute, New Orleans, LA
LaTanya Thompson, MPH Candidate, Louisiana Public Health Institute, New Orleans, LA
Sarah Donahue, MPH Candidate, Louisiana Public Health Institute, New Orleans, LA
Background: More than 22,000 individuals are living with HIV infection in Louisiana with an estimated 36% not in care. Louisiana is one of five Positive Charge (PC) grantees that was funded by AIDS United and Bristol Myers Squibb to link individuals living with HIV infection into primary medical care.

Methods: Since 2010, persons living with HIV infection have enrolled in one of four PC client-centered interventions (health navigation, linkage case management, pre/post release case management, and HIV specific Disease Intervention Specialists) in 4 Louisiana cities. Participants completed an assessment form at baseline and 3-6 months that was later entered into a reporting system; interventionists worked to link participants living with HIV infection into care within 3 months; and the state's surveillance system was matched with the assessment information to monitor HIV clinical outcomes.

Results: 682 individuals living with HIV infection have enrolled in PC from August 2010 to June 2012, with a linkage rate of 72%. In addition, there have been significant improvements in viral load and CD4 count levels over time.

Conclusions: A variety of health system level tools (i.e. surveillance system) and structures (i.e. client-centered interventions and partnerships between providers and community-based organizations) have supported the successful entry and/or re-entry of persons living with HIV infection into medical care in Louisiana.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning

Learning Objectives:
Define the components of the Louisiana Positive Charge Initiative. Discuss the results and lessons learned from the Louisiana Positive Charge Initiative.

Keyword(s): Access to Health Care, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Associate Director of HIV, STDs and Reproductive Health at the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) and manage multiple system of care initiatives that include HIV outreach, testing, linkage, and primary care.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3039.0: From New England to the Deep South and from the Heartland to Hollywood: Local responses to the national call for increased access to HIV care