Expanding access to quality HIV care through a unique HIV primary care training and certificate program

Issue: Healthcare reform has expanded access to services through primary care settings. Recommendation for universal HIV screening by USPSTF; effective, standardized HIV regimens; growing number of people living with HIV, decreasing primary care providers (PCPs) and HIV specialists are all significant factors that require a change in service delivery. This change of landscape demands expanded roles for PCPs in managing HIV.

Description: In a national survey, 40% of HIV PCPs surveyed stated that the number of providers treating HIV in their service area is inadequate for the demand for HIV services. Nearly half of PCPs not treating HIV indicated the necessity to build provider confidence through clinical HIV training and education as the best strategy of integrating HIV into primary care. Based on national survey data and an HIV Workforce Mentoring Initiative, a unique, scientifically-rigorous certificate program has been designed for expanding access to quality HIV care.

Lessons-Learned: HIV specialists and trainers used HealthHIV’s Staged Training to Engage Providers model for HIV integration in primary care to identify essential proficiencies for managing HIV. The five-module, self-paced, online curriculum reflects PCPs desired learning methods to develop new areas of HIV primary care provision.

Recommendations: The online program delivers specialized training to improve PCP HIV clinical skills and competencies. Providers can immediately apply lessons learned to their practices. Two hundred PCPs have participated in the program, providing recommendations for further curriculum development. Additional web-based content, incentivized with CME, is needed to build confidence and skills for PCPs to provide quality HIV care.