title: Missed connections: HIV-infected people never in care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinical interventions that lengthen life after HIV infection and significantly reduce transmission could have greater impact if more HIV-diagnosed people received HIV care. We tested a surveillance-based approach to investigating reasons for delayed entry to care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Health department staff in three states and two cities contacted eligible adults diagnosed with HIV four to 24 months previously who had no reported CD4+ lymphocyte (CD4) or viral load (VL) tests. The staff conducted interviews, performed CD4 and VL testing, and provided referrals to HIV medical care. Reported CD4 and VL tests were prospectively monitored to determine if respondents had entered care after the interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surveillance-based follow-up uncovered problems with reporting CD4 and VL tests, resulting in surveillance improvements. However, reporting problems led to misspent effort locating people who were already in care. Follow-up proved difficult because contact information in surveillance case records was often outdated or incorrect. Of those reached, 37% were in care and 29% refused participation. Information from 132 people interviewed generated ideas for service improvements, such as emphasizing the benefits of early initiation of HIV care, providing coverage eligibility information soon after diagnosis, and leveraging other medical appointments to provide assistance with linkage to HIV care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surveillance-based follow-up of HIV-diagnosed individuals not linked to care provided information to improve both surveillance and linkage services, but was inefficient because of difficulties identifying, locating, and recruiting eligible people. Inefficiencies attributable to missing, incomplete, or inaccurate surveillance records are likely to diminish as data quality is improved through ongoing use.
authors: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. JBertolli@cdc.gov
authors: Jeanne
authors: J
authors: Bertolli
authors: Pamela Morse
authors: PM
authors: Garland
authors: Eduardo E
authors: EE
authors: Valverde
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Beer
authors: Jennifer L
authors: JL
authors: Fagan
authors: Clyde
authors: C
authors: Hart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009515:New Jersey / Q000453:epidemiology; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015143:Philadelphia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult