title: Developing a Patient Navigation Program to Improve Engagement in HIV Medical Care and Viral Suppression: A Demonstration Project Protocol.
abstract: Individuals diagnosed and living with HIV who are out of care or who have persistent viremia are at risk for poor health outcomes and are estimated to account for two-thirds of all new HIV infections. As part of a six-state demonstration project to improve access to care for hard-to-reach populations, Wisconsin developed an HIV-specific patient navigation program to improve engagement in HIV care and viral suppression for populations at risk for poor HIV care outcomes. Patient navigators worked with individuals who were out of HIV medical care or were at risk of falling out of care over nine months to identify and address barriers to care. This manuscript describes the patient navigation program and rationale, and lessons learned that should be considered by sites developing similar programs.
authors.affiliation: AIDS/HIV Program, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Madison, WI, USA. casey.schumann@wi.gov.|, 1 West Wilson St., Room 265, Madison, WI, 53703, USA. casey.schumann@wi.gov.
authors.forename: Casey L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Schumann
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Westergaard
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin Medical Foundation, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Alison E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.affiliation: AIDS/HIV Program, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Mari L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ruetten
authors.affiliation: AIDS/HIV Program, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vergeront
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D062526:Patient Navigation / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016730:Program Development; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
keywords: Case management; HIV; Navigation; Retention; Viral suppression