scholarly journals Evolving Toward Shared HIV Care Using the Champlain BASE eConsult Service

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 238146831986821
Author(s):  
Claire E. Kendall ◽  
Janessa E. Porter ◽  
Esther S. Shoemaker ◽  
Rachel Seoyeon Kang ◽  
Michael Fitzgerald ◽  
...  

Background. Electronic consultation (eConsultation) is a potential strategy to improve access to specialist expertise and facilitate collaborative care models. The Champlain BASE eConsult service allows for asynchronous communication between primary care providers (PCP) and specialists on a secure, web-based system. HIV experts accessible include HIV physician specialists, HIV pharmacists, and social workers with expertise in HIV. Objective. This study aims to describe the use, value, and utility of this eConsultation service in the care of people living with HIV and to characterize the common question types and clinical topics asked by PCPs. Methods. We analyzed the data from eConsults sent to the HIV specialty group in Ontario’s Champlain Local Health Integration Network between February 2015 and December 2017. Usage data and close-out survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, eConsults were classified using a predefined list of validated taxonomy, and a thematic analysis was performed on the consultation logs to identify common clinical themes. Results. Among the 46 eConsults, the most common question type related to drug treatment (58.7%, n = 27) and management (19.6%, n = 9). The main clinical themes involved the care of significant complexities in people living with HIV, such as comorbidities and drug interactions, and suggestions of coordinated patient care. As well, eConsult was used for advice regarding pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV-negative patients at risk of HIV infection. PCPs highly valued the eConsult service (average rating 4.8/5). Conclusion. Overall, this study demonstrates that eConsult provides an efficient and valuable service to PCPs caring for patients living with or at risk for HIV by improving access to HIV specialists and facilitating the delivery of team-based comprehensive care.

Circulation ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 133 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John D Omura ◽  
Susan A Carlson ◽  
Prabasaj Paul ◽  
Kathleen B Watson ◽  
Fleetwood Loustalot ◽  
...  

Background: In 2014, the US Preventive Services Task Force recommended adults who are overweight or obese and have additional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors be offered or referred to intensive behavioral counseling interventions to promote a healthful diet and physical activity for CVD prevention. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that primary care providers (PCPs) who discussed physical activity with most of their at risk patients would have a higher prevalence of offering select components than PCPs who discussed physical activity less frequently. Methods: DocStyles 2015, a Web-based panel survey of 1251 PCPs (response rate=76.8%), assessed physical activity counseling practices with patients at risk for CVD (overweight or obese and with hypertension, dyslipidemia, impaired fasting glucose, or the metabolic syndrome). Results: Overall, 55.9% (SE=1.4) of PCPs discussed physical activity with most of their patients at risk for CVD. Among respondents who discussed physical activity with any at risk patients (N=1244), the prevalence of components offered when they counseled ranged from 92.6% encouraging increased physical activity to 15.8% referring to intensive behavioral counseling (Table). PCPs who discussed physical activity with most at risk patients had a higher prevalence of offering all counseling components assessed than PCPs who discussed physical activity less frequently, except for referring to intensive behavioral counseling where no difference was found. Of all PCPs, 8.4% both discussed physical activity with most of their at risk patients and referred them to intensive behavioral counseling. Conclusion: Just over half of PCPs surveyed discussed physical activity with most patients at risk for CVD. These PCPs more frequently offered select components when they counseled with the exception of referral to intensive behavioral counseling. Both the low levels of counseling and referral to intensive behavioral counseling present important opportunities for improving counseling practices.


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 141 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John D Omura ◽  
Kathleen B Watson ◽  
Fleetwood V Loustalot ◽  
Janet E Fulton ◽  
Susan A Carlson

Background: The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends adults with certain cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors be offered or referred to intensive behavioral counseling to promote a healthful diet and physical activity for CVD prevention. However, only 1 in 12 primary care providers (PCPs) currently follow this recommendation. This study assessed system and programmatic features PCPs reported would increase their likelihood of referring patients at risk for CVD to intensive behavioral counseling and whether this varied by the percentage of at-risk patients with whom they discuss physical activity. Methods: DocStyles 2018, a web-based panel survey of PCPs, assessed the percentage of at-risk patients with whom PCPs discuss physical activity and the degree to which select features would increase their likelihood of referring to intensive behavioral counseling. Results: Overall, 60.8% of PCPs discussed physical activity with most of their at-risk patients; 21.8% did so with many and 17.4% with few or some. The proportion of PCPs identifying features as increasing their likelihood of referring to intensive behavioral counseling by a great extent ranged from 24.1% for an automated referral in electronic health records, 35.3% for patient progress reports, 41.5% for the program being accredited or evidence-based, to 67.2% for the program having no cost to the patient (Table). These proportions increased for each feature as the percentage of at-risk patients with whom they discuss physical activity increased. Conclusion: PCPs identified programmatic features (i.e. being accredited and of no cost) as having the greatest influence on their likelihood of referring patients at risk for CVD to intensive behavioral counseling, although this varied by the percentage of at-risk patients with whom they discuss physical activity. Findings suggest that the effectiveness of strategies to improve behavioral counseling referrals by PCPs may depend on their current physical activity counseling practices.


Author(s):  
Anna Forbes ◽  
Bruce J. Packett II

Upon completion of this chapter, the reader should be able to • Broadly understand the landscape of the US healthcare systems and payers as they relate to the provision of HIV care, treatment, prevention and medical coding. HIV-related healthcare services have historically been covered or provided by a patchwork of federal, state, and local programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, the Ryan White Program, and state and local health programs. HIV/AIDS service organizations (H/ASOs) and private and charitable health organizations also provided services for HIV patients without coverage. These programs represent the long-standing pathways to insurance coverage, access to care, and access to treatment for people living with HIV (PLWH). Some of these programs also supply coverage for, or access to, medications that treat co-occurring conditions for PLWH....


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsegaye Bekele ◽  
Evan J. Collins ◽  
Robert G. Maunder ◽  
Sandra Gardner ◽  
Sergio Rueda ◽  
...  

We sought to estimate the prevalence of childhood adversity and examine its relationship with health outcomes among people living with HIV. Study participants included 1409 adults living with HIV and receiving care in Toronto, Canada. Data on childhood adversity, health behaviors, HIV outcome measures, depression, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) were collected through face-to-face interviews and medical records. Statistical analyses included multivariable linear and logistic regression modeling. The prevalence of any childhood adversity was 71% (individual types ranged from 11% to 44%) and higher prevalence was associated with younger age, Indigenous or African/Caribbean/Black ethnicity, lower socioeconomic status, and higher rates of cigarette smoking and nonmedicinal drug use. Greater number of childhood adversities was associated with greater odds of depression and decreasing mental HRQOL. HIV care providers need to screen for childhood adversities and address childhood trauma within the context of HIV care.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S470-S471
Author(s):  
DeMaurian Mitchner ◽  
Lauren E Richey

Abstract Background Continuous antiretroviral therapy (ART) that results in viral suppression is the goal of therapy for people living with HIV (PLWH). This results in improved clinical outcomes and prevents transmission to partners. University Medical Center is an urban charity hospital that provides the majority of inpatient care to PLWH in the city of New Orleans. HIV care providers noticed many ART errors during transitions of care, particularly during inpatient admissions. Impartial regimens and interactions can occur when non-HIV providers manage patients in the hospital leading to resistance and viral failure. Methods A clinical pharmacist was hired to improve the quality of HIV care, both in the inpatient and outpatient setting. An electronic medical records alert was created for any patient with HIV who was admitted to the hospital. The clinical pharmacist then reviewed the ART orders Monday through Friday and provided recommendations to the inpatient teams. Data on the frequency and types of errors on the medication administration record (MAR) were recorded. Data were collected for 6 months, from October 2018 to March 2019. Three-month data from October 2018 to December 2018 was compared with three-month data from January 2019 to March 2019 for quality improvement purposes. Results One hundred forty-eight people living with HIV were admitted to the hospital during the specified time period. A minority of the patients (25%) had a consult to an HIV Specialist. Eight (5%) were omission of ART (no regimen or partial regimen), 19 (13%) had food or drug interactions, and 14 (10%) had the incorrect ART regimen ordered. The clinical pharmacist was able to contact the inpatient team and have these errors corrected. There was a 20% decrease in the patients with errors in their inpatient ART order on the MAR during the review period, due to physicians and pharmacists proactively contacting the pharmacist prior to orders being placed and processed. Conclusion Errors in ART in the inpatient setting are common. A clinical pharmacist intervention can successfully decrease ART errors as patients’ transition between inpatient and outpatient care. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


Sexual Health ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Lacombe-Duncan ◽  
Peter A. Newman ◽  
Greta R. Bauer ◽  
Carmen H. Logie ◽  
Yasmeen Persad ◽  
...  

Background Transgender (trans) women are overrepresented among people living with HIV, yet trans women living with HIV (WLWH) experience lower access to HIV care. Access to medical transition may facilitate access to HIV care among trans WLWH. This study sought to describe barriers and facilitators to access to medical transition among trans WLWH. Methods: This convergent parallel mixed-methods study drew on cross-sectional quantitative data from 48 trans WLWH analysed using descriptive and bivariate analyses, as well as qualitative semistructured interview data from a subsample of 11 participants analysed using framework analysis. The primary outcome was self-reported transition experience (completed or in the process of medical transition vs planning to but have not begun medical transition). Quantitative and qualitative results were merged and analysed for convergence, divergence and/or expansion of understanding. Results: Just over half the participants reported being fully completed medical transition or in the process of medical transition (52.1% (25/48); 95% confidence interval (CI) 37.5–67.6%), with one-fifth reporting planning to but not having begun medical transition (18.8% (9/48); 95% CI 8.3–29.2%). Factors significantly associated with not having begun one’s medical transition included housing instability, transphobia, HIV-related stigma and barriers in access to care. Qualitative findings revealed varied transition experiences, influenced by community norms, passing and class privilege, HIV and structural barriers. Mixed-methods results showed positive relationships between trans WLWH and HIV care providers in terms of trans and HIV health care. Conclusions: HIV-related stigma and social determinants of health limit access to medical transition for trans WLWH. Stigma must be addressed in a broad range of healthcare settings, in addition to structural barriers, to increase access to gender-affirming HIV care and medical transition for trans WLWH.


10.2196/14557 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e14557 ◽  
Author(s):  
César Escobar-Viera ◽  
Zhi Zhou ◽  
Jamie P Morano ◽  
Robert Lucero ◽  
Spencer Lieb ◽  
...  

Background For people living with HIV (PLWH), antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence is crucial to attain better health outcomes. Although research has leveraged consumer health information technologies to enhance ART adherence, no study has evaluated feasibility and clinical outcomes associated with the usage of a commercially available, regularly updated mobile health (mHealth) app for improving ART adherence among PLWH. Objective This study aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and clinical outcomes of Care4Today, an existing, free, biprogrammatic mHealth app for improving ART adherence among PLWH. Methods The Florida mHealth Application Adherence Project (FL-mAPP) was a 90-day longitudinal pilot study conducted in 3 public HIV clinics in Florida, United States. After obtaining informed consent, 132 participants completed a survey and then were given the option to try an existing mHealth app to help with ART adherence. Of these, 33.3% (44/132) declined, 31.1% (41/132) agreed but never used the app, and 35.6% (47/132) used the app. All were asked to complete follow-up surveys at 30 days and 90 days after enrollment. Usage data were used to assess feasibility. Clinical outcomes of self-reported ART adherence and chart-obtained HIV viral load and CD4+ T-cell counts were compared among those who used the platform (users) versus those who did not (nonusers). Participants and HIV care providers also provided responses to open-ended questions about what they liked and did not like about the app; comments were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Of 132 participants, 47 (35.6%) and 85 (64.4%) were categorized as users and nonusers, respectively. Among users, a Kaplan-Meier plot showed that 25 persons (53%) continued using the app after the 90-day follow-up. At 30-day follow-up, 13 (81.3%) of those who used the mHealth app reported ≥95% ART adherence, compared with 17 (58.6%) nonusers (P=.12). Overall, 39 (82%) users liked or somewhat liked using the platform. Participants’ favorite features were medication reminders, ability to create custom reminders, and adherence reports. Conclusions This longitudinal study found that a commercially available medication adherence mHealth app was a feasible and acceptable intervention to improve ART adherence among PLWH and engaged in clinical care across 3 public HIV clinics in the state of Florida. Overall, participants liked the Care4Today app and thought the medication reminders were their favorite feature. Generally, self-reports of ART adherence were better among users than nonusers, both at 30- and 90-day follow-ups. Further clinical research needs to address user fatigue for improving app usage.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
John D. Omura ◽  
Kathleen B. Watson ◽  
Fleetwood Loustalot ◽  
Janet E. Fulton ◽  
Susan A. Carlson

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
César Escobar-Viera ◽  
Zhi Zhou ◽  
Jamie P Morano ◽  
Robert Lucero ◽  
Spencer Lieb ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND For people living with HIV (PLWH), antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence is crucial to attain better health outcomes. Although research has leveraged consumer health information technologies to enhance ART adherence, no study has evaluated feasibility and clinical outcomes associated with the usage of a commercially available, regularly updated mobile health (mHealth) app for improving ART adherence among PLWH. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and clinical outcomes of Care4Today, an existing, free, biprogrammatic mHealth app for improving ART adherence among PLWH. METHODS The Florida mHealth Application Adherence Project (FL-mAPP) was a 90-day longitudinal pilot study conducted in 3 public HIV clinics in Florida, United States. After obtaining informed consent, 132 participants completed a survey and then were given the option to try an existing mHealth app to help with ART adherence. Of these, 33.3% (44/132) declined, 31.1% (41/132) agreed but never used the app, and 35.6% (47/132) used the app. All were asked to complete follow-up surveys at 30 days and 90 days after enrollment. Usage data were used to assess feasibility. Clinical outcomes of self-reported ART adherence and chart-obtained HIV viral load and CD4+ T-cell counts were compared among those who used the platform (users) versus those who did not (nonusers). Participants and HIV care providers also provided responses to open-ended questions about what they liked and did not like about the app; comments were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS Of 132 participants, 47 (35.6%) and 85 (64.4%) were categorized as users and nonusers, respectively. Among users, a Kaplan-Meier plot showed that 25 persons (53%) continued using the app after the 90-day follow-up. At 30-day follow-up, 13 (81.3%) of those who used the mHealth app reported ≥95% ART adherence, compared with 17 (58.6%) nonusers (<italic>P</italic>=.12). Overall, 39 (82%) users liked or somewhat liked using the platform. Participants’ favorite features were medication reminders, ability to create custom reminders, and adherence reports. CONCLUSIONS This longitudinal study found that a commercially available medication adherence mHealth app was a feasible and acceptable intervention to improve ART adherence among PLWH and engaged in clinical care across 3 public HIV clinics in the state of Florida. Overall, participants liked the Care4Today app and thought the medication reminders were their favorite feature. Generally, self-reports of ART adherence were better among users than nonusers, both at 30- and 90-day follow-ups. Further clinical research needs to address user fatigue for improving app usage.


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