Reengagement and Retention in HIV Care to End the HIV Epidemic in Rural and Underserved Communities: An Interdisciplinary Team Approach

Reengagement and Retention in HIV Care to End the HIV Epidemic in Rural and Underserved Communities: An Interdisciplinary Team Approach is organized by Rural Medical Education (RME) Collaborative.

Release Date: March 15, 2023
Expiration Date: March 15, 2024

Program Description
Approximately 1.1 million individuals are living with HIV in the United States, yet only about 50% are retained in care. Failure to engage with care is associated with poorer health outcomes and a higher risk of HIV transmission. In rural and underserved communities, particularly those in the Southeast, the burden of HIV is disproportionately high. Individuals who reside in these areas also face significant barriers to care—including stigma, clinician shortages, long travel distances to care, and poverty—that exacerbate the problem. Thus, strategies to ensure these patients continue their HIV care are urgently needed. In this activity, a multidisciplinary panel featuring a physician, social worker, and peer educator will share perspectives and discuss evidence-based interventions to identify, reengage, and retain people with HIV in care. Best practices for providing individualized, guideline-based treatment to patients living with HIV will also be reviewed as part of the conversation.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

• Employ evidence-based interventions to identify, reengage, and retain people with HIV in care
• Examine factors that impact antiretroviral therapy selection in patients with HIV such as adherence, resistance potential, and safety
• Apply current evidence and guideline recommendations to individualize HIV treatment and meet the clinical and social needs of the patient
• Incorporate evidence-based strategies to improve multidisciplinary management and engagement in HIV care in rural and underserved communities.