Evaluation of an HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Referral System: From Sexual Health Center to Federally Qualified Health Center Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Clinic.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Lillis, Rebecca Beckford, Jeremy Fegley, Joshua Siren, Julia Hinton, Bruce Gomez, Samuel Taylor, Stephanie N. Butler, Isolde Halperin, Jason Clement, Meredith Edwards
Copyright Year	2021
Abstract	Innovative delivery strategies are needed to facilitate access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The objective of this study was to evaluate a navigator-facilitated PrEP referral process from a sexual health center (SHC) to a co-located PrEP clinic as an alternative delivery model. Electronic health record (EHR) data were used to calculate the number of clients seen at the SHC in 2019. Charts were manually reviewed to determine whether a PrEP clinic referral was made and document type of referral method: face-to-face appointment scheduling with the navigator (warm handoff), EHR messaging to navigator to schedule the appointment at a later time (EHR message), or provision of navigator's contact information to the client (card only). In 2019, 2481 unique potentially PrEP-eligible clients were seen at the SHC; 220 (9%) received a PrEP referral. Of referred clients, median age was 30 years (interquartile range, 24–34), 182 (83%) were male, 89 (40%) were non-Hispanic Black, and 24 (11%) were Latinx. In total, 94/220 (43%) referred clients attended an initial PrEP visit with a provider, and the proportion attending by referral method was 81%, 36%, and 27% for warm handoff, EHR message, and card only, respectively (p < 0.0001). Despite co-location of these two clinics, there were significant drop-offs along the PrEP care continuum for this referral system. Warm handoff was the most effective referral method, but further efforts are needed to understand barriers to referral. Implementation of same-day PrEP services at SHCs is one potential solution to engaging additional clients.
Related Links	https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC8563460&blobtype=pdf
Page Count	6
ISSN	10872914
Volume Number	35
DOI	10.1089/apc.2021.0050
PubMed Central reference number	PMC8563460
Issue Number	9
PubMed reference number	34448603
Journal	AIDS Patient Care and STDs [AIDS Patient Care STDS]
e-ISSN	15577449
Language	English
Publisher	Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers
Publisher Date	2021-08-26
Publisher Place	USA
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	Copyright 2021, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers
Subject Keyword	pre-exposure prophylaxis sexual health center referral navigation continuum
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Infectious Diseases Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health