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Implementing Routine HIV Screening in Three Chicago Hospitals: Lessons Learned
Monique Glover Rucker1, Rebecca Eavou2, Kristi L Allgood3
1Sinai Health System, Chicago, IL.
Public Health Reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974)
|February 11, 2016
Summary
Routine HIV screening in Chicago hospitals identified new infections and out-of-care patients. Expanding testing beyond emergency departments is crucial to reduce missed opportunities and improve patient linkage to care.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Routine Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) screening is a key strategy for early detection and linkage to care.
- Implementation and outcomes of HIV testing programs can vary significantly across different healthcare settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the implementation and outcomes of routine HIV screening in three Chicago hospitals.
- To evaluate testing volumes, seropositivity rates, and linkage-to-care for newly diagnosed HIV infections.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of data from three Chicago hospitals was conducted.
- Data included routine testing procedures, testing volume, HIV test results, and linkage-to-care outcomes.
Main Results:
- Over 40,000 HIV tests were administered between January 2012 and March 2014, with significant proportions in emergency departments, inpatient, and outpatient clinics.
- A seropositivity rate of 0.7% was observed, with 43% of positive cases being newly diagnosed. 77% of newly diagnosed patients were linked to care.
- Inpatient settings showed the highest seropositivity rate (0.6%). A substantial percentage of newly diagnosed patients had missed opportunities for earlier testing, with some identified as late testers.
Conclusions:
- Routine HIV screening is effective in identifying new infections and patients with known HIV who are not receiving care.
- Expanding screening to inpatient and outpatient settings, in addition to emergency departments, is essential to minimize missed testing opportunities.
- Successful routine HIV screening programs depend on integration into clinical workflows, leadership support, quality assurance, and adherence to local testing regulations.
