Increasing HIV Screening in a Federally Qualified Health Center: A Quality Improvement Project

Background: HIV is a chronic infection that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, a life-threatening condition. The highest number of new HIV diagnoses occurs in males, particularly Black men living in the southern region of the United States.  Black men tend to test less frequently than other races.   Objective: This pilot project was a quality improvement (QI) initiative to increase HIV screening rates among Black men who received healthcare at a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center (FQHC). Methods: The 8-week QI initiative was implemented during clinic hours. A retrospective chart review was performed to compare baseline with post-initiative HIV screening rates for eligible patients who received care in Birmingham, Alabama, which was shown to be low. Then, a risk assessment questionnaire was administered before providing educational materials to improve screening rates among Black men at an urban multisite FQHC. Results: HIV screening rates among Black men increased after the two-part initiative (20% and 21%, respectively). Conclusions: This QI initiative demonstrated that HIV screening rates could increase with tailored provider-initiated interventions, including risk assessment and educational materials. Implications for Nursing: A DNP or other healthcare providers could use this project to inform the development of a larger-scale QI initiative at an FQHC to improve HIV screening rates for under-resourced populations.