Supersizing Field Services: An Integrated Approach to HIV Partner Services & Linkage to Care

Background: Partner services (PS) has traditionally been delivered as a stand-alone public health intervention.  In 2009, the Linkage-to-Care (LTC) program was implemented in the Kansas HIV Section to decrease the number of HIV-positive individuals not engaged in medical care seven and thirteen months post-intervention.  The program was designed to provide an active support system to help patients navigate the health care system, understand their health care needs, and keep patients engaged in their own health care.  With the creation of the LTC program, STD & HIV Management decided to join LTC and PS as a “one stop shop” for newly diagnosed HIV-positive individuals.

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of the LTC program in engaging clients in medical care and sustaining their commitment to care as well as to determine what, (if any), effect combining LTC and PS has had on the acceptance rate of PS.

Project Description: Two years of data are being analyzed for time periods both before and after the implementation of joint PS & LTC services to determine acceptance rates of partner services and determination of continuance in care 7 and 13 months post-intervention.

Findings: Evaluation is still on-going and is anticipated to be completed by January 31, 2012. 

Conclusions: Increased acceptance rates of partner services and increased rates of clients in medical care have been observed anecdotally.  Confirmation of this conjecture could solidify the necessity of integrating LTC and PS programs not only for monetary savings, but for overall efficacy as well. 

Implications for Programs, Policy, and Research: The outcome of this analysis may affect the way partner services and medical care services are given to newly diagnosed HIV-positive clients. Additionally, cost analysis data will show the advantage of program integration.