Rapid Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Protocol

The Orange County Health Care Agency is seeking applications from licensed hospital emergency departments to develop practical and sustainable protocols to initiate Rapid Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) for people newly diagnosed with HIV or re-engaging in care. The goal of this opportunity is to increase and streamline linkage to HIV care in emergency settings by developing a feasible workflow and protocols for providing ART within seven (7) days of diagnosis, disclosure, or re-engagement. Selected applicants will collaborate with the HCA to design patient-centered procedures that can be integrated into existing clinical operations, reduce delays to treatment, and improve patient outcomes. Key aspects of the job include: • Developing Rapid ART protocols designed for emergency department workflows • Identifying all staff involved in Rapid ART and defining their roles and responsibilities • Establishing a streamlined workflow to reduce handoffs with the patient • Providing required training topics, such as Rapid ART process, HIV disease basics, and counseling components • Describing partnerships with HIV treatment providers and how collaboration will enable timely ART access • Providing a step-by-step visual from reactive test to evaluation to medication start date • Identifying anticipated challenges and how they will be addressed