ResearchProjects

Systems-Level Change for Normalizing Routine HIV Testing in High-Volume Health Care Settings (HRT)
Funded by: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention & NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Project dates: February 2022 - July 2025
Principal Investigator: Cowan, Ethan
PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This project aims to support the NYC 2020 End the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Plans four Pillars to 1) Diagnose; 2) Treat; 3) Prevent and 4) Respond to HIV. Specifically HRT addresses the diagnose pillar by providing funding to health care systems to implement system-level changes to support routine HIV testing in clinical settings and build capacity for sustainable models of universal HIV testing. The project involves the implementation of universal HIV testing to patients presenting to six NYC Emergency Departments (EDs) in the Mount Sinai Health System (MSHS). In addition to HIV testing, the program aims to provide universal PrEP education and status neutral navigation to patients in all six EDs. The program uses site champions, embedded health educators, a navigator and a series of electronic medical record (EMR) changes designed to augment and sustain high volume HIV testing and status neutral navigation.