A LITERATURE REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORKS AND SYSTEMS-LEVEL OUTCOMES OF HIV PRIMARY CARE INTEGRATION
Abstract: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) continues to be a major public health concern in the United States. The Health Resources and Service Administration has identified HIV care integration including screening, prevention, treatment, support services, and linkage to care, as an area of priority interest. HIV Primary Care Integration (HPCI) focuses on the integration of HIV primary, specialty, and ancillary care services into a single setting to improve health system efficiency and health outcomes. HPCI is of great public health significance in the treatment and care of PLWHA, but also for preventing future infections by improving adherence, linkage to care, and retention in care and reducing community viral load. HPCI also promotes HIV prevention and testing among those at-risk for HIV. Evidence and evaluation of service integration at a health systems level is sparse, particularly for HPCI. This essay aimed to review the current evidence-base for 1) frameworks and models of integration and how these may best be applied and 2) systems-level outcomes as a direct result of HPCI.