The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposed the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America initiative in 2019 with the goal of reducing new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections by 75% in 2025 and by 90% in 2030, respectively. Strategies of this initiative include:

  • Diagnosing all people with HIV as soon as possible
  • Treating people with HIV rapidly and effectively to reach sustained viral suppression

However, a model estimating transmission rates along the HIV continuum of care showed that about 80% of new HIV transmissions were from people who were unaware of their HIV infection or from people who were aware of their HIV infection but who were not receiving regular care. About 20% of new HIV transmissions were from people with HIV who were receiving care but who were not virally suppressed.

About the Program

Primary care physicians, including family physicians, play an important role in ensuring that patients with a risk of HIV infection or living with HIV have access to consistent and uninterrupted care for HIV testing and treatment. ACOFP is partnering with Med-IQ to offer up to 2.75 AOA Category 1-A CME credits for this four-course activity, which will address the needs of family physicians in HIV testing, antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and helping patients with positive HIV status achieve undetectable viral loads to prevent the transmission of HIV to others.

Developing HIV Testing and Treatment Capacity in the Family Practice: A Curriculum for Excellence utilizes an on-demand platform that will allow learners to complete the individual components of the curriculum as their schedules allow, while retaining interactivity and fostering a community of learning. Sessions include:

Content includes a series of brief expert faculty and patient advocate videos and PowerPoint presentations. Participants will also have the opportunity to review cases, test their knowledge and read faculty commentary on the cases, as well as talk with other learners and expert faculty using online discussion boards. In addition, live, virtual panel discussions using Zoom with other learners and faculty will foster connections.

This course is open to all practicing osteopathic family physicians, residents and students at no cost. Complete the sign-up form to submit your information and join the final cohort, beginning in September. Med-IQ will follow up with participants directly to begin the program.

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HIV Testing

This 45-minute course reviews strategies for applying HIV screening guidelines, identifying which HIV test to use, normalizing HIV testing with patients and addressing patient barriers to HIV testing.

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Use communication strategies to normalize HIV testing with patients 
  • Integrate evidence-based HIV screening and testing strategies into routine clinical practice 

Undetectable = Untransmittable

This 30-minute course reviews the science supporting undetectable = untransmittable (U=U), reducing community HIV transmission through U=U, and implementing U=U in clinical practice.

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Apply clinical evidence and guidance for U=U in patients living with HIV

Initiating and Maintaining Patient Linkage to Medical Care Following an HIV Diagnosis

This 30-minute course reviews best strategies for communicating positive HIV test results with patients, the importance of linking patients to medical care following an HIV diagnosis and the benefits of early ART initiation.

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Identify resources to promptly initiate and maintain patients’ linkage to medical care following an HIV diagnosis 

ART Initiation

This one-hour course reviews guideline recommendations on ART initiation, including baseline evaluation, recommended first-line treatment options and follow-up care.

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Implement early initiation of and sustained treatment with ART into the ongoing medical care of patients with a new HIV diagnosis