Retaining HIV-positive patients in HIV care: a personalised approach for those at risk of loss to follow-up at an inner city sexual health service
Loretta Healey A D and Catherine C. O’Connor A B CA Sexual Health Service, Community Health, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia.
B The Kirby Institute, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.
C The Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: loretta.healey@sswahs.nsw.gov.au
Sexual Health 15(1) 91-92 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH17036
Submitted: 21 February 2017 Accepted: 4 July 2017 Published: 1 September 2017
Abstract
In 2013 a personalised approach to follow-up of HIV patients who had withdrawn from HIV care was taken at RPA Sexual Health, a Sydney metropolitan sexual health service. HIV patients were telephoned, sent text messages, emailed and sent letters multiple times where applicable. With this intervention 20 of 23 people who had withdrawn from HIV care re-engaged. Since that time, active follow-up of all people diagnosed with HIV has resulted in only 2% of HIV patients at RPA Sexual Health being lost to follow-up.
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