The overall goal of the RAPID (Rapid ART Program Initiative for HIV Diagnoses) program is to create a set of “hubs” around the city where persons newly diagnosed with HIV (or out of care) can rapidly access antiretroviral therapy (ART) and have a smooth transition to their medical home. In order to accomplish this goal, a RAPID steering committee established hub locations, standard operating procedure (SOP) for ART start, and SOP for transition to a primary medical home. The committee works with SF Department of Public Health surveillance (now “ARCHES”) to track the uptake and outcomes of persons participating in the program. We build on the existing LINCS programs at SFDPH to create and support hubs for rapid initiation of ART to individuals.
We start ART:
Within 48 hours –
- If acute/early infection (recent negative Ab test, RNA+/Ab– or recent symptoms of acute retroviral syndrome) or
- Evidence of advanced infection (opportunistic infection or a CD4 count of less than 200)
Within 5 days –
- All other newly HIV-diagnosed persons
The program aims to provide ART for up to 5 days for these individuals until they are transitioned into their medical home.
RAPID Resources
RAPID/Restart Program Resources
San Francisco RAPID/Restart Program resources that can be adapted to your city or jurisdiction’s needs. Please contact Dr. Susa Coffey (susa.coffey@ucsf.edu), GTZ-SF RAPID/Restart & Retention Committee Chair, if you have questions about any of these materials or would like to arrange a time to talk about our respective initiatives or programs. Documents *New* Ward 86…
New & Updated Resources, June 2024
We’ve added a number of new or recently updated resources on the website, see links below. Many thanks to GTZ-SF committees and community partners for developing & sharing these critical resources. *New* Doxy-PEP Info sheet in English and Spanish for patients – here and here (en español) – SF City Clinic Doxy-PEP fact sheet for healthcare providers…
(May 2024 Update) RAPID Provider Detailing Brochure “Rapid ART: Immediate ART initiation at HIV diagnosis and re-engagement in care”
Download from here. If you have questions, please contact Susa Coffey (susa.coffey@ucsf.edu), Chair of the GTZ-SF RAPID, Restart & Retention Committee.
Ward 86 shares clinical considerations and recommendations for starting patients on CAB/RPV LA therapy [Updated May 2024]
Ward 86, established in January 1983, is a large HIV clinic based at San Francisco General Hospital at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Ward 86 serves a publicly-insured and underinsured population of people with HIV and those at risk of HIV in the city of San Francisco. Purpose of this protocol Provide guidance…
Publications
- *New* Outcomes of Rapid Restart Among People With Previously Diagnosed HIV at a Safety-Net HIV Clinic in San Francisco. JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 100(3):p 256-264, November 1, 2025.
- Development of a Citywide Rapid Antiretroviral Therapy Initiative in San Francisco. AJPM. 2021 November, Pages S47-S54.
- Decreased Time from HIV Diagnosis to Care, ART Initiation, and Virologic Suppression during the Citywide RAPID Initiative in San Francisco. CID. 2020 May 25.
- RAPID ART: High virologic suppression rates with immediate ART initiation in a vulnerable urban clinic population. AIDS. 2018 December 21.
News & Updates
World AIDS Day 2025 Consortium Meeting – Aging & HIV in San Francisco
During this World AIDS Day meeting, Gregg Cassin, a longtime advocate and HIV Health Counselor, led us into a moment of reflection, followed by a policy and advocacy update by SFAF’s Director of Health Justice Policy, Jonathan Frochtzwajg. We had an engaging panel & community discussion on Aging and HIV thanks to Dr. Brad Hare,…
Ward 86 LAI Prevention & Treatment Guidelines
These resources can be adapted to your city or jurisdiction’s needs. Please contact Dr. Monica Gandhi MD, MPH, Medical Director of Ward 86 (monica.gandhi@ucsf.edu), if you have questions about any of these materials. Guidance on initiation and management of patients initiating and continuing CAB LA and LEN LA. Ward 86 Long Acting Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)…
RAPID/Restart Program Resources
San Francisco RAPID/Restart Program resources that can be adapted to your city or jurisdiction’s needs. Please contact Dr. Susa Coffey (susa.coffey@ucsf.edu), GTZ-SF RAPID/Restart & Retention Committee Chair, if you have questions about any of these materials or would like to arrange a time to talk about our respective initiatives or programs. Documents *New* Ward 86…
Increasing PrEP knowledge and access for underserved populations – September 2025 Consortium Meeting
At this meeting, SF Department of Public Health Director Daniel Tsai joined us to share his vision for the department. Following his remarks, Dr. Susan Buchbinder presented a summary of the recently released SFDPH 2024 HIV Epidemiology Report. We had a phenomenal panel discussion with Dr. Nicky Mehtani (SFDPH/MXM), Ebony Gordon (SFAF), Taylor Nanz (Solid…