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
Ward 86 shares *updated* clinical considerations and recommendations for starting patients on CAB/RPV LA therapy
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…
(2023 Update) RAPID Provider Detailing Brochure “Rapid ART: Immediate ART initiation at HIV diagnosis and re-engagement in care”
If you have questions, please contact Susa Coffey (susa.coffey@ucsf.edu), Chair of the GTZ-SF RAPID, Restart & Retention Committee.
RAPID Program Resources
Below are San Francisco RAPID Program resources that can be adapted to your city or jurisdiction’s needs. Please contact the GTZ-SF RAPID Committee Chair Dr. Susa Coffey (susa.coffey@ucsf.edu) 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 RAPID Provider…
[New Publication] Development of a Citywide Rapid Antiretroviral Therapy Initiative in San Francisco
Oliver M.L. Bacon, Susa C. Coffey, Ling C. Hsu, Jennie C.S. Chin, Diane V. Havlir, Susan P. Buchbinder, Development of a Citywide Rapid Antiretroviral Therapy Initiative in San Francisco, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Volume 61, Issue 5, Supplement 1, 2021, Pages S47-S54,ISSN 0749-3797, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2021.06.001.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749379721003615) Introduction Ending the HIV epidemic in the U.S. holds rapid antiretroviral…
RAPID News & Updates
Ward 86 shares *updated* clinical considerations and recommendations for starting patients on CAB/RPV LA therapy
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…
(2023 Update) RAPID Provider Detailing Brochure “Rapid ART: Immediate ART initiation at HIV diagnosis and re-engagement in care”
If you have questions, please contact Susa Coffey (susa.coffey@ucsf.edu), Chair of the GTZ-SF RAPID, Restart & Retention Committee.
2022 World AIDS Day Consortium Meeting – PrEP, RAPID & Retention, DoxyPEP and drug overdose prevention in San Francisco
On World AIDS Day, we remember those we’ve lost to AIDS-related illness and reaffirm our support for those living with HIV. At this meeting, the GTZ-SF PrEP and RAPID/Restart & Retention committees presented their work plans to the community for input. GTZ-SF committees have been working to develop plans to address the challenges, gaps and…
New data, DoxyPEP and policy updates @ September 2022 Consortium Meeting
Thanks to Andy Scheer, SFDPH, and Laura Thomas, SF AIDS Foundation, for sharing critical policy updates. And thanks to Sharon Pipkin for presenting highlights from the latest HIV epidemiology report and to Dr. Monica Gandhi, Dr. Tyler TerMeer, Dr. Monique LaSarre and Dr. Hyman Scott for an engaging roundtable discussion reacting to the new data…