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 News & Updates
Getting to Zero Advertisements Around Town
Muni busses and light rail vehicles are the new canvasses for Getting to Zero’s latest project: an awareness campaign. These ads, which were created by Positive Resource Center, discuss the rising cost of HIV treatment and the ways people living with HIV in San Francisco can access care without breaking the bank. According to the…
Getting to Zero Presentation at San Francisco Health Commission Meeting – May 2, 2017
Susan Buchbinder and Tracey Packer presented on GTZ initiatives and progress to date at the May 2 Health Commission Meeting. Slides from the meeting are here.
[HIV ReConnect] Brochure for Providers & Frontline Workers: HIV navigation can help
If you have questions, please contact Andy Scheer (andy.scheer@sfdph.org), Co-Chair of Retention & Re-engagement Committee.
March 23, 2017 GTZ Consortium Meeting
Yesterday evening, Getting to Zero SF held is 1st quarterly Consortium meeting of the year. Dana van Gorder provided a national policy update and Dr. Hyman Scott presented some of the latest HIV epidemiology, PrEP, STI and TasP data from CROI 2017. We also heard about some of the great work accomplished by each of…