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 Care Options in SF
(Updated February 2020) RAPID Care Options in SF – a list of clinical sites in SF that can offer HIV medication to everyone within 0-5 days of HIV diagnosis regardless of insurance status If you have questions, please contact Susa Coffey (susa.coffey@ucsf.edu), Chair of the GTZ RAPID Committee.
RAPID News & Updates
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…
2022 Spring Consortium Meeting: The Tenderloin – voices from the field
The San Francisco Getting to Zero Consortium convened last Thursday, May 19th. The Co-Chairs of the GTZ-SF Steering Committee, Dr. Susan Buchbinder and Dr. Diane Havlir, shared committee updates and updates on emerging clinical topics. Senior Community Mobilization Manager with the SF AIDS Foundation, Ande Stone, then gave a presentation on the HIV Community Budget…
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 *Updated* RAPID…
2022 GTZ-SF Consortium Winter Forum – follow up on long-acting injectable antiretroviral treatment (LAI-ART)
This convening is a follow-up on the discussion from last Spring. Jon Oskarsson, RN MN and Janet Grochowski, PharmD shared their experience thus far in implementing LAI-ART at SFGH/Ward 86. Ernest Hopkins from the SF AIDS Foundation addressed issues of national and state policy, and advocacy for LAI-ART and PrEP. We also heard from David,…