AIDS patient care and STDs
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AIDS Patient Care STDS · Nov 2011
Barriers and facilitators to routine HIV testing: perceptions from Massachusetts Community Health Center personnel.
Since 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended routine, voluntary HIV testing for persons aged 13-64 in all health care settings, including the elimination of separate informed consent, which remains in effect in five states including Massachusetts. Community health centers (CHCs) represent an important HIV testing site for at-risk populations. ⋯ Facilitators included designation of personnel to serve as organizational "champions" for routine testing and use of clinical reminders within electronic medical records to prompt HIV testing. Strategies identified to improve routine HIV testing rates among Massachusetts CHCs included more explicit state-level guidelines; organizational buy-in; collaborative analysis to integrate testing within existing activities; and provider, patient and community education.