BRIDGE PCP: Building Bridges to Improve Care Delivery and Close Gaps in Primary Care Practice - HIV and PrEP Edition

Nurse Content Reviewer

Una T. Hopkins, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, NE-BC, FACCC
Nurse Scientist
Director, Nursing Research
Assistant Professor, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Montefiore Medical Center
Bronx, New York

Course Description 

Though rates of HIV have decreased over the last several years, it remains a global threat. Thus far, the US is falling short of the goal of reducing the number of new HIV infections annually. To help prevent transmission, clinicians must be aware of the risks faced by certain populations, the individuals who should be tested for HIV and how frequently, the treatment options available in the event of a positive test result, and the strategies to prevent HIV for those with a negative test result. This activity will discuss HIV testing, overviews of patient education on preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and antiretroviral therapy (ART), available PrEP and ART options, and ongoing monitoring of patients taking PrEP or ART. Drs. Barry Zingman and Robert Beil will discuss guidelines and recent data and engage in discussion with primary care providers (PCPs) well positioned to ensure HIV is prevented or diagnosed and treated. 

Target Audience 

This activity has been designed to educate PCPs, including MDs, nurse practitioners (NPs), and physician associates (PAs), working with patients in high-need areas to increase their patients’ awareness of and access to HIV PrEP services and rapid ART for patients newly diagnosed with HIV. 

Learning Objectives 

Upon completion of this activity, the participant will be better able to: 

• Identify strategies to conduct sexual health assessments using a status neutral care approach
• Incorporate HIV testing into practice according to the most recent guidelines 
• Implement oral PrEP using guideline-directed strategies for treatment initiation, monitoring, and follow-up care 
• Describe rapid ART initiation protocols for patients newly diagnosed with HIV, including patient support 

Accreditation Statement 

In support of improving patient care, Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 

Credit Designation Statements

Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center designates this activity for 1.0 nursing contact hours. Nurses should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.0 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation. 

Financial Disclosures

The “Policy on Identification, Mitigation and Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships” of Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center requires that any individual in control of content, including faculty, participating in CME/CE activities disclose to the audience all relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies* in the last 24 months. Any individual in control of content who refuses to disclose, or their disclosed relationships prove to create a conflict of interest, will be recused. 

Individuals with the absence of relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies will be disclosed to the audience.  

All financial relationships of individual(s) in a position to control the content of this CME/CE activity have been identified and mitigated prior to this educational activity.  

*The ACCME defines ineligible companies as those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, reselling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.  

Faculty 

Barry S. Zingman, MD, has received research grants to his institution from Gilead Sciences, GSK, ViiV Healthcare within the past 24 months. 

Robert S. Beil, MD, AAHIVS, has reported no relevant financial relationships with ACCME-defined ineligible companies during the past 24 months. 

Nurse Content Reviewer 

Una T. Hopkins, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, NE-BC, FACCC, has reported no relevant financial relationships with ACCME-defined ineligible companies during the past 24 months. 

Method of Participation/Instructions on how to Receive Credit 

Estimated time to complete this activity: 1.0 Hours 

To successfully earn credit for this activity, participants must achieve a minimum score of 70% or higher on the posttest. This passing score demonstrates sufficient mastery of the material covered and ensures that learners have engaged meaningfully with the content. Participants who do not initially achieve the required score will have the opportunity to review the material and retake the posttest as needed to meet this criterion. 

If you are seeking credit, you must complete the evaluation at the conclusion of the activity. Your certificate can be printed immediately. 

Privacy Statement 

The Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center, Center for Continuing Professional Development (Einstein-Montefiore) is committed to protecting the privacy of personal and professional information provided by participants and educational collaborators. Einstein-Montefiore does not share personally identifiable information with third parties without the individual’s explicit consent, except as required for reporting purposes to the ACCME. To ensure the security of collected information, Einstein-Montefiore employs physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards in compliance with federal regulations, effectively protecting against loss, misuse, or unauthorized alteration of the data. 

Collection and Use of Your Personal Information

The submission of certain personally identifiable information is necessary to award and track the credits participants may earn after completing an activity. Required items include first name, last name, middle initial, degree, email address, address and phone number. These items are necessary. Participants are also required to complete an evaluation of each activity. All evaluative information submitted is collected, retained, and used by Einstein-Montefiore to continuously improve the learning experience. Einstein-Montefiore will not transfer, sell, or share personal information with outside parties or otherwise disclose personal information unless required to in a legal process. Einstein-Montefiore will retain your personal data only for the period necessary to accomplish the stated purposes and to comply with applicable laws. 

Contact Information

For questions regarding CME/CE credit, contact Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center at cme@montefiore.org. 

For technical questions related to this activity, please contact Integritas Communications at info@exchangecme.com.