Ending the HIV Epidemic

Faculty

Jonathan A. Colasanti, MD, MSPH
Medical Director, Infectious Diseases Program
Grady Health System
Associate Professor of Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine
Atlanta, Georgia

Target Audience

The educational design of this activity addresses the needs of physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners involved in the treatment of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Educational Objective

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

• Implement rapid antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens to initiate treatment quickly, optimize viral suppression, and reduce HIV transmission

Statement of Need/Program Overview

HIV management strategies and principles have evolved over the last few decades, and rapid ART, starting ART immediately upon diagnosis, is the new gold standard in the field. Recent guideline updates have detailed which ART regimens have high barriers to resistance, allowing immediate start, before laboratory results of genotyping are available.^1,2 Since the rapid initiation of ART has become more widely available, identified barriers to more widespread adoption of this approach to HIV management—whether faced by patient, provider, or health care system—now need solutions. In this activity, Dr. Colasanti will elucidate appropriate treatment approaches that integrate established, streamlined models of care and demonstrate optimal implementation of rapid ART.^3-5 He will guide learners on the important role of patient navigators, also known as linkage to care coordinators, in assisting patients to successfully enroll at clinics, navigate public or private health insurance or drug assistance programs to gain access to ART, and get referrals for needed support services, including counseling or housing assistance.

References

1. US Department of Health and Human Services. Guidelines for the use of antiretroviral agents in adults and adolescents living with HIV. 2019; https://clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/en/guidelines/adult-and-adolescent-arv/whats-new-guidelines Accessed September 14, 2020.
2. Saag MS, Benson CA, Gandhi RT, et al. Antiretroviral drugs for treatment and prevention of HIV infection in adults: 2018 recommendations of the International Antiviral Society-USA Panel. JAMA. 2018;320(4):379-396.
3. Colasanti J, Sumitani J, Mehta CC, et al. Implementation of a rapid entry program decreases time to viral suppression among vulnerable persons living with HIV in the Southern United States. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2018;5(6):ofy104.
4. Halperin J, Butler I, Conner K, et al. Linkage and antiretroviral therapy within 72 hours at a Federally Qualified Health Center in New Orleans. AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2018;32(2):39-41.
5. Pilcher CD, Ospina-Norvell C, Dasgupta A, et al. The effect of same-day observed initiation of antiretroviral therapy on HIV viral load and treatment outcomes in a US public health setting. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2017;74(1):44-51.

Physician Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Global Education Group (Global) and Integritas Communications.  Global is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physician Credit Designation

Global designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Global Contact Information

For information about the accreditation of this program, please contact Global at 303-395-1782 or cme@globaleducationgroup.com.

Instructions to Receive Credit

In order to receive credit for this activity, the participant must score 75% or better on the posttest and complete the program evaluation.

Fee Information& Refund/Cancellation Policy

There is no fee for this educational activity.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Global requires instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals and their spouses/life partners who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by Global for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations.

The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices he or his spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Jonathan A. Colasanti, MD, MSPH: Nothing to disclose

The following planners and managers reported no financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouses/life partners have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Lindsay Borvansky, Andrea Funk, Liddy Knight, Ashley Cann, Gena Dolson, MS, Stacey JP Ullman, MHS, Jim Kappler, PhD

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. Global and Integritas Communications do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. 

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization associated with this activity. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer

Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of patient conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.