“The Links”  Testing and Linkage to Care webinar courses provide training for clinical staff and providers to develop new skills and professional competencies to optimize the quality of care for people newly diagnosed with HIV or who are re-engaging in care. 


This series addresses the current state of the HIV care continuum in the state of Maryland and provides a strategic initiative for identifying and addressing gaps of service in the care continuum and how to address them. 

It also addresses the core competencies in HIV management from initial diagnosis and regimen selection to implementing strategies ensuring patient adherence. Furthermore, it helps with skills to improve communication within the clinical setting and ensures training on health literacy and beliefs, improving patient-provider communication, coordinating care for individuals living with HIV, and addressing barriers to care with the patient. Re-engagement and retention will examine evidence-based approaches for innovative linkage to care and engagement strategies and present programs in Maryland that address these challenges as well as how technology can play a role in addressing medication adherence. 


Overarching Series Learning Objectives:

  • Define the HIV care continuum and the implications for individual health

  • Employ evidence-based techniques to foster open patient-provider communication

  • Identify innovative linkage to care strategies for improved access to care, including, retention and engagement in care

  • Enhance capacity of providers and health care staff to initiate effective strategies with patients to increase progress toward Maryland Ending the HIV Epidemic goals.


Welcome to Link 1 "HIV in Maryland: Epidemiology, Intersectionality, Engagement, & Equity".

This course is jointly provided by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and HealthHIV.

Please review the content below at your own pace.

Release Date: February 24, 2022 

Expiration Date: February 23, 2023

Target Audience

This activity is intended for physicians, pharmacists, registered nurses, PAs, psychologists, social workers and other healthcare providers engaged in the care of patients with HIV.

Educational Objectives

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

  • Describe the populations most impacted by HIV in the State of Maryland.
    • Use the tools and resources available to increase knowledge of the current state of HIV in the State of Maryland.
      • Identify organizations at the forefront of HIV prevention and treatment services in the State of Maryland.
      • Differentiate between underserved, vulnerable, marginalized and at-risk populations.
      • Utilize best practices in addressing gaps as it pertains to community engaged research.

      Faculty

      Typhanye V. Dyer, PhD, MPH

      Associate Professor of Epidemiology & Biostatistics

      University of Maryland School of Public Health

      Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

      Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) requires faculty, planners, and others in control of educational content to disclose all their financial relationships with ineligible companies. All identified conflicts of interest (COI) are thoroughly vetted and mitigated according to PIM policy. PIM is committed to providing its learners with high quality accredited continuing education activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of an ineligible company.

      The faculty reported the following relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities related to the educational content of this CE activity:

      The faculty presenter has nothing to disclose. 

      The PIM planners and others have nothing to disclose. The HealthHIV planners and others have nothing to disclose.

      Joint Accreditation Statement

      Jointly Accredited Provider: Interprofessional Continuing EducationIn support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and HealthHIV. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine 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.

      Physician Continuing Medical Education

      The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

      Continuing Nursing Education

      The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 1.0 contact hours.

      Continuing Pharmacy Education

      Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this continuing education activity for 1.0 contact hour(s) (0.1 CEUs) of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

      Continuing Physician Assistant Education

      AAPA Category 1 CMEPostgraduate Institute for Medicine has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (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.

      Continuing Social Work Education

      ACE: approved continuing educationAs a Jointly Accredited Organization, Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 Cultural continuing education credits.

      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. The planners of this activity 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 the planners. 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 or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient's conditions and possible contraindications and/or dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer's product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

      Welcome to Link 2 "Core Skills for HIV Management"!

      Although all adolescents and adults aged 15 to 65 years should be screened for HIV, a number of factors may increase an individual’s chance of acquiring HIV. This webinar will provide an overview of strategies and appropriate patients to screen for HIV and how appropriately timed interventions in people who have received an HIV diagnosis can reduce the risks of clinical progression, complications, and transmission. This includes identifying evidence-based interventions such as antiretroviral therapies (ART) and regimens that have been proven to reduce risks by addressing barriers to care. 

      This course is jointly provided by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and HealthHIV.

      Please review the content below at your own pace.

      Release Date: March 1, 2022 

      Expiration Date: February 28, 2023

      Target Audience

      This activity is intended for physicians, pharmacists, registered nurses, PAs, psychologists, social workers and other healthcare providers engaged in the care of patients with HIV.

      Educational Objectives

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

      • Define the importance of routine HIV screening in primary care.
        • Apply effective strategies to assess patients’ sexual health and substance use history. 
          • Discuss the linkage-to-care process for newly-diagnosed patients in the HIV care continuum.
          • Describe health maintenance considerations for patients with HIV.
          • Review key primary care guidelines, common lab tests, antiretroviral options, and side effect management for patients with HIV.
          • Identify key long-term complications of persons with HIV.

          Faculty

          Hazel Jones-Parker, MSN, DNP, FNP-BC

          Assistant Professor of Family and Community Health 

          University of Maryland School of Nursing

          Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

          Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) requires faculty, planners, and others in control of educational content to disclose all their financial relationships with ineligible companies. All identified conflicts of interest (COI) are thoroughly vetted and mitigated according to PIM policy. PIM is committed to providing its learners with high quality accredited continuing education activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of an ineligible company.

          The faculty reported the following relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities related to the educational content of this CE activity:

          The faculty presenter has nothing to disclose.

          The PIM planners and others have nothing to disclose. The HealthHIV planners and others have nothing to disclose.

          Joint Accreditation Statement

          Jointly Accredited Provider: Interprofessional Continuing EducationIn support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and HealthHIV. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine 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.

          Physician Continuing Medical Education

          The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

          Continuing Nursing Education

          The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 1.0 contact hours.

          Continuing Pharmacy Education

          Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this continuing education activity for 1.0 contact hour(s) (0.1 CEUs) of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

          Continuing Physician Assistant Education

          AAPA Category 1 CMEPostgraduate Institute for Medicine has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (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.

          Continuing Social Work Education

          ACE: approved continuing educationAs a Jointly Accredited Organization, Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 Cultural continuing education credits.

          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. The planners of this activity 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 the planners. 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 or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient's conditions and possible contraindications and/or dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer's product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

          Welcome to Link 3 "Enhancing Culturally Appropriate Communication: Patient-Provider Interventions"!

          This webinar describes the key factors that play a role when communicating with customers and patients, discusses the role of culture and health literacy, and looks at how stigma, discrimination, and bias can interfere with the implementation of equitable communication strategies.

          This course is jointly provided by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and HealthHIV.

          Please review the content at your own pace.

          Release Date: March 22, 2022

          Expiration Date: March 21, 2023

          Target Audience

          This activity is intended for physicians, pharmacists, registered nurses, PAs, psychologists, social workers and other healthcare providers engaged in the care of patients with HIV.

          Educational Objectives

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

          • Identify key factors that play a role when communicating with patients/customers.
          • Distinguish the role of culture and health literacy to develop and adopt culturally tailored communication strategies.
          • Analyze how culturally tailored communication and messaging transcreation play an important role to improve communication.
          • Discuss how stigma, discrimination, and bias interfere with the implementation of equitable communication strategies.

          Faculty

          Rebecca Vargas-Jackson M.D. Researcher Educator George Mason University

          Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

          Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) requires faculty, planners, and others in control of educational content to disclose all their financial relationships with ineligible companies. All identified conflicts of interest (COI) are thoroughly vetted and mitigated according to PIM policy. PIM is committed to providing its learners with high quality accredited continuing education activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of an ineligible company.

          The faculty reported the following relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities related to the educational content of this CE activity:

          The faculty presenter has nothing to disclose. 

          The PIM planners and others have nothing to disclose. The HealthHIV planners and others have nothing to disclose.

          Joint Accreditation Statement

          Jointly Accredited Provider: Interprofessional Continuing EducationIn support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and HealthHIV. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine 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.

          Physician Continuing Medical Education

          The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

          Continuing Nursing Education

          The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 1.0 contact hours.

          Continuing Pharmacy Education

          Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this continuing education activity for 1.0 contact hour(s) (0.1 CEUs) of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

          Continuing Physician Assistant Education

          AAPA Category 1 CMEPostgraduate Institute for Medicine has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (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.

          Continuing Social Work Education

          ACE: approved continuing educationAs a Jointly Accredited Organization, Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 Cultural continuing education credits.

          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. The planners of this activity 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 the planners. 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 or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient's conditions and possible contraindications and/or dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer's product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

          Welcome to Link 4 "Retention and Re-Engagement in HIV Care"!

          Linking or re-engaging and retaining people living with HIV (PLWH) in ongoing, primary care is vital for ending the HIV epidemic and ensuring a full, healthy lifespan for the greater than one million PLWH in the US. However, 41–44% of individuals living with HIV are not accessing regular, ongoing HIV care, and the epidemic disproportionately affects some demographic subgroups. Changes in the HIV workforce and ways that HIV care is delivered increase the need for re-thinking practice models and provision of training and education, including cultural competency to better serve clients based on their race/ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, or socio-economic backgrounds. Collaboration between health department units, collaboration between the health department and external stakeholders, and creation of new partnerships are essential for establishing and sustaining a coordinated referral system, identifying and filling service gaps, and avoiding duplication. Additionally, updated data systems are necessary to facilitate the movement of PLWH through the continuum of care steps.

          This course is jointly provided by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and HealthHIV.

          Please review the content below at your own pace.

          Release Date: April 21, 2022 

          Expiration Date: April 20, 2023

          Target Audience

          This activity is intended for physicians, pharmacists, registered nurses, PAs, psychologists, social workers and other healthcare providers engaged in the care of patients with HIV.

          Educational Objectives

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

          • Summarize the HIV continuum of care and the importance of patient retention and re-engagement.
          • Recognize barriers and facilitators to HIV retention and re-engagement.
          • Identify evidence-informed practices to improve HIV retention and re-engagement.

          Faculty

          Joyce Jones, MD, MS

          Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

          Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) requires faculty, planners, and others in control of educational content to disclose all their financial relationships with ineligible companies. All identified conflicts of interest (COI) are thoroughly vetted and mitigated according to PIM policy. PIM is committed to providing its learners with high quality accredited continuing education activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of an ineligible company.

          The faculty reported the following relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities related to the educational content of this CE activity:

          The faculty presenter has nothing to disclose.

          The PIM planners and others have nothing to disclose. The HealthHIV planners and others have nothing to disclose.

          Joint Accreditation Statement

          Jointly Accredited Provider: Interprofessional Continuing EducationIn support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and HealthHIV. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine 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.

          Physician Continuing Medical Education

          The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

          Continuing Nursing Education

          The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 1.0 contact hours.

          Continuing Pharmacy Education

          Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this continuing education activity for 1.0 contact hour(s) (0.1 CEUs) of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

          Continuing Physician Assistant Education

          AAPA Category 1 CMEPostgraduate Institute for Medicine has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (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.

          Continuing Social Work Education

          ACE: approved continuing educationAs a Jointly Accredited Organization, Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 Cultural continuing education credits.

          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. The planners of this activity 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 the planners. 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 or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient's conditions and possible contraindications and/or dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer's product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.