Track Description: 
This session recognizes the need for the quality mental health services for people with HIV (PWH). Integrating behavioral health services into primary and specialty care can lead to better health outcomes for PWH. Practical integration and implementation of such activities requires intentional quality improvement (QI) activities.

Track Learning Objectives:

  1. Detail the process for improving accessibility of MH services by conducting an interest or needs assessment.

  2. Identify a framework that applies practical implementation science ideas to enhance the QI process.

  3. Describe use of at least two (2) existing QI tools and performance measures

  4. Discuss the process of the developing new QI tools for behavioral health integration.

  5. Describe how the Learning Collaborative model and practice facilitation coaching has been used to support agencies along the transformation journey.

  6. Assess the importance of behavioral health integration across clinical settings.


Session #1: Behavioral Health Integration

Session Title: Meaningful Integration of Behavioral Health Services 


Session Description:

This session recognizes the need for the quality mental health services for people with HIV (PWH). Integrating behavioral health services into primary and specialty care can lead to better health outcomes for PWH. Practical integration and implementation of such activities requires intentional quality improvement (QI) activities.

Session Learning Objectives:

  1. Detail the process for improving accessibility of MH services by conducting an interest or needs assessment.

  2. Identify a framework that applies practical implementation science ideas to enhance the QI process.

  3. Describe use of at least two (2) existing QI tools and performance measures

  4. Discuss the process of the developing new QI tools for behavioral health integration.

  5. Describe how the Learning Collaborative model and practice facilitation coaching has been used to support agencies along the transformation journey.

  6. Assess the importance of behavioral health integration across clinical settings.


Session #2: Methods for Enhancing Viral Suppression

Session Title: Innovative Methods for Promoting Viral Suppression


Session Description:

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) strategies implemented in HIV programs have had tremendous impacts on viral suppression and other health outcomes. This session will assess historic gains from CQI/QI methods, explore the application of such methods to a variety of programs, and interrogate lessons learned from these processes. The session will additionally address the use of QI collaborative frameworks intended to address health disparities. 


Session Learning Objectives:

  1. Discuss how QI methodologies are used to implement improvement interventions to impact the HIV epidemic, and how they can be applied in a variety of HIV healthcare settings.

  2. Identify two (2) best practices and two (2) common challenges from the experiences of regional, state-wide, and national collaborative QI improvement activities.

  3. Describe how CQI processes have advanced the quality of care. 

  4. Discuss monitoring activities utilized to assess innovative interventions encouraging viral suppression.


Session #3: Improving Clinical Outcomes

Session Title: Innovative Practices for Complex Problems: Engaging and Retaining Priority Populations


Session Description:

Adequately addressing priority populations with tailored interventions and health promotion messages is key to ending the HIV epidemic. This session will explore innovative practices in building HIV self-management skills, transforming healthcare settings to encourage adherence to HIV medications, evidence-based daily medication reminders for young men of color in Chicago, and programs that support victims of domestic minor human trafficking. 


Session Learning Objectives:

  1. Describe how a medical home model provides an innovative approach in providing needed medical and mental care for exploited youth. 

  2. Discuss project recruitment strategies for an array of priority populations.

  3. Detail considerations in the development of tailoring health promotion messages.

  4. Describe roles of health professionals within multidisciplinary teams in engaging new patient populations.


Session #4: Expanding a Healthy Workforce

Session Title: Caring for Your Community: Supporting a Healthy HIV Workforce


Session Description:

Professionals working on HIV-related health interventions and initiatives are dedicated individuals with long-term connections to their work. This level of connection breeds an innovative, committed workforce with many of its members relating with beneficiaries due to common lived experiences. This session will explore how to harness the close connections health professionals have with their work in this field, demonstrating the need for peer-led programs, ethical considerations for practitioners providing services close to home, and initiatives aimed at increasing resiliency among the HIV workforce.


Session Learning Objectives:

  1. Discuss the impacts of counter-transference around intersectionality, experiences, and identity while serving patients with similar backgrounds.

  2. Assess factors that contribute to health care workers burnout.

  3. List at least three (3) individual-level strategies that build the resilience of health care workers.

  4. Identify two (2) online resources to support engaging with others with empathy while avoiding burnout.

  5. Identity three (3) empirically-driven tools to prevent vicarious trauma in the workplace.

  6. Discuss a state-wide peer model aimed at improving patient experience through engaging and training community members as community health workers.