HIV Quality of Care Study UKCMC Bluegrass Care Clinic Partners in Health

The Bluegrass Care Clinic (BCC) of the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center (UKCMC) proposes a Partners in Health HIV quality of care study. The overall goals of the study are to reduce disease progression and improve the cost-effective use of facilities (clinic vs. Emergency Department (ED». The study will focus on the quarterly visits of follow-up patients and is designed to address gaps in communication that impede the provision of high quality HIV primary care to our largely poor and/or rural patient population. The underlying concept of the study is (1) to introduce process modifications that actively engage patients in self-management; (2) to provide education and resources for clinic staff targeted at improving communication with patients and raising the competency of staff throughout the chain of care; and (3) to provide consistent communication (with patient consent) with referring providers, UKCMC specialists, and HIV care coordinators. The assumption is that patients who are actively engaged in self-care, are more likely to adhere to treatment plans.