Marion County Public Health Department Bell Flower Clinic Scale-Up Project - Funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will allow the Marion County Public Health Department Bell Flower Clinic and STD Control Program to build upon prior progress made to scale up HIV prevention services by addressing gaps in clinic infrastructure, increasing clinic efficiency, assessing patient experience, incorporating feedback into quality improvement, and adopting a holistic approach to HIV prevention and care. Furthermore, we will strengthen existing community partnerships to extend the reach of our HIV screening, prevention, and care resources in the community and meaningfully engage priority populations to inform our work. In the short-term, Bell Flower Clinic will increase the number of individuals beginning HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), increase the number of individuals newly diagnosed with HIV linked to rapid antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation, begin viral load testing for HIV, increase hepatitis screening, increase administration of recommended vaccinations, and administer patient satisfaction surveys. Additionally in the short-term, Bell Flower Clinic will increase collaboration and engagement with local community-based organizations and other community partners to inform clinical service delivery and increase the understanding of and responsiveness to patient clinical experience, patient needs, and satisfaction. Intermediate outcomes include increasing clinic efficiency with shorter visit times, decreasing turnaround time for laboratory results, decreasing time to treatment of STIs, and the provision of rapid ART initiation at Bell Flower Clinic. Other intermediate outcomes include re-engagement in care of persons living with HIV (PLWH) who are not virally suppressed and sustaining community partnerships that inform strategic Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) planning and activity implementation. Throughout the funding period, staff will receive training to support the provision of creating affirming, culturally competent care. By the conclusion of the funding period, Bell Flower Clinic will increase delivery and uptake of stigma-free quality, comprehensive sexual health services at our clinic. As a result, we aim to decrease new HIV and STI infections with reduction in racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual orientation disparities and increased viral suppression among PLWH in Marion County, Indiana.
