Saturday, April 5, 2025
4/5/2025
Ryan White Title III HIV Capacity Development and Planning Grants - The Atlanta area continues to have one of the worst HIV epidemics in the country, whether measured by total PLWH, new diagnoses, poor health outcomes, or minority health disparities. In 2020, Positive Impact Health Centers (PIHC) received funding from Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C Capacity Development grant to purchase dental equipment resulting in the development of an on-site dental clinic at its Duluth Center. For 2022, PIHC proposes to purchase and implement an Electronic Dental Record (EDR) to enhance practice management modules for the on-site dental clinic at the Duluth Center. The goals of this initiative are to increase access to and retention in care, improve outcomes for oral health, achieve a more coordinated response in patient care, standardize follow-up and data tracking through an Electronic Dental Record (EDR), which will interface with the agency Electronic Health Record (EHR), and foster the integration of HIV primary care with oral health. PIHC is seeking funding through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C Capacity Development Program under the proposed activity category of HIV Care Innovation. PIHC's on-site dental clinic enhances the patient care experience and decreases barriers to care, such as stigma and transportation. Currently, maintaining oral health data and outcomes which interface with the agency's EHR has not been achieved. An EDR is important, but the need for the EDR to interface with the agency's EHR is critical for integrating and coordinating patient care and achieving optimal positive health outcomes. Expected outcomes from purchasing and implementing the EDR to interface with the agency's EHR will benefit every service area and administrative responsibilities across the agency and build capacity. In areas that provide direct patient care, the expected outcomes of this expansion will benefit patient health and increase access to and retention in care. Areas to further be improved are: (1) standardizing the referral process to increase compliance with scheduling appointments; (2) decreasing no shows by establishing a one-stop-shop for primary and oral health care; (3) data sharing across primary care and oral health to promote consistency with patient care and health management; and (4) developing performance metrics to track outcomes with the goal of increased patient access by 40-50% attending appointments. In addition, adding the EDR, which interfaces with the agency's EHR, will improve the agency's policies and procedures surrounding contract invoicing, billing, and data collection and reporting. PIHC currently serves 3,800 PLWH with medical care, 490 with oral health care, 930 with mental health and/or substance abuse (MH/SA) services, and 1,000 patients are enrolled in PrEP. The organization tests over 9,000 individuals each year (many of whom are at high risk for HIV/Hepatitis). The testing department identifies nearly 200 new HIV diagnoses per year, with most becoming PIHC clients. The organization continues to experience an increased demand for services due to the overall unmet needs for PLWH in the Atlanta EMA. Serving more patients, especially those out of care, is a priority.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).