Factors Influencing the Successful Implementation of HIV Linkage and Retention Interventions in Healthcare Agencies Across New York State

Diane Addison, Abigail Baim-Lance, Lauren Suchman, Benjamin Katz, Carol-Ann Swain, Kelly Piersanti, Clemens Steinbock, Steven Sawicki, Bruce Agins, Denis Nash, on behalf of the NYLinks Implementation Team

As part of the System Linkages and Access to Care Initiative, 12 HIV service delivery organizations in New York implemented one of the following three interventions to improve linkage to and retention in HIV care at their site: Peer Support, Appointment Procedures, and Anti-Retroviral Treatment and Access to Services. Aggregate process measure data describing intervention delivery, in conjunction with qualitative findings to help explain barriers and facilitators to achieving full implementation were examined. Process data from the interventions showed shortcomings in the percentage of eligible patients who went on to be enrolled, and the number of enrollees who ultimately received the components of the interventions. Factors identified in qualitative interviews that facilitated implementation and intervention delivery included: concerted buy-in and coordination of staff, building upon existing infrastructure including ensuring sufficient staff capacity, and allowing adaptability of certain parts of the intervention to better fit patient needs and clinical settings.