HIV ECHO Sessions
The UNMC Specialty Care Center offers virtual HIV ECHO didactic sessions. Subject matter experts will present on HIV basics, PrEP, rural population health, sexually transmitted infections, harm reduction and more. Sessions will be followed by case studies presented by community members, clinicians and public health professionals. Experts will also be available to answer questions regarding HIV care, telehealth services, implementation science and rural populations.
This project is funded through a grant from ViiV Healthcare.
Sessions are held on the first Thursday of the month (except January and July 2025) at 12 to 1 pm CST.
Email UNMCHIVECHO@unmc.edu with questions.
Session #1: "HIV 101" presented by Nada Fadul, MD, and case study by Daniel Cramer, APRN, on 11/7/24. Learning objectives: describe the origin of HIV infection, list the major modes of HIV transmission, identify the key points in the life cycle of HIV, and recognize the complications of untreated HIV infection.
Key takeaways:
- Everyone deserves an HIV test if they have ever had sex regardless of their age or background.
- In practice you should not limit yourself to age or sex or “risk” but rather minimize vulnerability.
- Person-centered language validates the patients and helps to de-stigmatize conversations around HIV.
Session #2: "HIV Prevention in Primary Care" presented by Dr. Jennifer Davis, MD, and case study by Shawna Sunagawa, PharmD, on 12/5/24. Learning objectives: review EBP HIV prevention strategies, details of HIV testing, and basics of PrEP.
Key takeaways:
- Per the CDC: Prescribe PrEP to anyone who asks for it, including sexually active adults and adolescents who do not report HIV risk factors.
- HIV is still out there and our patients are at risk.
- Please test everyone for HIV, and more than once if they are having sex.
- U=U (Undetectable = untransmittable).
- Testing and treatment are prevention.
- PrEP and PEP are effective ways to prevent HIV transmission.
- A positive HIV screening result needs follow-up confirmatory testing.
Session #3: "STIs" presented by Dr. Sara Hurtado Bares, MD, with case study questions presented by Heather Saarela, BSPH.
Learning objectives:
- Tips and tricks for taking sexual histories in a patient centered way
- General information over different sexually transmitted infections
- Asymptomatic patients who are interested in STI testing
- How to conduct follow-up care and counseling for patients and their partners who have positive STI results
Key takeaways:
- Practice, practice, practice – the more sexual histories you obtain, the more comfortable you will become
- STIs are common and frequently asymptomatic; screening – at all exposed sites – is important
- The most common cause for repeat positive testing is reinfection; remember to provide counseling and expedited partner therapy
- Viruses don't discriminate; anyone can have an STI
STI resources for providers and patients:
- STI treatment guidelines phone app for providers (from the CDC) - Provider Resources
- Websites that allow patients to anonymously notify their partners of an STI exposure:
Session #4: "Primary Care of People Living with HIV" presented by Alex Dworak, MD, and Spencer Kinzie, MD.
Learning objectives/goals:
- Present various cases of PLWHIV
- Illustrate the advancement of HIV care over time
- Highlight health disparities and inequities in HIV incidence and morbidity/mortality
- Present guidelines for primary care of people living with HIV (spoiler alert: it’s just excellent primary care like for anyone else)
Key takeaways:
- Much of the care we provide in primary care is no different than it is in any other population
- Most deaths in patients living with HIV receiving ART are related to NON-AIDS related illnesses
- All pregnant and breast feeding/chest feeding persons with HIV need ART regardless of immunologic/virologic status as early as possible, ideally prior to contraception
- Chronic Lung Diseases all appear more common in patients living with HIV