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Date of Report: 08/01/2004
Source: Midwest AETC
The Midwest AIDS Training and Education Center (MATEC) is playing a leading role in many important and exciting collaborations to enhance trainings in rapid testing.
Collaboration with the AETC Network and the AETC National Resource Center
In collaboration with other regional AETCs, MATEC participated in the Rapid Testing Workgroup conference call series coordinated by the NRC to develop a training platform that addresses the needs and considerations of clinical providers implementing rapid HIV testing. MATEC took the lead in the development of a two-hour training targeted for diverse clinical settings. This training includes both information about rapid testing as well as training on relevant skills and guidelines for counseling. A regional training preview of the materials offered an opportunity to share effective ways to utilize them in different regions. MATEC is currently working with the NRC to post slide sets of the training on the website. Once the local performance sites have experience piloting the trainings, MATEC may further share this important training resource with other AETCs through a national training exchange.
Collaboration with the Illinois and Chicago Departments of Public Health
After attending the CDC rapid testing training, MATEC initiated a collaboration with members of the Illinois State Health Department and the Chicago City Health Department to offer rapid testing trainings to prevention-based testing facilities. These comprehensive trainings are three days in length and are targeted to clinicians in outreach settings.
Collaboration with Pediatric AIDS Chicago Prevention Initiative and Illinois Department of Public Health
MATEC is also participating in an extensive effort to offer rapid tests to pregnant women before they deliver. This project involves training on the particular challenges of conducting rapid testing during labor and delivery. These training sessions will be conducted across the state at 145 birthing hospitals and 42 non-birthing hospitals. MATEC will conduct these specialized trainings about rapid testing during labor and delivery at 20 of the state's hospitals.
Collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control
In addition to its numerous direct training projects, MATEC has provided leadership in the many task force activities necessary to make rapid testing legally and practically possible in Illinois. As part of that work, the MATEC staff have been collaborating with members of the CDC, who have participated in MATEC's training conference calls, in-house educational programs, and HIV Breakfast Club (a monthly Continuing Medical Education program for clinicians).
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