Florida/Caribbean AETC
The Florida/Caribbean AETC is working with RWCA-funded medical providers in an effort to assure high quality care. A team of AETC faculty performs comprehensive reviews of randomly selected charts from community-based clinics to determine the extent to which the standards of care are being met. This serves as a quality improvement process for the organization as well as a training needs assessment. The chart review is followed by an AETC-led case conference that focuses on topics identified in the chart review process in which care could be improved. A feedback session highlights the strengths of the clinic's healthcare team and identifies areas that could be improved and would result in improved health care for the patients. Options of training and consultation are offered to assist with changes that would result in improved quality of care.
Illustration: Linking Quality Assurance with Education in a Community-Based Clinic
The Florida/Caribbean AETC works collaboratively with clinical staff at a community-based clinic that receives RWCA Title I funding to provide medical services in an economically depressed area. Following chart review, it was determined that clinical staff needed additional education on the appropriate use of antiretroviral medications and diagnostic testing procedures. AETC faculty began a series of monthly visits to discuss actual clinic cases. Medication regimens were changed and care was brought up to standards.
One clinic physician who had minimal HIV experience and had been referring all HIV care questions to another provider attended the case conference and feedback session. She decided to take advantage of the educational opportunity and develop her expertise in HIV care. Working closely with AETC faculty, she participated in the monthly case discussions and developed her knowledge and skills. She is now the director of the HIV care program within the clinic.
Outcomes
Immediate/Short-term
 | Increased Clinic staff awareness of quality of care issues. |
 |
| Improved care for individuals whose cases were reviewed by the AETC faculty. |
|
| Strengthened knowledge and skills of HIV care providers. |
|
Mid-term/Long-term:
| Improved care for patients in the clinic as providers learned more about appropriate use of antiretroviral therapy and other standards of care. |
|
| Built strong relationships between the Florida/Caribbean AETC and community-based clinics. |
|
| Transitioned physician from novice to expert in the care and treatment of HIV disease. |
|
|
