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The National Resource Center (NRC) serves the AIDS Education and Training Centers and provides education and training resources to health professionals caring for people living with HIV infection. The 11 regional AETCs and over 130 Local Performance Sites (LPSs) serve all 50 states and territories, including the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the six U.S.-affiliated Pacific jurisdictions.
LPSs identify and develop targeted responses to the education needs of healthcare providers in the areas they serve. Because of this key role, the NRC focused one of its primary quality improvement activities on the services provided specifically to LPSs. Frequently, the LPSs are the sole source of HIV training and assistance for their areas where they meet the needs of many underserved and hard-to-reach communities. LPSs are located in Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), hospitals/clinics, and academic institutions. Half of LPS offices serve a mixed urban/suburban/rural geographic area, while 33% serve a primarily urban area and 15% focus on training needs in predominantly rural areas.
Illustration: Structured Interviews to Increase Access and Resource Utilization
The NRC conducts annual needs assessments of regional AETCs and their LPSs. The 2002-2003 needs assessment indicated that LPSs were not familiar with the services of the National Resource Center and, as a result, did not fully utilize available resources. In an effort to improve access to NRC services for the LPSs and to promote the resources of the NRC, staff contacted each LPS and carried out structured personal telephone interviews. The NRC successfully contacted representatives of 55 geographically diverse LPSs from October 2003 through March 2004. The interviews served two primary purposes: 1) to familiarize LPS staff with the NRC and its resources, and 2) to determine specific LPS resource needs. Overall, LPSs displayed an impressive range of knowledge and familiarity with AETC programs and the services of the NRC.
The effectiveness of this quality improvement initiative was reflected in a significant increase in response rates to the NRC 2003-2004 needs assessment survey. There was a 36% increase in the number of respondents. Completed surveys were received from all LPSs and ten of the eleven regional AETCs. As a result of this outreach to the LPSs, the NRC was able to meet its goal of receiving input from a wide range of health care providers.
The needs assessment survey looked at user satisfaction with the NRC in several areas: website information and resources, activities to promote the national identity of the AETC, coordination and communication activities, and training platform development. The needs assessment also asked about other needs as well as recommendations for activities to facilitate collaboration between other training centers (3TC initiative) and quality improvement initiatives. Respondents indicated their satisfaction with NRC resources and practices:
 | "We perceive the LPS as the conduit for showcasing national products." |
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| "Thank you for sharing the survey with LPS folks. Apparently there are a lot of resources available that I was not aware of. Please share results of the survey with our group." |
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Specific NRC resources were highlighted as particularly useful by the LPSs. For example, the training platform materials were rated as useful or very useful with slide sets and speaker notes receiving the highest overall scores. Clinical Information Resources were also regarded as very useful by all respondents and had been accessed by 75% of LPS respondents. LPS respondents also indicated satisfaction with Patient Education Materials. Of the Newsletters, the AETC Network News was accessed by 87% of respondents. All newsletters were rated somewhat useful or better, and ratings were consistently higher among LPSs compared to regional center respondents.
The NRC website (www.aidsetc.org) is an important mechanism for the dissemination of clinical information and training resources. Use of the website reduces duplication of effort and increases the cost-effectiveness of the AETC program. The majority (96%) of survey respondents visited the site at least once and 51% had visited one to five times. Eight-five percent of website visitors reported that they were usually or always successful in finding what they were seeking.
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| Use of the website reduces duplication of effort and increases the cost-effectiveness of the AETC program. |
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The NRC serves the network of HIV educators and trainers, continually assesses its effectiveness in this mission and routinely implements and measures quality improvement activities. As a result, the NRC influences the practices of healthcare providers and improves the quality of care available to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
Outcomes
Immediate/Short-term:
| Established personal connection with LPS staff. |
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| Familiarized staff with NRC services and website resources. |
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| Increased LPS use of existing NRC resources. |
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Mid-term/Long-term:
| Increased LPS participation in national activities such as annual needs assessment and Workgroups. |
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