Study finds new program to enhance HIV screening dramatically boosts testing in urgent care clinics and emergency departments

This study describes the development and implementation of a comprehensive HIV co-testing initiative across Intermountain Health’s urgent care clinics and emergency departments. The program was designed to standardize HIV screening for patients undergoing evaluation for sexually transmitted infections, addressing historically low HIV testing rates in Utah. Key components included clinician and patient education, electronic health record alerts prompting HIV test orders when appropriate, and a structured link-to-care system to ensure rapid follow-up for newly diagnosed individuals.
The initiative represents a large, multi-site collaboration involving urgent care, emergency medicine, infectious disease, pharmacy, stewardship, and clinical informatics teams. By embedding HIV testing into routine STI evaluations and strengthening care-coordination pathways, the program aimed to reduce missed opportunities for early diagnosis and improve timely connection to specialty care. This approach provides a scalable model for health systems seeking to enhance HIV prevention efforts and support national objectives such as the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative.