FY 2021 ending the HIV epidemic - primary care HIV prevention - community medical wellness centers, USA (cmwc) is applying for the bphc FY 2022 pchp ending the HIV epidemic grant to support efforts to…

FY 2021 ending the HIV epidemic - primary care HIV prevention - community medical wellness centers, USA (cmwc) is applying for the bphc FY 2022 pchp ending the HIV epidemic grant to support efforts to increase patient education, the identification of patients who are at risk of contracting HIV to prescribe prep, increase HIV testing, and increase linkage to care for patients with an HIV diagnosis. The cmwc ending the HIV epidemic project will increase access to services related to addressing the HIV epidemic as part of their comprehensive integrated primary care model to the minority low income black/african american, cambodian, and latinx refugee and undocumented populations of southern LOS angeles county specifically in the city of long beach and the surrounding areas. Community medical wellness center is a non-profit 501(c)(3) federally qualified health center providing quality health services to more than 6,107 patients in LOS angeles county. Long beach (POP. 468,883) is the second largest city in LOS angeles county and home to the largest cambodian population outside of cambodia. LA county has 2.56 million latinx residents making up 48.6% of the total population. In addition, LA county experiences a large and increasing homeless challenge. In 2020, the number of people experiencing homelessness increased by 13% to over 66,000 people and more than 2,000 of which were counted in long beach. In LA county the black/african american population is disproportionately represented in the homeless community where they make up 33% of the homeless population but less than 8% of the general population. Cmwc serves all of these vulnerable populations with approximately 40% of patients who are of asian (mostly cambodian) descent, 30% are latinx, with 10% black/african american, and the remainder being white or more than one race. The majority of cmwc patients are low-income with 86% living below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Cmwc is currently and continuously committed to an integrated care model compris ED of primary care and behavioral health services along with addressing an individual's social determinants of health to sustain a healthy body, mind, and spirit. The primary goals for the additional funding from this grant are to increase efforts to target specifically those at risk of contracting HIV through increased staffing, staff training, patient education, outreach efforts, and an interdisciplinary approach to providing comprehensive care to the target populations. Cmwc has a robust quality improvement and quality assurance (QI/QA) program and will incorporate the ending the HIV epidemic project to the QI/QA program. Cmwc will develop objectives and measurable goals to increase patient education for protecting against contracting HIV, increase HIV testing, increase prep prescriptions, and increase linkage to care for patients newly diagnosed with HIV. Upon funding, cmwc will develop and implement a systematic approach to carrying out the objectives and goals developed for this project and fully integrate the ending the HIV epidemic project into the cmwc primary care model.