Quarterly Report | July - September 2022
Gateway Juggernaut Ramps up HIV Testing
James Rowe, coordinator of Gateway’s HIV / HCV Early Intervention Services (EIS) program, is stepping up an already impressive game when it comes to HIV testing. This quarter, Gateway’s HIV testing was up 48% over the same quarter last year - and Jim is aiming even higher. “Educating and testing to stop the increase of HIV is something I’m passionate about; I’m putting HIV testing on the front burner this year.”
To make Gateway the top HIV testing agency in the EIS program - in addition to a great team of nurses, Jim is counting on two people named Cathy - Cathy Thompson, Director of Nursing, and Cathy Shelton, his new part time program assistant. Cathy Thompson has been fully committed to the success of the Gateway EIS program from the beginning – “and that has made all the difference,” says Jim. “She helped me get my assistant, Cathy Shelton, who is doing an awesome job. She does HIV testing and makes sure the outpatient clinics have the HIV testing supplies that they need; it’s a huge help.”
“I’ve been at Gateway almost 10 years, says Jim. And during that time we grew our HIV program and launched HCV testing.” This past year, the agency provided more individuals with HCV testing than any other in the Imagine Hope HCV program statewide. And they ran a close second for the highest number of HIV tests. “The numbers are significant because of what they mean,” says Jim. “We can’t really quantify the value of this work, but I do know that it’s greater than we can even imagine. We’ve lost people, but we have helped so many more. And what’s exciting about working in this field is that the medication is so effective - for HIV and for HCV. We’re living in a hopeful time.”
Pineland’s Relationship with DPH Pays off
“I don’t know what it is about 2022, but lately we’ve been getting at least one HIV-positive test result a quarter,” says Pineland’s HIV testing coordinator Valerie Lanier. This quarter, Pineland provided HIV testing to 109 individuals, diagnosed one individual HIV-positive, and successfully linked them to HIV treatment.
“Before I started HIV testing, I found out who to reach out to on behalf of an individual in need of HIV treatment,” says Valerie. “Whenever we have a confirmed HIV positive test result, I involve Miss Elizabeth, our contact at the Department of Public Health (DPH). Sometimes when we call the Wellness Center to make an appointment for an individual who is newly diagnosed, the receptionist will say that the next appointment is a week or more away. That’s when Miss Elizabeth steps in to see what can be done to help get them into care as quickly as possible. At John’s Place, our crisis unit, we provide transportation to appointments for HIV care. But DPH will provide transportation for individuals after they have been discharged.” Having an ally to help me get individuals who are HIV-positive into care “means everything to me,” says Valerie. She credits the successful relationship with going out and meeting Miss Elizabeth in-person. “Face to face is best.”
This quarter, the team participated in a community event in downtown Statesboro, setting up an information booth with the banner: KNOW YOUR STATUS and talking to all comers. “Our goal was to educate, reduce stigma, and get the word out that we offer free HIV testing. It’s exciting that we are reaching more people and helping individuals who are HIV-positive into care. I can't wait to grow the program even more.”
HIV Totals - 3,102 HIV Tests, 7 New Confirmed HIV+ Diagnosis
During Q3/2022, Imagine Hope partner agencies screened 3,102 individuals for HIV. Of those, 100% received their results and 6 newly diagnosed HIV+ individuals were linked to care. One newly diagnosed HIV+individual received their results during a post-test counseling session but declined referral to treatment. The Georgia Department of Public Health local offices were notified. This quarter Early Intervention Services workers provided on-going support to 60 HIV+ individuals and re-linked 7 previously diagnosed HIV+ individuals who had fallen out of care to medical treatment.
HCV Totals - 3,265 HCV Tests, 232 New Confirmed HCV/RNA+ Diagnoses
During Q3/2022, the Imagine Hope HCV Program screened 3,265 individuals for HCV. Of those, 232 were confirmed RNA+ or chronically infected with HCV. During the same period, 79 HCV+ clients completed the first step in the linkage continuum when they received liver health/HCV education and 26 were confirmed linked to medical treatment.
Valerie Lanier, Pineland
James Miller Rowe, III, Gateway Behavioral Health
“Educating and testing to stop the increase of HIV is something I’m passionate about; I’m putting HIV testing on the front burner this year.”
“Having an ally
to help me get individuals
who are HIV-positive into care
means everything to me.”
Gateway has won the award for providing more HIV tests than any other agency in the EIS program several times over the years - and narrowly missed being named the top HIV testing agency at the Annual Gathering in August - the first since COVID.
Gateway did win the prize for providing HCV testing to more individuals than any other - with 5,864 screens from July 2019 - June 2022.
James Rowe with the “Golden Balloons” awarded to Gateway for 5,864 HCV screens between July 2019 - June 2022, more than any other agency in the EIS program.
Highland Rivers Community Service Board serves a 13-county area in northeast Georgia that spills from the mountains on the Georgia-Tennessee line to Cobb County in metro Atlanta. Since February 2021, in addition to her other duties, Infection Control Nurse Linda Sharpe has been leading the Early Intervention Services (EIS) program at Highland Rivers.
A registered nurse for 32 years, Linda is enthusiastic about the profession. “Every position that I've held I've always thought, ‘this is the best job in the world’ - until I get to the next job. And I find myself saying that again: that this is this is the best job I can imagine because it puts me in a position to actually help people. We all like to know that our work matters and in this work you can truly see the difference you’re making.”
The most meaningful difference to date? Shepherding her first individual from preliminary HIV positive through treatment. “He was the first that I worked with from the beginning,” says Linda. She followed him from diagnosis to discharge planning, referral to public health, and treatment. “And when I was able to confirm that his viral load was undetectable, it just struck me in my heart – that is what it's about right there.”
Of the agency’s 4-person EIS team, Linda says, “They’re all absolutely wonderful.” From star HIV tester Diane Bogart to Martha Elischer, “who believes whole heartedly in recovery,” to veteran tester Lynn Williamson – “truly an asset” and Shannon Tillett of Cobb County, the newest member of the team – “I’m excited to work with her.”
At the Annual Gathering in August – the first since COVID – Highland Rivers was honored for performing more HIV tests than any other EIS agency in the state. From July 2019 – June 2022, Highland Rivers provided 5,327 individuals with HIV testing.
And her take-away from her first annual gathering? “It’s great to know that what we’re part of is greater than just us here at Highland Rivers. We’re on the same team as everybody – even though we do have some healthy competition between providers. The other day, Diane came in. She’s been watching those quarterly HIV testing numbers – and she said, ‘Gateway did more HIV testing than we did; we can’t let that happen!’”
Work that Matters
Linda Sharpe (3rd from left), with Imagine Hope QA Director Tina Gossett, North Georgia Linkage Navigator Samantha Kinsey, and the Highland Rivers EIS team, awarded the “Golden Balloons” for the most HIV tests performed from July 2019 - June 2022.
“We all like to know that our work matters - and in this work you can truly see the difference that you’re making.”
“When I was able to confirm that his viral load was undetectable, it just struck me in my heart – that is what it’s about right there.”
Valerie joined the EIS program in 2019, right before COVID. At the time,“HIV testing was nearly impossible. But my supervisor, Mylene Sutton, is genuinely supportive – and now we have a team of qualified, caring testers – Celitha Taylor, Melinda Waldon, and Stephen Pomeroy. At first, individuals were skeptical about getting tested, but then we had one person who learned their status and that individual’s enthusiasm seemed to go viral. Now I hear, ‘Hey it’s the test lady – I need to see you.’”
Celitha Taylor, Valerie Lanier, Melinda Waldon