UF Health at Jacksonville, University of Florida Health

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Ryan White Part A Program

Duval County has a higher incidence of HIV/AIDS than the state average. HIV/AIDS is most prominent in the city’s urban core, which has the highest age-adjusted death rate due to HIV/AIDS with 42.4 deaths per 100,000.

Implemented in March 1999, the Ryan White Part A Program provides comprehensive medical assessment and coordinates treatment of persons living with HIV/AIDS who access UF Health Jacksonville’s Emergency Department. The focus is to navigate, educate and decrease the large volume of patients living in Jacksonville who are using the ED for primary medical care and provide linkage into medical clinics that specialize in HIV/AIDS.

A comprehensive needs assessment is conducted with each patient, providing referrals to other medical specialty care, psychosocial and economic services, and coordination of numerous community agencies/resources based on individual needs. The staff also provides education, counseling and spiritual support. The staff is constantly in the community at large, stressing HIV prevention and providing critical education and resources.

The program has had a significant impact in decreasing the number of HIV/AIDS patients using the ED as primary care and getting them into Ryan White clinics with collaborative follow-up efforts of Ryan White community case management agencies. Program services have expanded due to the increase in the number of new HIV cases and patients seeking care late in the disease process.

  • 2007 - 871 new patients seen in the ED and/or inpatient settings, 72 percent remain in care
  • 2008 - 816 new patients seen in the ED and/or inpatient setting, 75 percent remain in care
  • 2009 - 739 new patients seen in the ED and/or inpatient setting, 65 percent remain in care

In 2009, the program reached more than 2,560 people in the community.

As the epidemic in Jacksonville and surrounding counties continues to rise, our goal is to remain at the forefront, encouraging communities to "Know Your HIV Status. Get Tested." The earlier one gets into care, the better the health outcome. To promote health, wellness and quality of life, staff continues to offer free screenings and testing as an outreach initiative by facilitating conferences and workshops at schools, colleges, churches, community centers and across the airwaves.