As more and more South Africans commence ART, their HIV infection necessitates a long-term approach
to wellness similar to other chronic diseases such as diabetes or asthma. For these patients, effective case management is a critical part of the complex care they need to help ensure their physical and emotional health.
Partners at the Pretoria-based Foundation for
Professional Development (FPD) are working with the University of California-San Francisco (UCSF) School of Nursing to improve the coordination of HIV-related care and services by implementing a nursing case management model at ARV clinics supported by FPD.
Specific objectives of the partnership are to:
- Strengthen the capacity of ARV clinics supported by FPD to provide quality HIV care and treatment;
- Develop and support a cadre of professional nurses who can provide mentoring and leadership to sustain the HIV Nurse Case Management Model; and
- Evaluate the impact of the case management model on ARV clinics.
To date, partners have completed a situational analysis and educational needs assessment to facilitate the
implementation of HIV/AIDS case management training. They have also defined learning outcomes for the
proposed educational program for HIV case managers.
Upcoming activities include development of a curriculum and supporting materials for the education program, a pilot training workshop in nursing case management, and development of a set of standard operating
procedures for HIV nurse case management.
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