271008 Dr. Peter Centre Residence: A 24-hour specialized HIV/AIDS nursing care residence that incorporates supervised injection services into an integrated HIV/AIDS health care program

Monday, October 29, 2012

Rosalind Baltzer Turje, RN, MA , Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Maxine Davis, BA , Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Martin Payne, NP (F), MScN, LLM , Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Patrick McDougall, BA, MPA , Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation, Vancouver, BC, Canada
ISSUE: While some North American jurisdictions have a broad range of supportive housing options for people living with HIV/AIDS, currently there is only one facility in one jurisdiction (the Dr. Peter Centre [DPC] in Vancouver, Canada) that includes supervised injection services into a wide range of harm reduction strategies and services into its licensed HIV/AIDS specialized nursing care facility model to meet the complex needs of people living with HIV/AIDS who use illicit drugs and face other physical and mental health challenges.

DESCRIPTION: The DPC is a not-for-profit HIV/AIDS health care facility that provides a 24-hour specialized nursing care residence to 24 individuals with highly complex needs. HIV/AIDS health issues among DPC residents are complicated with mental illness, mental health issues, severe addiction, cognitive impairment and social and economic challenges.

LESSONS LEARNED: This residential care model that incorporates a broad range of harm reduction strategies and services is effective in improving health outcomes such as ART adherence, improved quality of life and resident engagement in their health care. This demonstrates the value of this residential care model in addressing the complex needs of this population.

RECOMMENDATIONS: To be effective, residential care models need to incorporate a broad range of harm reduction strategies and services in order to meet the complex needs of people living with HIV/AIDS who use illicit drugs and face other physical and mental health challenges. Ensuring access to a comprehensive model of care could reduce the health and social inequities faced by this population in other jurisdictions.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Chronic disease management and prevention
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related nursing
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1. Explain the wide range of harm reduction strategies and services at North American’s only 24-hour specialized HIV/AIDS nursing care residence that incorporates supervised injection services into an integrated HIV/AIDS health care program. 2. Demonstrate the effectiveness of this model of care through health and social measures. 3. Discuss effective strategies to incorporate this model of care into a range of residential settings that provide services for people living with HIV/AIDS who use illicit drugs and face other physical and mental health challenges.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Housing

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As the Director of Operations, I have been responsible for all of the Dr. Peter Centre’s (DPC) clinical and operational activities since 2003. I hold undergraduate degrees in Cell Biology and Nursing, as well as a Master’s in Individual Psychology. I have worked professionally in the field of mental health since 1980.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3286.0: HIV/AIDS Risks among Substance Using and Abusing Populations