National HIV Curriculum: Linkage to HIV Care

Linkage to care is a crucial early step in successful HIV treatment and is typically defined as the completion of a first medical clinic visit after HIV diagnosis. Linkage to care plays a key role in the HIV care continuum—it is a necessary precursor to antiretroviral therapy initiation and viral suppression. This on-line module provides a review of the current state of linkage to care in the United States, examines the major barriers to linkage to care, and explores strategies for improving linkage to care.