Optimizing Case Management Manuals: A Ryan White Quality Improvement Project for Northwest Missouri

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Act, established in 1990, has played a critical role in providing essential services for individuals living with HIV, including medication access, adherence support, health coverage, housing, and transportation. In rural Missouri, particularly in the northwest region, HIV case management under the Ryan White program is guided by four separate manuals, creating inefficiencies and burdens for case managers. This paper presents a process evaluation plan utilizing the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework to address these challenges and improve service delivery. The aim of this quality improvement project is to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of HIV case management in Northwest Missouri. The planning phase involved in-depth interviews with staff from the Andrew County Health Department to identify existing operational barriers. In the "do" phase, a unified document was developed to simplify case management processes and serve as a comprehensive reference for the HIV case management team. The "study" phase involved follow-up interviews, which confirmed the document’s positive impact in reducing confusion and improving adherence to procedures. The "act" phase is ongoing, with continuous feedback being collected to further refine the document.