TIPS program renovates patient exam rooms and office spaces thanks to generous support from the Virginia Department of Health

CrossOver’s HIV care program, referred to as TIPS (Treatment, Intervention, and Prevention Services), comprises four initiatives, some of which are new to CrossOver in the past year:

Members of our TIPS team: Marsha Miller, RN; Claudia Wall; Joy Zeh, NP; Jerry Romero; Millie Rocha; and Vivian Bruzzese, MD

Rapid Start, launched this spring at CrossOver, serves the HIV population. In particular, people newly diagnosed with HIV or newly reengaging in treatment can see a doctor, get needed labs done, and receive medication all in the same day. The initiative’s goal is to get patients started on medication immediately so they can begin working toward being virally suppressed. Once virally suppressed, a person with HIV cannot pass the virus to anyone else.
The STD Community Testing Program provides free, confidential testing on a walk-in basis. While CrossOver has offered community HIV testing for several years, this program recently expanded to an STD panel test. People seeking testing do not have to be CrossOver patients; anyone can be tested at CrossOver at no charge.
PReP and nPEP are used to prevent HIV infection in HIV-negative people who are at high risk for infection. PReP is used pre-exposure, and nPEP is used when an exposure is suspected. Any CrossOver patient interested in these options is referred to Dr. Bruzzese, CrossOver’s director of HIV programs, for further assessment.
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is CrossOver’s longest-standing HIV initiative, started in 1992. The Ryan White Program serves members of the HIV community who have incomes at or below 500% of the federal poverty level. Patients receive medical, medication, dental, case management, transportation, and mental healthcare services.

We are proud of each member of our TIPS team and the care in many forms they provide to our neighbors:

· Vivian Bruzzese, MD, director of HIV programs

· Jerry Romero, director of Ryan White and STD prevention

· Millie Rocha, bilingual TIPS lead medical case manager

· Claudia Wall, bilingual TIPS medical case manager

· Yulisa Arellano, bilingual TIPS non-medical case manager

· Marsha Miller, RN, TIPS nurse

· Celeste Kilpatrick, CMA, medical assistant

· Sarika Tripathi, MD, volunteer physician

· Joy Zeh, NP, volunteer nurse practitioner

· Members of our social work, behavioral health, and dental teams who also care for our TIPS patients

Over the past year, we have also been able to renovate our TIPS spaces—exam rooms as well as office space—thanks to generous support from the Virginia Department of Health. Check out some photos below of these spaces, which help to convey the dignity and respect our patients deserve.