Summary

Even seasoned urgent care and primary care clinicians are often surprised by the data: across the U.S., thousands of people remain undiagnosed with HIV—not due to high-risk behaviors, but because testing never occurred. Despite clear national guidelines, opt‑out HIV testing remains underutilized in urgent and primary care settings due to time constraints, perceived low risk, stigma, and concern about patient judgment. This webinar brings together a leading epidemiologist and a frontline Urgent Care physician to unpack these barriers using real‑world data, practical tools, and proven strategies that translate seamlessly into everyday clinical workflows. Participants will leave with actionable insights to strengthen routine testing practices and better align care with current epidemiologic trends.

If you think you already know this—or your clinic already does it well—the data may surprise you.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze current epidemiologic data to explain why most missed HIV diagnoses occur among people who are perceived as “low risk.”
• Identify common myths, assumptions, and systemic barriers that undermine effective opt‑out HIV testing.
• Apply evidence‑based best practices and small workflow modifications to increase HIV testing rates without adding visit time or burden.
• Evaluate their own clinical setting’s approach to opt‑out HIV testing and identify opportunities for improvement.

Paul K. Drain, MD, MPH, FIDSA
Professor of Global Health, Medicine, Epidemiology, & Health Systems/Population Health Director of Clinical Research, International Clinical Research Center Director of Clinical and Translational Core, SEA-TRAC (TB Research Advancement Center) University of Washington
Seattle, WA, USA

Christopher Chao, MD
Medical Director, Urgent Care
WakeMed Health & Hospitals
Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Who Should Watch

Physicians, Nurses, Other HCPs, In-Training Individuals, Point-of-Care Coordinators