Contracted Agency Resources
Policies
ARIES Policies
#1 – Laptop Digital Certificates
#2 – Technical Lead Responsibilities
#3 – Monthly Data Reporting Requirements
#4 – Maintaining Previous Data Systems
#5 – Minimum Data Requirements
Minimum Data Requirements – Tab 1
Minimum Data Requirements – Tab 2
ARIES Data Forms
#6 – Case Notes
#7 – Data Entry and Service Dates
#8 – User Change Notification
#9 – Dental Expenditures
General RWP Policies
#1 – Case Mgmt. Case Inactivation
#2 – Monthly Invoice
#3 – Care Coordination
#4 – Required Tools
#5 – Pharmacy Formulary
#6 – EIS Reporting
#7 – LIHP Eligibility Pre-Screening
#8 – Ryan White Eligibility Screening
#9 – New Client Classification
ARIES
About ARIES
The AIDS Regional Information and Evaluation System (ARIES) is an internet browser-based client information management system that fulfills administration and reporting needs for HIV/AIDS care. It facilitates the delivery of effective, efficient, appropriate, timely, and desired care and treatment services to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).
History
In 1998, discussions began on developing a consolidated database for Ryan White Programs. These discussions were in response to concerns expressed by various entities, including members of the Inland Empire HIV Planning Council of the Riverside/San Bernardino, CA TGA. In March 2000, representatives from the TGA met with other government agencies interested in building an HIV/AIDS care and treatment client system. After a year of discussions with the interested parties, the TGA formed a partnership with San Diego County, the California State Office of AIDS (OA), and the State of Texas Department of Health. The four partners agreed to build a web-based client demographics and services tracking tool which would include referrals, medical indicators, and clinical quality management indicators – ARIES.
Clients
Clients who want to receive Ryan White funded services must agree to share their data with all providers they receive services from through ARIES. If they chose to do so, they only need to register once and will be able to:
- Periodically verify eligibility in only one place
- Have quicker access to services
- Have easier referrals for additional services
- Receive better care since providers have a better overall picture of the services provided
Providers
The benefits the providers receive from ARIES are:
- A better global picture of the services provided
- Easier to track client outcomes and effectiveness of treatment alternatives
- Easier to plan and organize client care plans
- Elimination of duplicate data entry for an agency with multiple care and treatment programs
- Better quality data
- Ability to easily analyze client data using canned reports
- Ability to conduct complex analyses using the ad-hoc reporting feature
- Simplified monthly reporting
- Elimination of software updates and patches (updates made to the server and not at individual provider computers)
System of Care
The benefits to the entire Ryan White system of care in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties are:
- Improved planning ability
- Improved utilization of limited resources
- Improved ability to ensure the provision of high quality services
- Improved ability to demonstrate to federal agencies that the services provided have a positive impact on clients
- Improved ability to compete for future funding for services for PLWHA
For more information and training resources, visit the ARIES Website.
Quality Management
Riverside/San Bernardino, CA TGA Clinical Quality Management Plan – 2020-2022
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) defines quality as “the degree to which a health or social service meets or exceeds established professional standards and user expectations.”
HRSA’s Quality Goals
The Ryan White CQM Program addresses the following key Ryan White themes along the entire HIV Care Continuum.
- Identify: Improve efforts to identify and inform individuals living with HIV and AIDS who are unaware of their HIV/AIDS status
- Link: Improve access to care for HIV+ individuals that are aware of their status
- Retain: Improve quality of services and retention in care to improve related outcomes
- Retain: Link support services to core medical services
- ART: Increase access to Antiretroviral Therapy
- Suppress Viral Load: Achieve viral load suppression across all populations
National HIV/AIDS Strategy
In addition to the HRSA goals and strategies, the TGA must align its efforts with the goals and objectives of the National HIV Strategy which is a five-year plan that details principles, priorities, and actions to guide the national response to HIV. The national strategy goals closely match those mentioned above.
- Reduce New Infections
- Increase Access to Care and Improve Health Outcomes for PLWH
- Reduce HIV-Related Health Disparities and Health Inequities
- Achieve a more Coordinated Response to the HIV Epidemic