Howard Brown Health Marks National PrEP Day With Call for Comprehensive HIV Prevention and Healthcare (Chicago, IL) — As National PrEP Day approaches on October 10, Chicago-based Howard Brown Health is encouraging residents to take a broader approach to HIV prevention, emphasizing that protecting against the virus should be just one part of maintaining overall health.
The healthcare organization, which has served Chicago communities for more than five decades, is using the national observance to highlight the importance of combining HIV prevention medication with regular medical care, mental health services and preventive screenings.
At the center of that message is PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, a medication that significantly reduces the risk of acquiring HIV when taken as prescribed.
Although PrEP has transformed HIV prevention by giving individuals an effective way to protect themselves, Howard Brown officials say access to the medication should also create opportunities for patients to establish relationships with healthcare providers who can address their long-term medical needs.
“PrEP is one of the most powerful tools we have to prevent HIV—but prevention shouldn’t stop with a prescription,” said Dr. Travis Gayles, president and CEO of Howard Brown Health. “While expanding the ways people can access PrEP is critical to HIV prevention, Howard Brown believes convenience should not have to come at the expense of a relationship with a trusted healthcare provider.”
Gayles said the organization’s approach recognizes that patients often have medical concerns extending well beyond HIV prevention.
“We care about your sexual health, but we also care about your blood pressure, your mental health, whether you’re getting a physical, the screenings you need and everything else that contributes to living a healthy life,” Gayles said. “At Howard Brown Health, our goal is to care for the whole person.”
Expanding HIV Prevention Beyond a Prescription
PrEP has become an important part of efforts to reduce new HIV infections across the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PrEP can reduce the risk of acquiring HIV through sex by approximately 99% when taken as prescribed.
However, PrEP does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections, making routine testing, preventive care and conversations with healthcare professionals important components of sexual health.
At Howard Brown Health, patients seeking PrEP can access a variety of additional services, including primary care, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, vaccinations, behavioral healthcare, dental services and chronic disease management.
The organization also provides access to other HIV and STI prevention strategies, including PEP, or post-exposure prophylaxis, which is used after a possible HIV exposure, and DoxyPEP, an antibiotic-based strategy that can reduce certain bacterial sexually transmitted infections in eligible patients.
Howard Brown’s approach is designed to help patients address multiple healthcare needs through a connected system of services rather than requiring them to navigate separate providers for every medical concern.
For example, a patient visiting a clinic for HIV prevention medication might also receive a routine physical, discuss concerns about depression or anxiety, undergo recommended health screenings or seek treatment for high blood pressure.
That continuity can become especially valuable as patients age or experience changes in their health.
Addressing Gaps in HIV Prevention
Howard Brown officials are also emphasizing that HIV prevention services must reach a wide range of communities.
Although HIV prevention campaigns have historically focused heavily on gay and bisexual men, the virus can affect people of every gender and sexual orientation.
Howard Brown provides PrEP and HIV prevention services to cisgender and transgender women, men who have sex with men regardless of how they identify, nonbinary individuals and others who may benefit from preventive medication.
Gayles said certain populations, including women of color, continue to face significant barriers to HIV prevention and healthcare access.
“We know HIV doesn’t impact only one community. Women of color, especially Black and Latina women, and men who have sex with men who may not identify as gay or bisexual, continue to face disproportionate risk,” Gayles said.
For some patients, the challenge is not simply obtaining medication. It can also involve finding a healthcare provider who understands their experiences, offers culturally responsive services and creates an environment where they feel comfortable discussing sensitive medical concerns.
Those challenges can be particularly important for people who have experienced discrimination in healthcare settings or who have had limited access to preventive services.
Howard Brown officials believe that making HIV prevention part of a broader healthcare relationship can help address some of those barriers while encouraging patients to remain engaged in regular medical care.
A Healthcare Model Built Around the Patient
Founded more than 50 years ago, Howard Brown Health has developed a healthcare model rooted in serving LGBTQ+ communities while expanding access to other Chicago residents seeking affirming medical care.
Today, the organization operates seven health centers across Chicago and serves more than 43,000 adults and young people annually.
Its patient population includes LGBTQ+ individuals, women and families, people of color, young adults and older residents.
As a federally qualified health center, Howard Brown provides services regardless of patients’ insurance coverage or ability to pay.
The organization offers medical, behavioral and dental healthcare alongside specialized services addressing sexual health, young adult care and the needs of aging adults.
Howard Brown describes its approach as integrated care, meaning patients can receive support for different aspects of their health within the same healthcare organization.
Rather than treating LGBTQ+ healthcare as a separate specialty limited to sexual health services, the organization says affirming care is incorporated throughout its operations.
That approach is particularly important as healthcare increasingly incorporates telehealth, online prescriptions and mail-order medication services.
While those options can make obtaining PrEP easier, Howard Brown officials say they should complement, rather than replace, opportunities to develop meaningful relationships with medical professionals.
For patients who have not established a regular primary care provider, an initial PrEP appointment may provide an opportunity to begin that relationship.
A patient seeking HIV prevention services, for instance, might discover that they are overdue for a cancer screening, need assistance managing diabetes or would benefit from mental health counseling.
Connecting patients with those services can help ensure that healthcare needs are addressed before they develop into more serious problems.
National PrEP Day Brings Attention to Prevention
Observed annually on October 10, National PrEP Day provides an opportunity for healthcare organizations and community advocates to raise awareness about HIV prevention and encourage conversations about available resources.
For Howard Brown Health, this year’s observance is also an opportunity to remind Chicago residents that healthcare should not be limited to addressing one condition or concern at a time.
The organization hopes its message will resonate with people who may be considering PrEP for the first time, as well as current patients who have not established ongoing relationships with primary care providers.
Howard Brown officials say that by connecting HIV prevention with routine medical care, behavioral health services and preventive screenings, patients can receive support that extends well beyond their initial reason for seeking treatment.
“Our message this National PrEP Day is that you deserve more than a prescription,” Gayles said. “You deserve a medical home where your provider knows you, understands your health and is there for whatever comes next.”
Residents interested in learning more about PrEP, HIV prevention and the healthcare services offered by Howard Brown Health can visit www.HowardBrown.org.
Howard Brown Health Marks National PrEP Day With Call for Comprehensive HIV Prevention and Healthcare
