Widely acknowledged for their role in the safety net, emergency departments (EDs) often absorb gaps in the healthcare system. But far beyond the role of a “band-aid” for public health challenges, emergency departments can play a proactive, leadership role in the screening and treatment of HIV, HCV, and syphilis. Despite longstanding guidelines regarding opt-out testing for HIV and HCV, uptake in emergency departments remains low. This session will showcase data-driven approaches to automated opt-out screening and linkage to care including AI-enabled risk stratification, EHR automation, collaboration with local health departments, and linkage to comprehensive prevention services, along with real-world examples of ED based opt-out screening and linkage to care initiatives. Panelists will highlight implementation lessons, impact on health equity, and scalable models that other EDs can adapt.
