AIDS Services of Austin Is Now Vivent Health

AIDS Services of Austin, a local agency that serves people affected by HIV/AIDS, is now Vivent Health. With locations in Colorado, Missouri, Wisconsin, and now Texas, Vivent Health will enhance care to the Austin community with integrated services provided by professionals dedicated to patient care.

The Austin location will adopt the Vivent Health HIV Medical Home model of care and remain committed to providing all-inclusive HIV/AIDS care in Austin. The HIV Medical Home model of care is nationally renowned as an integrated, patient-centered model of care that helps people with HIV live long, healthy lives. Vivent Health is now set to significantly expand programs and services to enhance the health and well-being of Central Texans. The expansion includes:

• Building an in-house pharmacy
• Adding five new mental health therapists
• Expanding PrEP services
• Increasing food pantry services to five days a week
• Serving 1,000 new patients

“AIDS Services of Austin (ASA) has an impressive record of providing effective treatment and prevention programs and services to people affected by HIV/AIDS in Austin,” said Michael J. Gifford, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vivent Health. “We are excited to join forces with them to expand and evolve the services they currently offer so together we can deliver the best outcomes for people in Austin. We are stronger, and together, will help people with HIV thrive in pursuit of our vision of a world without AIDS.”

Vivent Health Continues Quality Work During COVID-19

Under the Vivent Health COVID-19 Radical Response, virtual work solutions and program mobilization are allowing staff to continue meeting the needs of patients and clients in difficult circumstances. As the pandemic unfolds, becoming Vivent Health has allowed Austin programs and staff to act with agility, ensuring the delivery of essential services at a time when they are needed most. Although we have modified operations, staff continue to find solutions to deliver care, treatment and prevention services to all patients and clients in our communities. Vivent Health is also able to make investments in infrastructure and technology to ensure access to services, and has made a commitment to continue paying all employees during the pandemic, ensuring the team can remain dynamic and effective in allocating staff resources where they are most needed.

“Honestly, we couldn’t have joined the Vivent Health family at a better time,” said Paul Scott, former Chief Executive Officer for ASA and now Vice President, Texas for Vivent Health. “We are excited to bring the HIV Medical Home model of care to the Austin community so the people we serve can thrive. Our current programs and services will increase in the months to come, which will allow us to stay committed to the health and well-being of anyone impacted by HIV/AIDS in central Texas well into the future.”

In recent years, Austin has seen an increase in the demand for programs and services as a record number of people are living with HIV/AIDS. In Austin, there are currently 6,063 people living with HIV/AIDS and 17% of people living with HIV do not know their status, according to AIDSVu. In addition, one out of six people living with HIV in Austin are not getting the care they need.

Vivent Health currently has 15 locations in four states. Michael Gifford will continue to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of Vivent Health, and Paul Scott will serve as Vice President, Texas, continuing to lead the organization’s response to HIV/AIDS in the region.

People living with or at-risk for HIV/AIDS in Austin, donors and other public health stakeholders who would like to learn more about ASA becoming Vivent Health can visit www.viventhealth.org.