PRNewswire - October 24, 2000

The goal of the Academy is to represent at least half of the physicians who provide medical care for the more than 400,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. who are currently accessing care.

Academy membership includes both HIV/AIDS specialist physicians and other frontline health care workers involved in AIDS patient care, such as nurse practitioners, physician's assistants and doctors of pharmacy. The Academy's addition to the roster of nationally recognized medical practice specialty organizations marks an important turning point in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.

New combination drug therapies, or "cocktails", which reduce viral load (the amount of HIV infection in a person's blood) have helped change AIDS from a terminal disease with a poor prognosis to one with greater long-term survivability when treated promptly by qualified medical specialists. There is growing awareness that it is possible to deliver better, more cost -effective medical care to patients through an HIV/AIDS specialist.

It is estimated that in the U.S. alone nearly a million people have contracted HIV and more than 300,000 have died of the disease since AIDS was first recognized in the early 1980s. The federal government estimates that more than 600,000 people are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and that perhaps as many as one-third of that number may be unaware of their condition.

R. Scott Hitt, MD, one of the founders of the Academy and former chair of the first Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS commented, "A better, healthier quality-of-life can be expected for HIV patients who receive proper care soon after infection. Accordingly, new efforts must be made to identify infected individuals and get them into the health care system to begin treatment."

Several medical journals have reported that patients fair better under the care of an HIV/AIDS specialist. Dr. Hitt also said, "Studies confirm that there is a steep learning curve among doctors who first begin treating HIV/AIDS individuals."

The Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (JAIDS), in a June 1, 2000 article, concluded that a Washington State landmark study demonstrated "the importance of experience among physicians managing complex antiretroviral treatment for persons with HIV infection." The article went on to say that patients cared for by physicians with greater experience (specialists) were significantly more likely to receive the correct combination of antiretroviral treatments over time with better medical outcomes resulting. In short, better care equals longer and better lives.

Recent research shows that following a specific HIV care and treatment regiment using a combination of new drug therapies, frequent viral load testing and regular medical consultations will substantially reduce the overall and long-term cost associated with treating AIDS.

Dr. Hitt observed, "Studies argue for a national standard of care to be used in treating HIV/AIDS patients, by accredited, medical specialist. If these protocols (procedures) are adopted by health care organizations better patient outcomes and lower costs can be expected."

AAHIVM was formed, in part, to address these concerns and to assist HIV/AIDS specialists in managing their medical practices around the new treatment paradigm emerging in AIDS care.

AAHIVM is a national umbrella organization currently representing 12 statewide and regional chapters. The Academy was founded on the conviction that more favorable clinical outcomes and lower treatment costs can be achieved if individuals living with HIV/AIDS have greater access to quality care. This goal can be realized, in part, through the Academy's member benefits and services, including:

(1) Strengthening and expanding the number of HIV/AIDS medical practices nationwide through a Core Curriculum and National Accreditation program, as well as a Reimbursement Project.

(2) Promoting the added value HIV/AIDS specialists and auxiliary health care personnel bring to the spectrum of HIV/AIDS care.

(3) Working as an advocacy organization to educate public policy leaders, medical benefit payers and health care administrators about new developments in the standard of care for HIV/AIDS patients.

The AAHIVM is based in Los Angeles, CA. A membership application and additional information on the Academy can be found at its website: http://www.aahivm.org. Membership is open to non-medical personnel through the Academy's "Affiliate" membership category.

SOURCE American Academy of HIV Medicine Web Site: http://www.aahivm.org

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