[648] THE COMPREHENSIVE HIV PRIMARY CARE CLINIC MODEL: ONE STOP SHOP

2nd International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment

Paris, France - July 13 - 16, 2003

[TITLE:] THE COMPREHENSIVE HIV PRIMARY CARE CLINIC MODEL: ONE STOP SHOP

[AUTHOR(S):] RB Corales, S Fine, K Mang, W Valenti and M Christie
Community Health Network, Rochester, NY, USA

IAS Conf HIV Pathog Treat 2003 Jul 13-16;2nd: Abstract No. 648
Antiviral Therapy 2003; 8(Suppl. 1):S363

[ABSTRACT:] Background: With emerging new data, more attention is being given to a multi-disciplinary approach to HIV health care. There is a growing trend toward a group of unified HIV-trained clinical and ancillary providers comprising a primary care consortium geared to provide the state-of-the-art service to patients living with HIV.

Method: We describe a comprehensive HIV primary care clinic started 13 years ago, which may serve as the model for future HIV outpatient clinics.

Results: Our federal, state and local grant funded HIV outpatient clinic has approximately 800 patients. There are five HIV specialist physicians (two primary care and three infectious disease), six social workers (three of whom have a specific focus on women living with HIV), two social work case aides, five clinical nurses, a clinical research nurse, a patient care coordinator, a registered dietician, and a treatment adherence counselor. We also have a psychiatrist, a mental health therapist, a gynaecologist, an optician, part time pharmacist and a pharmacy technician. The clinic is an active AIDS Clinical Trials Unit (ACTU) satellite and pharmaceutical company-based phase III and IV study site. The carefully orchestrated procedures, starting with the initial intake interview of a new patient and leading to the physician visit and the usage of the compliment of services, provide complete, supportive, unsurpassed care for patients living with HIV. In-house peer review of interesting cases, weekly clinical case management meetings and educational seminars strengthens a setting of an evidence-based approach to patient care. Issue-driven patient group meetings, patient care committee, and a patient library further support a patient-centred approach to a health care system.

Summary: A comprehensive HIV Primary Care Clinic provides the best model for long term care of patients living with HIV/AIDS.

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