Patients

Center of Excellence for HIV/AIDS

HIV Healthcare

Today, HIV is a completely manageable condition. There’s a community of medical experts, peers, and allies that can help you prevent it, test for it, and treat it.

Patients/*Pacientes

All services are offered regardless of gender, race, color, sex, religious beliefs, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or insurance status. No one will be denied access to services due to inability to pay. The CoE for HIV/AIDS offers a discounted Sliding Fee Scale based on Percentage of Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) determined by family size and income, an annual Cap on Charges for Ryan White eligible patients, and assistance for patients who are uninsured or under insured to obtain health insurance and other benefits.

Patients can view how ETSU imposes charges for Ryan White eligible patients by requesting the “Ryan White Sliding Fee Scale” and “Cap on Charges” forms from clinical staff. Your Medical Case Manager can provide you with these documents as well. Eligibility for Ryan White services requires re-certification every year. Participating members receive discounts on services such as: Diagnosis, Treatment, Counseling, Proveder Care, Support Services, and Testing. 

Patient Advisory Board: The ETSU Center of Excellence for HIV/AIDS (COE) Patient Advisory Board (PAB) is a dedicated group of patients who provide input to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the services provided under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. The PAB will work together with COE providers, staff, and, community members to provide ongoing feedback and ideas on how to increase access to services, improve the quality and efficiency of services, and promote improved health outcomes for patients with HIV/AIDS. For details about participating on the Patient Advisory Board, please see the contact information below.

 

For more information, contact McKenzie Brewer, Fiscal Analyst at: (423) 439-6364

*Para obtener más información en español, comuníquese con María Ramírez, Especialista en Retención de: (423) 930-8337

 

Prevention

What is PrEP?

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a treatment to help at-risk individuals greatly reduce their chances of acquiring HIV infection. Patients at risk for infection take a pill called Truvada once daily. When taken as directed, along with condom use, PrEP can reduce the risk of HIV Infection by up to 92 percent. 

What is PEP?

PEP, or post-exposure prophylaxis, involves taking anti-retroviral medications immediately after exposure to HIV to reduce risk of transmission. Due to the immediate need for dispensing as soon as possible after exposure, those seeking PEP should head to their nearest emergency department to obtain treatment (ideally four hours or less after exposure, but not more than 72 hours).

 

QUESTIONS?

  • What does an HIV diagnosis mean?

    • If you receive an HIV diagnosis, it means that you have HIV.

    • Unlike some other viruses, the human body can’t get rid of HIV completely. Once you have HIV, you have it for life.

    • But with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. People with HIV who get effective treatment can live long, healthy lives and protect their partners.

  • What should I do if I just got diagnosed with HIV?

    Take Time to Process the News

    • Receiving an HIV diagnosis can be life changing. You may feel many emotions—sadness, hopelessness, or anger.

    • Allied health care providers and social service providers can help you work through the early stages of your diagnosis. They are often available at your health care provider’s office.

    Find HIV Care

    • If you have a primary health care provider, that person may have the knowledge to treat your HIV. A primary health care provider is someone who manages your regular medical care and annual tests.

    • If your primary health care provider does not have the knowledge to treat your HIV, they can refer you to an HIV health care provider. You can also find a Ryan White Program provider

    Start HIV Treatment As Soon As Possible After Diagnosis

    • Seek HIV care with medicine (called antiretroviral therapy or ART).

    • Taking HIV medicine can reduce the amount of HIV in the blood (called viral load).

    • HIV medicine can make the viral load very low (called viral suppression). Viral suppression is defined as having less than 200 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood.

    • HIV medicine can make the viral load so low that a test can’t detect it (called an undetectable viral load).

    • Getting and keeping an undetectable viral load (or staying virally suppressed) is the best thing you can do to stay healthy. Having an undetectable viral load also prevents transmission to others. Most people can get the virus under control within six months.

  • Who provides the care I need for HIV diagnosis?

    Primary HIV Health Care Provider

    Your primary HIV health care provider should lead your health care team. Your primary HIV health care provider may be a

    • Medical Doctor (MD or DO),
    • Nurse Practitioner (NP), or
    • Physician Assistant (PA).

    Your primary HIV health care provider will

    • determine which HIV medicine is best for you,
    • prescribe HIV medicine (called antiretroviral therapy or ART),
    • monitor your progress and help you manage your health, and
    • put you in touch with other HIV providers who can address your needs.

    Other HIV Providers

    Your health care team may include other providers who are experts in taking care of people with HIV.

    • Allied health care professionals like nurses, mental health providers, pharmacists, etc..
    • Social service providers like social workers, case managers, substance use specialists, and patient navigators.

     The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program  provides access to medical care and essential support services if you need assistance.

  • What do I need to do as part of my HIV care?

    Take Your HIV Medicine as Prescribed

    • This will help keep your viral load low and your CD4 count high.

    • Take your HIV medicine exactly how your health care provider tells you to—at specific times of the day, with or without certain kinds of food.

    • Keep track of your medicine and schedule.

    • Talk to your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions about when or how to take your medicine, or if you are experiencing any side effects.

    Keep Your Medical Appointments

    • Use a calendar to mark your appointment days.

    • Set reminders on your phone.

    • Download an app on your phone that can help remind you of your medical appointments.

    • Keep your appointment card in a place where you will see it.

    • Ask a family member or friend to help you remember your appointment.

    Talk Honestly with Your Health Care Provider

    • Your health care provider needs to have the most accurate information to manage your care and treatment.

    • Write down questions you want to discuss with your health care provider. Be ready to write down the answers.

    • Keep track of your lab results, medical visits, and care and treatment plans.

    • Make sure your health care providers have your correct contact information.

  • What can I expect during a medical visit?

    During your medical visit, your health care provider may ask questions and conduct routine medical exams to see how HIV is affecting your body.Your health care provider may

    • Take a blood sample to check your viral load.

    • Ask questions about your health history.

    • Look for other kinds of infections or health problems. 

    • Give you immunizations, if you need them.

    • Discuss, prescribe, and monitor your HIV medicine.

    • Discuss ways to help you follow your HIV treatment plan.

    • Help identify other support you may need.

    • Ask about your sexual or injection partners and discuss ways to protect them from getting HIV.

  • What are the different tests that help monitor my HIV?

    CD4 Count

    • Your CD4 count is the number of CD4 cells you have in your blood. CD4 cells help your body fight infections.

    • HIV attacks and lowers the number of CD4 cells in your blood. This makes it difficult for your body to fight infections.

    • Your health care provider will check your CD4 count every 3 to 6 months.

    Viral Load Test

    • Viral load is the amount of HIV in your blood.

    • Your health care provider will use a viral load test to determine your viral load.

    • When your viral load is high, you have more HIV in your body. This means your immune system is not fighting HIV very well.

    • You should have a viral load test every 4 to 6 months, before you take a new HIV medicine, and around 2 to 8 weeks after starting or changing medicine.

  • What is HIV treatment?

    HIV treatment (antiretroviral therapy or ART) involves taking medicine as prescribed by a health care provider. HIV treatment reduces the amount of HIV in your body and helps you stay healthy.

    • There is no cure for HIV, but you can control it with HIV treatment.

    • Most people can get the virus under control within six months.

    • HIV treatment does not prevent transmission of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

    There are two types of HIV treatment: 

    • Pills - Recommended for people who are just starting HIV treatment. There are many FDA-approved single pill and combination medicines available.

    • Shots - People who have had an undetectable viral load (or have been virally suppressed) for at least three months may consider shots.

    HIV treatment shots are long-acting injections used to treat people with HIV. The shots are given by your health care provider and require routine office visits. HIV treatment shots are given once a month or once every other month, depending on your treatment plan.Can I switch my HIV treatment from pills to shots?Talk to your health care provider about changing your HIV treatment plan. Shots may be right for you if you are an adult with HIV who

    • has an undetectable viral load (or has achieved viral suppression),

    • has no history of treatment failure, and

    • has no known allergy to the medicines in the shot.

    If you and your health care provider decide to switch your HIV treatment from pills to shots, you’ll need to visit your provider regularly to receive your shots. Tell your health care provider as soon as possible if you’ve missed or plan to miss an appointment for your shot.HIV treatment prevents transmission to others.

    • If you have an undetectable viral load, you will not transmit HIV through sex. This is also known as Undetectable = Untransmittable.

    • Having an undetectable viral load likely reduces the risk of HIV transmission through sharing needles, syringes, or other injection equipment (for example, cookers), but we don’t know by how much.

    • Having an undetectable viral load also prevents perinatal transmission. If a person with HIV takes their HIV medicine as prescribed throughout pregnancy and childbirth and gives HIV treatment to their baby for 4 to 6 weeks after birth, the risk of transmission can be 1% or less.

    • Having an undetectable viral load greatly reduces the risk of transmitting HIV through breastfeeding but doesn’t eliminate the risk. The current recommendation in the United States is that parents with HIV should not breastfeed their babies.

    Taking your HIV medicine as prescribed helps prevent drug resistance.

    • Drug resistance develops when people with HIV don’t take their pills as prescribed or miss their shots. The virus can change (mutate) and may limit your options for successful HIV treatment.

    • If you develop drug resistance, it will limit your options for successful HIV treatment.

    • Drug-resistant strains of HIV can be transmitted to others.