 |
   
|
  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Editorials and Commentary Doctors Play Key Role in More HIV TestingJune 27, 2003 A note from TheBody.com: Since this article was written, the HIV pandemic has changed, as has our understanding of HIV/AIDS and its treatment. As a result, parts of this article may be outdated. Please keep this in mind, and be sure to visit other parts of our site for more recent information! "... A quarter of the roughly 1 million Americans living with HIV don't know they are infected. An important way to address this is for those of us in the medical community to become more active in offering patients voluntary HIV testing and the services that accompany it.
Adapted from:"Testing is the first step toward getting people with HIV infections the care and treatment they need. It also is a chance for them to receive counseling on how to protect their partners, which is essential in reducing HIV infections. HIV testing in medical settings won't solve the AIDS crisis alone because many people at risk do not have access to health care. But for those who do enter our offices, we must get them tested -- especially African Americans and other people of color, who are at greatest risk. "Of course, there are challenges to making HIV testing widely available in medical settings. After more than 20 years as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Houston, I've encountered many of them. Offering HIV testing and counseling takes time -- a luxury we don't have. For many physicians and patients, talking about testing also means overcoming discomfort with discussing sex, infidelity and drug use. "Fortunately, these problems are not insurmountable. Nurses and other staff can and often do share in counseling responsibilities. Public health officials are streamlining counseling requirements so they meet informed consent guidelines but don't hinder testing. New rapid testing makes it possible to administer a test and provide the preliminary result in one office visit. And training programs help medical professionals become more comfortable with HIV testing and counseling. In other words, there can be no excuses. As physicians, we must be part of the solution. Dr. Carroll is president of the National Medical Association, which represents African-American physicians. USA Today 06.27.03; L. Natalie Carroll, M.D. A note from TheBody.com: Since this article was written, the HIV pandemic has changed, as has our understanding of HIV/AIDS and its treatment. As a result, parts of this article may be outdated. Please keep this in mind, and be sure to visit other parts of our site for more recent information! This article was provided by CDC National Prevention Information Network. It is a part of the publication CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update.
|
|
Email
Print-Friendly
Glossary
The Body: About The Body | Contact The Body | Site Policies | Content Providers | Advertise With Us | Site Map
Remedy Health Media: About Remedy Health Media | Contact Remedy Health Media | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
The Body is a service of Remedy Health Media, LLC, 750 3rd Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Remedy Health Media, LLC, and its subsidiaries, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.
