AAHIVM Talking Points

The past year has been a very busy one for the Academy as it continues its mission of promoting excellence in HIV/AIDS care. The Academy has achieved recognition for professionals in HIV care and continues to act as a dynamic resource for HIV practitioners, providing essential services and information for those working on the front lines of HIV medicine.

Many members have approached the Academy wanting to know how to take a more proactive role in the organization. You have told us that you are keen to talk with your peers about the Academy and its mission but often find yourselves asking, "How do we describe what the Academy does?"

The Academy has developed a set of talking points to help you communicate the activities, programs, and initiatives of our organization. Talking points are illustrations of the most important things you want your audience to remember about your message. For the Academy, the core message of the talking points outlined below is the importance of continually improving the quality of HIV care and increasing access to that care.

We have developed talking points to provide you with the information you need to encourage others to assist in the Academy's mission of promoting excellence in HIV health care. You can use this information as a tool in encouraging your peers to join the Academy and/or credential as an HIV Specialist. In addition, you can use this information to help educate public policy leaders, members of AIDS service organizations, and anyone else who may be interested in the Academy and our mission.

Use the talking points outlined below in all communications with those interested in the Academy's cause. We have designed these talking points to support the idea that a national standard for quality HIV care, and increasing access to this high-quality care, should be a much higher national priority.

Talking Points

The Academy is working to improve the quality of HIV care, and to increase access to that care, in many ways:

The Academy has helped improve the quality of HIV care by

• Establishing a national standard of care through its Core Curriculum, a list of more than 200 Learning Objectives updated annually that together define the minimal knowledge needed to qualify as an HIV Specialist
• Creating and sustaining an HIV Specialist credentialing process to recognize HIV medical providers who possess up-to-date knowledge of HIV care
• Providing vital tools for HIV medical providers, including patient handouts, conference listings, a Job Bank, and practice management information
• Organizing advocacy and educational efforts for HIV medical care providers at national and state levels

The Academy has helped to lower entry barriers into HIV medicine by

• Maintaining a searchable national listing of HIV health care providers and credentialed HIV Specialists at its Website (www.aahivm.org) to link HIV patients to qualified providers
• Continuing to work to ensure the viability of HIV practices in maintaining and expanding access to health care
• Centralizing critical educational resources and providing needed practice support
• Assembling and continually updating a study guide containing clinical and factual data for the entire Core Curriculum

The Academy's Mission

The American Academy of HIV Medicine is an independent organization of HIV Specialists and others dedicated to promoting excellence in HIV/AIDS care. Through advocacy and education, the Academy is committed to supporting health care providers in HIV medicine and to ensuring better care for those living with AIDS and HIV disease.

Back to The Nexus Winter 2002/2003 contents page.