HIV specialists provide care to patients with HIV/AIDS, including developing treatment plans, ordering medical tests, and linking patients to social services. They also participate in public outreach and education, and may offer prophylactic treatment to those exposed to HIV. Certification can be advantageous for job applications and patient relations.
A human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) specialist provides care to patients with HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals can work as HIV specialists and, in some cases, can obtain certifications from professional organizations. These qualifications can be evidence of the successful completion of a required number of hours, as well as a commitment to excellence in care, and can be advantageous in job applications and patient relations.
Patients diagnosed with HIV can often benefit from specialist care. HIV specialists constantly pursue continuing education to keep up with the latest developments in the field of HIV/AIDS treatment. By specifically focusing on patients with these medical conditions, they also have substantial experience to apply to HIV treatment and the complications associated with it. Consulting an HIV specialist can allow a patient to identify complications earlier and receive more aggressive treatment with the latest drug protocols.
At an initial client intake meeting, an HIV specialist may take the patient’s history and order some baseline medical tests. One important test is the T-cell count to determine the severity of the patient’s illness. With this information in hand, the HIV specialist can work with the patient to develop a treatment plan and provide advice on adhering to treatment, if the patient has difficulty taking medications, making lifestyle changes, and taking other steps to stay as healthy as possible.
Some HIV specialists also link their clients to helpful social services. Patients who cannot afford medication may be eligible for assistance, for example. Housing vouchers, educational programs and other benefits may be available for HIV patients. The HIV specialist may have concerns about the patient’s quality of life, which can have a direct impact on health, and may work with them to address issues such as untreated mental illness or homelessness.
Working directly with patients can include most of a specialist’s practice. Others also participate in public outreach and education. They provide information about HIV prevention and can participate in free clinics and other public resources to educate members of the public and help people detect HIV infections early. An HIV specialist can participate in prophylactic treatment for people known to be exposed to HIV. In this treatment, the patient is given a series of drugs in an attempt to kill the virus before it starts replicating and creates a full-fledged infection.
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