This page is undergoing an update.
This curriculum provides an in-depth online resource for healthcare providers looking to deepen their knowledge on HIV/HCV coinfection. Topics covered include prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment recommendations, with a focus on barriers and other co-factors that may impede optimal treatment outcomes.
"Curing Hepatitis C in People with HIV in the United States: A Federal, State and Local Collaboration"
For information about patient coverage in your state, please reach out to your local AETC Office. They can advise you on the best ways to ensure your patients receive access to care.
Mental Health and HIV
A diagnosis of HIV is often an emotional experience, which benefits from the assistance of providers who have some knowledge of the common challenges faced by people who are newly diagnosed.
HIV and some opportunistic infections also have the potential to affect a patient’s nervous system, which can lead to changes in how a person thinks and behaves. These may require identification and possible referral to mental health professionals.
Should these symptoms occur, they are often well managed with a combination of counseling and psychiatric assistance. Your local AETC site can connect you with training and put you in touch with other providers who have experience with initial diagnosis and ongoing mental health support for people living with HIV.
A diagnosis of HIV is often an emotional experience, which benefits from the assistance of providers who have some knowledge of the common challenges faced by people who are newly diagnosed.
HIV and some opportunistic infections also have the potential to affect a patient’s nervous system, which can lead to changes in how a person thinks and behaves. These may require identification and possible referral to mental health professionals.
Should these symptoms occur, they are often well managed with a combination of counseling and psychiatric assistance. Your local AETC site can connect you with training and put you in touch with other providers who have experience with initial diagnosis and ongoing mental health support for people living with HIV.
Overview
The following resources provide an overview of mental health in relation to HIV, as well as tools and resources to help assist your patients.
According to the most recent studies, 58% of people living with HIV who are in care face some degree of depression.
We recommend that the following crisis intervention information be posted at all healthcare sites. The Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call is routed to the nearest crisis center in the national network of more than 150 crisis centers.
Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Whole body health for people living with HIV includes preventing sexually transmitted infections. Because HIV may weaken the CD4 cells in the immune system, it can be more difficult for people living with HIV to treat STIs. It is also three to five times more likely for a person living with HIV who is experiencing an active STI to spread HIV through sexual contact.
With this in mind, it is important for people living with HIV who are sexually active to get tested and treated for STIs on a regular basis. While condoms remain highly effective in preventing STI transmission, the latest research shows that their regular use has decreased among several demographics most at risk for HIV. It is therefore important to update sexual histories regularly and adjust testing and treatment appropriately.
Overview of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and HIV
Online STI Resources
The AETC National Coordinating and Resource Center hosts many resources and online trainings which can be accessed here. Of course we always encourage you to work with your local AETC site to identify which resources and training content is most appropriate for you.
NCCC Resources
The National Clinician Consultation Center (NCCC) is a unique teleconsultation resource that provides health care providers of all experience levels with timely and evidenced-informed responses to clinical questions related to prevention, screening and management of HIV and viral hepatitis C (HCV) as well as substance use disorders.
The National Clinician Consultation Center (NCCC) has a total of 6 teleconsultation services along with an online portal for case submission which include:
HIV/AIDS Management Service (Warmline)
For questions about HIV/AIDS, including antiretroviral therapy, HIV clinical manifestations, and laboratory evaluation.
Perinatal HIV Consultation and Referral Services (Perinatal HIV Hotline)
For questions about the care of HIV-infected pregnant women as well as indications and interpretations of rapid and standard HIV tests. Available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Service (PrEPline)
For questions about the initiation and management of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis.
Substance Use Management (Substance Use Warmline)
For questions about substance use evaluation and management, especially medication options for substance use disorder treatment.
Hepatitis C Management
For questions about screening/testing, evaluation, and treatment of hepatitis C.
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Hotline (PEPline)
For questions about the initiation and management of occupational or non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV and other bloodborne pathogens.
Online Case Submission
For electronic submission of HIV, HCV, PrEP and/or substance use consultation requests, please visit our website for the specific consultation type you seek.
There are many HIV focused resources online and in your local communities. Oftentimes however the sheer number of them can make it difficult to navigate to the most updated sources, providing research driven content on the latest standards of care.
We always recommend you start by reaching out to your local AETC site, which can provide both trainings and a list of resources tailored to your health team. To supplement your training partnership, we also provide the following links to online AETC content, as well as our partner’s sites – all of which have been verified as providing regularly updated research-driven content.
HIV Toolkit
Clinical Reference Tools and Resources
The AETC NCRC Resource Library contains materials for HIV/AIDS clinicians, clinical trainers, and training program managers. These toolkits can be used as clinical reference tools and resources on the topics of Antiretroviral therapy, Ols & Comorbid conditions, populations, training program management, HIV continuum of care, HIV primary care, clinical program management, and teaching methods.
AETC Network links
Government/Institution HIV Links
The following link provides information specific to Ryan White programs. Many people living with HIV receive some level of Ryan White funded care, so this is a valuable resource to understand that funding and the latest Ryan White data.
A central hub for efforts taking place on the federal level to address HIV.
End the Epidemic Information can be found on our website which outlines the plan on the national level.
The Center’s for Disease Control and Prevention’s HIV focused content.
The National HIV Curriculum is an AIDS Education and Training Center Program and led by the University of Washington.
The federally approved medical practice guidelines for HIV/AIDS are developed by panels of experts in HIV care operating in conjunction with the National Institute of Health (NIH). More information about the latest data and the panels in charge of the latest research can be accessed in the guidelines linked below.
