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GMHC Statement on HIV Testing
and Care
In this 25th year of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Gay Men's Health Crisis
joins others in the community in focusing on what must be done
to stop the spread of HIV infection. Given the reality of New York
City as the epicenter of the pandemic in this country, we all must
do more.
GMHC wholeheartedly supports the goals of reducing the number
of people who do not know their HIV status, increasing the early
detection of HIV infection, and assuring that all New Yorkers living
with HIV promptly receive the best medical care available in this
city.
Voluntary HIV counseling and testing are essential components
of the strategies needed to achieve these goals. In addition, there
need to be procedures instituted to assure that those with positive
test results are referred and linked to appropriate medical care
at the point of diagnosis.
GMHC's recommendations for reaching the stated goals are as follows:
Restructuring HIV Testing and Counseling
- Expand the routine mainstream offering of HIV counseling and
testing in health care settings by a wide range of health care
providers (including nurse practitioners and physicians assistants)
- Streamline testing and counseling procedures
- Mandate the inclusion of meaningful written informed consent,
pursuant to New York State law
- Amend current law to permit a demonstration study that would
provide New York State Department of Health waivers of written
informed consent in designated settings
- Provide general public and medical providers comprehensive
education and training regarding changes to testing and counseling
procedures, comparable to what was mandated for the introduction
of HIPPA regulations
Community Involvement
- Expand HIV testing and counseling offered by community based
organizations and other community partners
- Increase targeted outreach testing to core populations
Stigma
- Include anti-stigma messages and information in all HIV/AIDS
educational materials
- Develop a city-wide anti-stigma social marketing campaign
- Increase access to education re: HIV/AIDS, homophobia and
diversity in public schools
Provider Training
- Mandate continuing education and in-service training for medical
providers to increase their capacity to initiate and sustain
discourse with patients. Training topics should be focused on
the following:
- sexual history taking
- safer sex practice
- LGBT sexuality
- women's safer sex negotiation
- drug use/harm reduction
- Follow models already in place for heart disease, diabetes,
and other diseases
Linkage to Care
- Institute procedures to assure that those with positive test
results are referred and linked to appropriate medical care at
the point of diagnosis
- Increase access to HIV prevention education and services to
all who are tested, including those who are HIV negative
© 2006 Gay Men's Health Crisis
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