Roughly 18,000 people in Michigan are living with HIV, and while there have been important advances in HIV treatment and prevention, a new resource focuses on medical providers to help them provide the best care they can for their patients.
The Michigan Department of Health an Human Services, along with the Henry Ford Health Systems, announced the launce of a new Michigan HIV Consultation Program to address questions health care providers may have.
“As HIV becomes increasingly managed as a chronic disease it is important to build capacity with partners across nursing, primary care and federally qualified health centers,” said Nick Lyon, director of MDHHS. “Ensuring Michigan providers have easy access to information about how to help patients with HIV is vital to treatment and achieving long term health goals.”
The HIV Consultation Program is set up to answer questions for the health care providers, including:
• HIV Disease Management
• HIV Drug Interactions
• HIV Occupational and Non-Occupational Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP/nPEP)
• HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
• Perinatal HIV treatment
"While there are highly effective treatments and preventive measures for HIV infection, the landscape of the field is rapidly changing,” said HFHS Infectious Disease Physician, Dr. Norman Markowitz, M.D. “This program will provide up-to-date resources to assist Michigan Health Care Professionals to better care for those with HIV and better prevent transmission to those at risk."
Health care professionals can contact the 24-hour consulation line at 313-575-0332. Non-urgent questions can be submitted at www.henryford.org/HIVconsult.
