HIV coordinators help patients manage their medical care and other needs.
Effectively treating HIV infection requires strict adherence to medication, and financial assistance is often needed to pay for the medicine. HIV care coordinators are social workers who manage the financial, medical and support requirements that HIV-positive individuals have. This coordination of services is intended aid those undergoing treatment for HIV infection in maintaining their health and overall quality of life.
Care Plan Development
An HIV care coordinator works with those newly diagnosed with HIV to develop an overall care plan for the patients to follow. This care plan includes health goals the patient wants to achieve, what she will do to achieve her goals, and takes into account any aspects of her life that she feels she might need assistance with. Once a care plan is established, the care coordinator will review the plan with the patient periodically to update the goals and the plan with new information as needed.
Medical Services
The HIV coordinator sets medical and dental appointments and fills out paperwork to ensure that patients receive the medical care and medicine that they need to manage their HIV infections. If a patient cannot afford medication, the care coordinator files the needed paperwork along with proof of financial need to enroll the patient in state programs funded by the Ryan White Act, which covers some or all of the cost of HIV treatment.
Mental Health Services
Care coordinators also assist HIV patients with their mental health, making appointments with therapists or other professionals as needed. Patients who are addicted to drugs may be referred to treatment programs or support groups to help them quit using and get over their addictions. HIV-specific support groups may also be recommended by the HIV coordinator for those patients who have trouble dealing with their infection or who have medication adherence issues.
Assistance Coordination
To ensure that HIV-positive individuals aren't putting their health at risk because they cannot afford sufficient housing or utilities, an HIV care coordinator may assist these individuals in finding housing assistance or enrolling in programs that provide heating or utility funding for those who can't afford it. Programs that a care coordinator might recommend include assistance in paying housing deposits, government-assisted housing for those with limited incomes, and home heating supplements that pay the cost of getting gas heat connected or pay a portion of the winter's heating bills.
Adherence Monitoring
As part of their monitoring of an HIV patient's case, a care coordinator will frequently inquire as to the patient's adherence to his medication. Because of the speed with which HIV can mutate and become resistant to entire classes of HIV medications, strict adherence to a prescribed medicine schedule is required to ensure that sufficient medicine levels remain in the body at all times. By monitoring a patient's adherence, the coordinator can make recommendations that help him improve his adherence rate and prevent larger adherence problems before they start.
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