THE FOA/TOPICS/CHOOSING A DOCTOR
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Treating HIV disease is very complicated. There are choices to consider at many stages of the
disease. It's best if you and your health care provider work together as a team. That makes it
easier to choose and stick to your treatment plan. "Care provider" means a doctor, a physician's
assistant, or a nurse plan.
There are several issues you may want to consider in choosing an HIV care provider. You might
decide to have them be your "regular doctor" for all of your health issues. You might use a different
care provider for most health issues and use your HIV provider as a specialist. If your regular
provider isn't an HIV specialist, be sure they regularly get expert advice on HIV issues.
Training and Experience
Many people with HIV/AIDS get their care from physicians who are specialists in infectious
diseases. However, especially now that people are living longer with HIV, it's important to deal
with all of your health issues. You might prefer to have a family practitioner or a specialist in
internal medicine as your primary physician. No matter what their specialty, you will get better HIV
care from providers who have experience treating people at all stages of HIV disease. Be sure to
ask how many patients with HIV they have treated, and how many they currently see. HIV patients
do better when their physicians have more experience treating HIV disease.
Do You Have Similar Ideas About Treating HIV?
Some providers are conservative. They prefer "tried and true" methods. Others are more
aggressive. They are willing to try new and experimental treatments. Some are optimistic by
nature, and focus on the hopeful or positive side when they talk about test results or future
prospects. Others are more realistic. Some are pessimistic. Some providers are comfortable
suggesting "complementary and alternative" therapies such as massage, acupuncture, or herbs.
Others stick strictly to Western medicine. If you want a lot of emotional support, you probably
won't be comfortable with a health care provider who only talks about test results. The more
comfortable you are with their approach to HIV treatments, the easier it will be for you to get the
kind of health care you want. Talk to providers and their patients before you make your choice.
The Provider-Patient Relationship
Many patients do better when they take an active role in planning their own health care. These
patients do a lot of reading on their own, and bring information to their providers. They work
together to make health care decisions. Other patients are more comfortable with the provider
making important decisions. Decide how you want to work with your provider. See if that fits with
the way the provider likes to work with patients.
Help Your Provider Help You
Make sure that your provider has all the information needed to give the best advice about your
treatment. This starts with your medical records, which may have to be transferred from another
office. When you start working with a new provider, they will probably do a lot of tests to collect
"baseline" information. This helps you see how well you're doing as time goes by. Be sure your
provider knows how you feel about using medications, and about your illness. Some people don't
mind taking a lot of pills. Other people would rather take as few as possible. Are you willing to
change your diet, or the amount of exercise you do? Your provider should also know about other
treatments you are using or want to try, including non-medical ones. Be honest about your
lifestyle. Your eating, sleeping, and work patterns can make a difference for your health care. So
can your sexual practices and use of recreational drugs. If your provider seems too judgmental, try
to change providers. It's better to have a provider who really knows you instead of holding back
information. Let your provider know about the important people in your life: the people who will
support you if you get sick, or will help you make important medical decisions.
Availability
The best care provider won't do you any good if you can't get in to see them. Ask them (or their
receptionist) how long it usually takes to get an appointment. Find out how well they usually stay
on schedule during the day. The type of insurance you have could limit your choice of a provider.
Maybe the provider isn't on the list for your health maintenance organization (HMO) or insurance
plan. Be sure to find out how you will be able to pay for their services. Remember, you don't need
an HIV specialist to help you with most of your health care needs. If a good HIV provider is hard to
find, or if it's hard to get an appointment, use a non-HIV care provider for your general health care.
Just be sure that when you are dealing with HIV issues, you see an experienced HIV provider, or
one who consults with an expert in HIV.
Confidentiality
Some people are very concerned about keeping their HIV status private. You might choose to get
your HIV care from a provider in another town to protect your privacy. You will need to find your own
balance between confidentiality and convenience.
Changing Providers
Your health care needs might change as time goes by. Also, your ideas about treatment could
change. Although you will probably get better medical care from a provider who has known you for
a long time, you always have the right to stop seeing one provider and change to another.
disease. It's best if you and your health care provider work together as a team. That makes it
easier to choose and stick to your treatment plan. "Care provider" means a doctor, a physician's
assistant, or a nurse plan.
There are several issues you may want to consider in choosing an HIV care provider. You might
decide to have them be your "regular doctor" for all of your health issues. You might use a different
care provider for most health issues and use your HIV provider as a specialist. If your regular
provider isn't an HIV specialist, be sure they regularly get expert advice on HIV issues.
Training and Experience
Many people with HIV/AIDS get their care from physicians who are specialists in infectious
diseases. However, especially now that people are living longer with HIV, it's important to deal
with all of your health issues. You might prefer to have a family practitioner or a specialist in
internal medicine as your primary physician. No matter what their specialty, you will get better HIV
care from providers who have experience treating people at all stages of HIV disease. Be sure to
ask how many patients with HIV they have treated, and how many they currently see. HIV patients
do better when their physicians have more experience treating HIV disease.
Do You Have Similar Ideas About Treating HIV?
Some providers are conservative. They prefer "tried and true" methods. Others are more
aggressive. They are willing to try new and experimental treatments. Some are optimistic by
nature, and focus on the hopeful or positive side when they talk about test results or future
prospects. Others are more realistic. Some are pessimistic. Some providers are comfortable
suggesting "complementary and alternative" therapies such as massage, acupuncture, or herbs.
Others stick strictly to Western medicine. If you want a lot of emotional support, you probably
won't be comfortable with a health care provider who only talks about test results. The more
comfortable you are with their approach to HIV treatments, the easier it will be for you to get the
kind of health care you want. Talk to providers and their patients before you make your choice.
The Provider-Patient Relationship
Many patients do better when they take an active role in planning their own health care. These
patients do a lot of reading on their own, and bring information to their providers. They work
together to make health care decisions. Other patients are more comfortable with the provider
making important decisions. Decide how you want to work with your provider. See if that fits with
the way the provider likes to work with patients.
Help Your Provider Help You
Make sure that your provider has all the information needed to give the best advice about your
treatment. This starts with your medical records, which may have to be transferred from another
office. When you start working with a new provider, they will probably do a lot of tests to collect
"baseline" information. This helps you see how well you're doing as time goes by. Be sure your
provider knows how you feel about using medications, and about your illness. Some people don't
mind taking a lot of pills. Other people would rather take as few as possible. Are you willing to
change your diet, or the amount of exercise you do? Your provider should also know about other
treatments you are using or want to try, including non-medical ones. Be honest about your
lifestyle. Your eating, sleeping, and work patterns can make a difference for your health care. So
can your sexual practices and use of recreational drugs. If your provider seems too judgmental, try
to change providers. It's better to have a provider who really knows you instead of holding back
information. Let your provider know about the important people in your life: the people who will
support you if you get sick, or will help you make important medical decisions.
Availability
The best care provider won't do you any good if you can't get in to see them. Ask them (or their
receptionist) how long it usually takes to get an appointment. Find out how well they usually stay
on schedule during the day. The type of insurance you have could limit your choice of a provider.
Maybe the provider isn't on the list for your health maintenance organization (HMO) or insurance
plan. Be sure to find out how you will be able to pay for their services. Remember, you don't need
an HIV specialist to help you with most of your health care needs. If a good HIV provider is hard to
find, or if it's hard to get an appointment, use a non-HIV care provider for your general health care.
Just be sure that when you are dealing with HIV issues, you see an experienced HIV provider, or
one who consults with an expert in HIV.
Confidentiality
Some people are very concerned about keeping their HIV status private. You might choose to get
your HIV care from a provider in another town to protect your privacy. You will need to find your own
balance between confidentiality and convenience.
Changing Providers
Your health care needs might change as time goes by. Also, your ideas about treatment could
change. Although you will probably get better medical care from a provider who has known you for
a long time, you always have the right to stop seeing one provider and change to another.
HIV/AIDS 101
BAR TIPS
BREAKING THE STIGMA
CHOOSING A DOCTOR
CONDOM COMEBACKS
DISCLOSURE
HIV/AIDS STATISTICS
HIV/AIDS TESTING SITES
HIV TRAVEL TIPS
LIVING WITH HIV
MAKING SEX SAFER
NEWLY DIAGNOSED
NUTRITION EDUCATION
STARTING TREATMENT
BAR TIPS
BREAKING THE STIGMA
CHOOSING A DOCTOR
CONDOM COMEBACKS
DISCLOSURE
HIV/AIDS STATISTICS
HIV/AIDS TESTING SITES
HIV TRAVEL TIPS
LIVING WITH HIV
MAKING SEX SAFER
NEWLY DIAGNOSED
NUTRITION EDUCATION
STARTING TREATMENT