A Holistic Approach to HIV Patient Care

AHN's Positive Health Clinic (PHC) is a Ryan White Care Act–funded program, which means patients can receive many specialized HIV care services regardless of their insurance coverage or ability to pay. The PHC offers long-term primary care that includes advanced testing and treatment, support services, and access to clinical trials. The clinic has been a patient-centered medical home for 10 years.

“Not only do we provide HIV care and primary care for patients, but we also have a staff that can address issues across multiple domains in patients’ life, issues that might be coming up,” said Cassandra Oehler, MD, medical director of the clinic. “We have a team of social workers, we have a housing coordinator, we have a dietitian, we have our health coach, we do our labs in house. We have a great team of nurses who provides care for patients. We provide urgent care. And all of these teams work together to coordinate to address whatever patients might need when they come for appointments.”

Oehler says the clinical team consists of clinicians, nurses, and social workers who all support the work of PHC. This comprehensive approach with multiple people looking out for patients helps create an atmosphere of comfort.

“Our nurses and our social workers are the backbone of this clinic,” Oehler said. “They do a lot—both in terms of community outreach and going to events to promote HIV testing and awareness—but also keeping people engaged in the clinic and tracking patients down when they fall off our radar, and working with them to individualize the support that we need to draw them in and keep them in clinic.”

Oehler explained that PHC has been involved with clinical trials involving preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and HIV treatments. One study they are involved in is with long-acting injectables for PrEP, specifically cabotegravir (Apretude), which is indicated to be administered every 2 months. “We're looking at expanding that interval,” Oehler said. “It would be every 4 months, thus making injectable PrEP a much more feasible option to prevent HIV.”

Look for the next episode with George Bchech, MD, an AHN fellow. He discusses his experience in the program, his election to Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, and AHN’s relationship with Drexel University’s School of Medicine.