HIV/AIDS

Practice Adaptations

• Adapting Your Practice: Treatment and Recommendations for Homeless Patients with HIV/AIDS (2008) – Recommended clinical practice adaptations for the care of individuals with human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome who are homeless; developed by clinicians working in HCH projects.
• Adapting Your Practice: Treatment and Recommendations for Homeless Patients with HIV/AIDS Pocket Guidebook (2006) – The HRSA/HAB Homelessness and Housing Workgroup developed this condensed pocket guidebook (2006), which is based on the original document authored by the Network’s Advisory Committee on Adapting Clinical Guidelines for Homeless Patients with HIV/AIDS.
• The Health Care of Homeless Persons – This easy to use and read manual is designed for clinicians and shelter staff. Sections cover communicable diseases and infections, major medications, heat-related conditions and cold-related injuries, emerging challenges, management of chronic illnesses, immunizations, food management in shelters and soup kitchens, and fact sheets in English and Spanish for clients. The manual includes a chapter on HIV/AIDS.

Case Report

Comorbid TB and HIV in a Chronically Homeless Male: Social Isolation Compounds Stress of Medical Confinement (2006) – Homelessness, long recognized as a risk factor for tuberculosis, can also complicate treatment, as the following case report demonstrates. HIV coinfection increases the risk of progression from latent TB infection to active tuberculosis. Clinicians experienced in the care of homeless persons stress the importance of maintaining communication with these patients, even during medical confinement, and recommend close collaboration among public health, hospital, and primary care providers throughout the course of treatment.

Healing Hands Articles

• Homeless People at Higher Risk for CA-MRSA, HIV & TB (2006)
• Network to Study HIV and Homelessness (1998)

Clinical Tools

• Informed Consent and Agreement to HIV Testing
• Learn to Recognize Acute HIV Infection Tool  (2007) – Developed by the HIV Medicine Association, the tool Learn to Recognize Acute HIV Infection helps clinicians who work in emergency room and primary care settings identify the symptoms most specific to acute HIV infection, to conduct risk screenings, and, if appropriate, laboratory tests. Appropriate selection of patients for diagnostic testing to identify acute HIV infection is important. Current diagnostic testing for acute HIV infection has limitations in specificity and can produce false positive results. This tool will help guide clinicians through the evaluation process of identifying key symptoms, conducting a risk assessment for HIV transmission and using appropriate laboratory diagnostic tests. The tool also includes tips on counseling patients and helpful resources.

Additional Online Resources

• Housing is HIV Prevention and Health Care – Findings from the National Housing and HIV/AIDS Research Summit Series convened by the National AIDS Housing Coalition in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
• Kaleidoscope of Care – A cross-disciplinary training curriculum to increase knowledge and awareness of the relationship between HIV infection and substance use. The training curriculum is designed for HIV medical and substance abuse treatment providers as a Training of Trainers (TOT), with the goal of enhancing their ability to provide interdisciplinary care to their common clients, HIV-infected substance users. The full curriculum is available in both English and Spanish.
• Treating Adolescents with HIV: Tools for Building Skills in Cultural Competence, Clinical Care & Support – Free online training series for MDs, NPs, PAs, RNs, psychologists, social workers, case managers and other health professionals; continuing education credits available.