HIV and Hepatitis C Treatment Clinic

NSCH provides HIV and Hepatitis C treatment for all new and existing patients. Our services ensure that every person who faces an HIV and Hepatitis C diagnosis is well-informed about their treatment process and medication management.

Medication and Disease Management

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is an FDA-approved medication recommended for all individuals who have HIV. Taking ART can reduce the amount of HIV in your blood, which can lower the mortality rate among those infected and further improve quality of life. People who are on ART will take a combination of HIV medicines every single day; this regimen includes three HIV medicines that are from at least two different HIV drug classes (a group of drugs that share common properties.)

Individuals with HIV will go through medication management with a care team so barriers and possible issues with ART can be identified. This process will include laboratory monitoring and a set of tests that will be performed before and after the antiretroviral therapy begins.

RN Care Management

RN care management is important for individuals living with HIV or Hepatitis C (HVC) in order to prevent mortality, reduce the spread of both viruses, and improve quality of life. HIV and HVC can be managed by a variety of providers in a primary care or speciality setting. While care coordination varies from clinic, locality, and state, a staff should include case managers, social workers, and patient navigators that help initiate scheduling medical appointments and follow-up care. Those facing HIV or HVC should have access to services like psychological support, reproductive and gynecological services, alcohol or drug treatment, medication-assistance programs, preventing counseling and more. These individuals also need support access to social services that include housing transportation, mental health, and legal assistance.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

Any licensed provider can prescribe PrEP medication to individuals at high risk of HIV infection. This ART medication can help prevent individuals from getting HIV. Daily use of PrEP reduces the risk of HIV by more than 70%. PrEP is described as a single pill taken once daily.

Providers should prescribe PrEP medication based on three factors: the source of exposure has the HIV infection, the potential body fluids to which a person was exposed, and the exposure site or surface. Case-by-case decisions for prescribing PrEP should be made when a patient was exposed to infection from a person with an unknown HIV status.

Clinicians should confirm that the individual is HIV-negative through tests and should repeat that testing every three months.