Health care workers need up to date information to be able to
counsel HIV/AIDS patients and their families. There are a number of
ways to access up-to-date information for personal use, inservices at
work, or community workshops. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
provide bulletins, newsletters, and a hotline for current information.
CDC has personnel working throughout the public health network who
will provide inservices or workshops at a minimal cost.
A state and federally funded project to provide HIV/AIDS
education and training is the Delta Region AIDS Education and
Training Center (AHEC). One of four educational and medical centers
in partnership, Delta ETC is a resource for health care providers
for continuing education, updates of HIV, literature searches,
clinical training through preceptorships, and a clearinghouse for
communication between providers.
The Office of Public Health, Louisiana Department of Health
and Hospitals, HIV/AIDS Services Program is located in New Orleans.
This office is a resource for publications for patient and health
care teaching, updates on disease trends and statistics, and resource
personnel for seminars and training for persons working with HIV/AIDS
patients and their families. Bill Crawford, AIDS Education and
Training Coordinator for the DHH-OPH-HIV-AIDS Service Program, is
only one of those involved in providing on site training for health
care personnel.
The American Red Cross began a public education education
program in 1985 to slow the spread of AIDS. They are a resource for
posters, brochures, films and slide shows for HIV/AIDS education.
They provide public service announcements on television, radio, and
in the press and provide community action groups and Red Cross
volunteers to provide information to the public about AIDS.
Literature is available for a fee.
Patients with HIV Infection and AIDS diagnosis have many legal
issues to consider. These include financial problems, disability,
employment discrimination, testing confidentiality, insurance, wills,
living wills, powers of attorney, guardianship of minor children, and
possibly landlord/tenant problems. Since the average age of the
person affected is during the peak earning years, these issues may
not have been faced yet. AIDSLaw of Louisiana is a nonprofit
organization that will provide free and low-cost services and
referrals.
There is no current cure for HIV/AIDS and many people seek
alternative treatments out of desperation. There are federally and
privately sponsored clinical trials being conducted in the United
States that may be a preferable choice. AIDS Clinical Trials
Information Service is a free central resource providing current
information on these trials. This Public Health Service project
works with the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institute
of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Food and Drug Administration,
and the National Library of Medicine. The caller talks to a health
specialist with access to a database that is updated weekly. The
information is also available through two online databases,
AIDSTRIALS and AIDSDRUGS, through the National Library of Medicine.
Information provided includes: purpose of the study protocol,
studies that are open, study locations, eligibility and exclusion
criteria, and contact persons' telephone numbers.
Central Louisiana Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is part
of a network of nonprofit, community based agencies to address the
shortfall of health professionals in underserved areas, provide
community based services to assist practicing health professionals
develop and maintain their skills, and encourage students to pursue
health professions. They provide student preceptorships, continuing
education programs for allied health, career education programs for
high school students, and maintain a regional Learning Resource
Center. This center houses video recordings, publications, and more
than 225 medical journals including articles on HIV/AIDS.
Education of the public in all aspects of the disease is one
of the goals of CLASS, Central Louisiana Aids Support Service. This
community based organization serves an eight parish area (Region VI),
including Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Rapides,
Vernon, and Winn. Red Cross shares information and resources by
providing literature, speakers for seminars, and workshops for health
care workers, the public, and patients with HIV/AIDS. Free and
anonymous HIV testing is also provided with pre/post test counseling,
case management, and support groups. Volunteers are based with CLASS
to provide hospital visitation, man health fair booths, education,
fund raising, HIV testing, clerical, hotline personnel, buddy program a
and care teams, pastoral counseling, legal services, and peer
counseling.
Case Managers with HIV infected patients can make early
referral to the Early Intervention Clinic in Alexandria. This is a
program for CD-1 and CD-2 (Stage 1 and 2 HIV patients). The clinic
uses the same physicians as the CD-4 clinic, which provides for
continuity of care. Counselors, referrals for resources, and early
therapy are provided. Transportation assistance for this clinic
(and the CD-4 clinic) is available through CLASS volunteers.
Those reaching the later stages of HIV infection can receive
advanced treatment at the CD-4 Clinic at Huey P. Long Medical Center.
Laboratory testing, screening for opportunistic diseases, medical
followup, psychiatric evaluation, nutrition counseling, and
assessment of financial and social support needed help to provide for
the quality of life for those dealing with HIV/AIDS and their
families.
At least eight AIDS-related medications are available at
Huey P. Long Regional Medical Center, Pineville. These are
Didanosine (Videx) (DDI); Retrivir (Zidovudine) capsules and syrup;
Acyclovir (Zovirax) capsules; Chlotrimazole (Mycelex) Troches;
Interferon Alpha (Intron A); Dapsone; Pentamidine IV/Aerosol; and
TMP Sulfa tablets and syrup (Bactrim or Septra)
("AIDS drugs", 1992).
Home infusion therapy is provided through The Apothecary and
includes pain management, antibiotic IV therapy, total parenteral
nutrition, enteral feeding, and chemotherapy. Many home health
agencies also provide this service.
Persons with stage 3 and 4 HIV infection may be eligible for
Social Security disability. Information and brochures on HIV/AIDS
disability and Social Security benefits are available through the
Social Security Administration. Counselors at the Early Intervention
Clinic can help persons prepare for application for this benefit.
AIDSLaw of Louisiana is another source of information and assistance
in this area. It is important that the application be completed
properly to prevent delay or denial of eligible benefits.
Maison de Coeur is the community response to the homeless,
terminally ill person. This six bed facility is expected to be
opened in 1995 and is under the auspices of Shepherd Ministries.
The renovated home is located in Rapides Parish.
Skilled nursing units and nursing homes for the care of the
patient with end-stage AIDS are limited in our area. Camelia Garden
Nursing Home in Pineville has a 16 bed wing, The Oasis, dedicated
to AIDS patients. Another 20 bed skilled care unit, The Harbour,
is located in Shreveport, LA. The criteria and costs for these
facilities was not obtained and they are provided for information
only. No endorsement is intended.
Hospice services are available in Rapides Parish with visiting
nurses, home health aides, and volunteers providing support to
persons living in Vernon Parish. Many HIV/AIDS patients are
reluctant to enter hospice care and seek active treatment until the
very end. Families and patients should be encourage to explore these
services early in their illness. Patients need an understanding of
the options available whenever their disease reaches the terminal
stage (see Appendix B).
AIDS drugs available in Rapides. (1992, January 13). The
Alexandria Town Talk, p. D1.
Cates, W. J. (1991). Teenagers and sexual risk taking:
The best of times and the worst of times. Journal of Adolescent Health,
12(2), 84-94.
Centers for Disease Control. (1991). Women and AIDS: The
growing crisis. HIV/AIDS Prevention Newsletter, 2(1), 1.
Centers for Disease Control. (1993, February). HIV/AIDS and Health Care Workers.
CDC: HIV/AIDS Prevention Newsletter.
Centers for Disease Control. (1993). Summary - cases of
specified notifiable diseases. US cumulative week ending February 13,
1993. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 42(6), 114.
Centers for Disease Control. (1995, January 31). Acquired Immunodeficience Syndrome Cases, cumulative:
Louisiana. CDC Surveillance Report.
Crawford, B. (1995, March). Pre and post test counselor
training. HIV Counselor Training Workshop. Symposium conducted at
the Central Louisiana Aids Support Service, Alexandria, Louisiana.
Dumestre, J. (1995, March). Women and HIV.
Care of HIV Disease: A Community's Response. Seminar conducted at the Ramada Inn
Convention Center, Alexandria, Louisiana.
Fifty exposed to AIDS tracked down. (1995, March 24).
Alexandria Town Talk, p. A4.
Glenn, P., Nance-Spronson, L. McCartney, M., & Yesalis,
C. (1991). Attitudes toward AIDS among a low-risk group of women.
Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 20, 398-405.
Medicaid cuts: Budget proposal calls for slashing more
than $500 million. (1995, March 31). The Alexandria Town Talk, p. A1.
South Central Bell.(1993).About your community: Leesville,
Louisiana. South Central Bell Telephone Book: Leesville - DeRidder,
p. Y1.
Schmid, G. P. (1990, September). Sexually transmitted
diseases and HIV: A primary care approach. Journal of Osteopathic
Medicine, supplement, 4(8), 14-20.
