The Positive Side (Winter 2013) - CD8 T cells - The Body

Northern
Alberta
HIV
Program
Edmonton
With a strong focus on treatment programs
tailored to each individual, the Northern Alberta
HIV Program is a shining example of how excellent
adherence supports can make a difference in
people’s lives. Working to build strong connections
with the people it serves has been the model of
success for this clinic, which provides care to people
living with or affected by HIV across northern Alberta
and the Northwest Territories.
The staff includes a psychologist, social workers,
pharmacists and other healthcare providers who
place their relationships with patients at the forefront
of care. Appointments can last more than an
hour and the pharmacist is careful to customize
HIV treatment to each individual’s life. This involves
getting to know a person’s work schedule and living
situation as well as any confidentiality issues they
may be dealing with related to their meds. Understanding
the context of a person’s treatment in this
way makes it easier to pinpoint any barriers to
adherence and to find strategies that help people
stick with their treatment.
After seeing more and more pregnant women
access its services, the program has increased its
focus on this group. Clinical pharmacist Michelle
Foisy and her team have started a comprehensive
treatment support plan that is both collaborative and
customized to the needs of pregnant women and
new moms. Since its inception, the clinic has seen
excellent results, with a transmission rate of less
than one percent in the perinatal program (one out
of 111 infants was born HIV positive).
www.albertahealthservices.ca
Maximally
Assisted Therapy
Program
Vancouver
At the crack of dawn, 365 days a year, the doors of the
Downtown Community Health Clinic open to offer breakfast
to people in the Downtown Eastside. This tiny but busy space
in a community where many lack stable housing provides a
chance to get out of the rain, enjoy a cup of coffee and access
health supports. Some people come for an appointment at
the clinic, while others drop in for their daily dose of HIV
medication. The clinic has had great success helping its
members stay on their meds and the addition of the Maximally
Assisted Therapy (MAT) Program has contributed
hugely to that success.
The MAT team of nurses, community workers, social
worker and pharmacist offers a wide range of adherence
supports. Members are encouraged to use services that
range from counselling and regular checkups for blood work
to appointments with the nutritionist or infectious disease
doctor. Additionally, outreach teams travel throughout the
city to distribute medication to members regardless of where
they are, ensuring that adherence isn’t affected by lack of bus
fare, having no fixed address, depression or drug use. MAT
outreach workers have brought treatment to some of the
most hard-to-reach people in Vancouver.
Evaluation of the program has shown that nine out of
every 10 MAT clients now have a suppressed viral load and
adherence rates appear to be high. The program is also
beginning to see evidence of lowered transmission rates.
For a comprehensive guide to preparing for HIV treatment,
choosing the right combination and adhering to
your medication schedule, see CATIE’s Practical Guide to
HIV Drug Treatment at www.catie.ca. You can also order
print copies through the CATIE Ordering Centre at
www.catie.ca or by calling 1.800.263.1638. The guide
is free for people in Canada.
Winter 2013 THE POSITIVE SIDE
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