HIV
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus which can cause an infection if you are exposed to an infected person’s blood or body fluids. AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) can result when HIV infection goes untreated. AIDS means the immune system has been damaged by the virus and can no longer fight off infections.
There are 21,376 people living with HIV infection in Louisiana. In 2015, Louisiana ranked 2nd in the nation for HIV case rates, with 24 per 100,000 persons diagnosed with HIV. The New Orleans area ranked 3rd among the large metropolitan areas in the U.S. One third of new HIV diagnoses in Louisiana occur in New Orleans. 75% of new HIV cases were among men. African Americans in Louisiana are disproportionately affected: African Americans account for 72% of newly diagnosed HIV cases despite making up only 32% of Louisiana’s population.
St. Thomas is proud to have a dedicated team of specialists who work with our community to care for those who have the virus and assist in preventing the spread of HIV. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, we provide premium services related to preventing and managing HIV at prices affordable to all, regardless of your insurance coverage or ability to pay.
HOW ONE NURSE PRACTITIONER BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS TO BOOST HIV SUPPRESSION
In the 18 months that Tavell L. Kindall, D.N.P., APRN, FNP, a board-certified family nurse practitioner, has worked at St. Thomas Community Health Center in New Orleans, he’s increased the viral suppression rate of the center’s HIV-positive patients from 65% to nearly 90%. To compare, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program’s goal and the national average are both approximately 85% suppression.
Read MoreCOMMON HIV SERVICES & PROGRAMS
Screening for HIV
In the US, 13% of people with HIV are unaware they are infected. In Louisiana, that number is even higher: 20%. At St. Thomas, we provide screening for HIV and other STDs as one of our main services. All adolescents and adults should have at least one HIV test in their lifetime. More frequent screening is done for people with risk factors for infection. Your provider will talk with you about these risk factors and help determine how often you should be tested.
For those who test positive, getting into care as soon as possible improves health and reduces the risk of transmission of the virus. At St. Thomas we can link people to care at the time of diagnosis.
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, started in 1990, is the largest federal program specifically focused on providing comprehensive care and support services to persons living with HIV. Our specialists work to assist patients with all their needs with the goal of viral suppression (getting the virus to a very low level in the blood).
Medications are recommended for all people living with HIV as soon as possible after diagnosis. Our specialists can provide you with the medicine you need and answer any questions you might have, as well as provide resources for your care. People who are in care and on medications are much more likely to stay healthy and less likely to spread the virus.
PrEP
PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is an HIV prevention strategy for people who are HIV negative but at high risk of contracting the virus. PrEP is a comprehensive prevention program which includes taking a pill once a day. This medication has been shown to be more than 90% effective in preventing HIV when it is taken every day. We PrEP Together is an initiative started by St. Thomas Community Health Center aimed at increasing awareness of and access to PrEP among those who are most at risk in New Orleans. You can learn more about We PrEP Together and related services here.
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504-529-5558
It is important to see you when you need us either for an urgent problem or for routine primary care. We know that work, transportation, child care and lots of other issues make it hard to keep appointments. Call us at 504-529-5558 or submit an appointment request form. Our phones open at 7 a.m. and we will continuously monitor the website requests as well. Contact us as early as you can.
