Resources for Health Care Professionals

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Although there is no cure for HIV, there are treatment options that can help people with the infection realize long and productive lives. Patients who receive appropriate medical care, adhere to their regimens and lower their viral loads (amount of HIV in their blood) are less likely to pass the virus on to their sex or needle-sharing partners. In this way, health care providers can play a key role to help reduce HIV transmission.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) partners with the Health Department in addressing HIV in Vermont. CDC provides evidence-based guidance on a range of topics that can help health care professionals deliver quality HIV testing, treatment, and prevention services to their patients.

Vermont medical providers who are treating patients with HIV infection can consult with local specialists at the Comprehensive Care Clinics, with four outlets around our state. The main office is located within the Infectious Disease Program at the UVM Medical Center.

The Health Department partners with local clinicians to provide lab testing and guidance on result reporting.

Sample Notification Form for Medical Providers Who Do HIV Testing

Pursuant to 18 V.S.A § 1001 (g), the Vermont Department of Health offers the following sample language for health care providers to inform patients of HIV reporting requirements and the existence of testing sites that can provide anonymous testing services:

“Positive HIV laboratory results are required to be reported to the Vermont Department of Health under the Reportable and Communicable Diseases Rule (available at http://www.healthvermont.gov/disease-control/disease-reporting). This means that I am required to report your name to the Health Department if the result is positive.

Confidential, rapid HIV screening is available at community-based settings for people at high risk of HIV infection. A list of these sites can be found on the Department’s website (http://www.healthvermont.gov/disease-control/hiv-std-hepatitis-community-resources/free-hiv-testing-community-based-settings). If a screening test is reactive, a confirmatory test is needed. Only healthcare providers can offer confirmatory testing, and they would be required to report positive results and patients’ names to the Health Department.”

Reports and Poster

Vermont Guidelines for Universal HIV Counseling and Voluntary Testing of Pregnant Women