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Getting
into Care

Learn what to expect when

starting HIV care

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Doctors and nurses with yellow semi-circle background

What's an HIV Care Team?

Your HIV care team will help make sure you are getting the right treatment and any necessary support services. Your team may include:

Primary HIV Health Care Provider

This can be a Medical Doctor, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician Assistant.

Their role includes:

  • Prescribing HIV medications (also known as antiretroviral therapy or ART) and managing any side effects.

This can be a Medical Doctor, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician Assistant.

Their role includes:

  • Prescribing HIV medications (also known as antiretroviral therapy or ART) and managing any side effects.
  • Monitoring your progress toward viral load suppression.
  • Checking your health for opportunistic infections and other HIV-related illnesses.
  • Connecting you with other providers to assist with any other needs you may have.

Other HIV Care Providers:

  • Allied health professionals like Nurses, Pharmacists, Dentists, and others.
  • Social service providers such as Social Workers, Case Managers, Patient Navigators, and more.
  • Monitoring your progress toward viral load suppression.
  • Checking your health for opportunistic infections and other HIV-related illnesses.
  • Connecting you with other providers to assist with any other needs you may have.

Other HIV Care Providers:

  • Allied health professionals like Nurses, Pharmacists, Dentists, and others.
  • Social service providers such as Social Workers, Case Managers, Patient Navigators, and more.
Find an HIV Care Provider Here

What is expected

of me

when starting

HIV Care?

Take Your HIV Medicine as Prescribed

It’s important to take your HIV medicine exactly as prescribed to help you get and stay virally suppressed.

If you have any concerns about your treatment or experience side effects, don’t hesitate to reach out to your provider or pharmacist.

Keep Track of Your Medical Appointments

Ask your provider when you need to return for a follow-up appointment. Attending every appointment will help you stay in control of your health.

Using a physical calendar or a reminder app may help you keep you up to date on your appointments.

Icon of cell phone with calendar reminder

What is expected

of me

when

starting

HIV Care?

Take Your HIV Medicine as Prescribed

It’s important to take your HIV medicine exactly as prescribed to help you get and stay virally suppressed.

If you have any concerns about your treatment or experience side effects, don’t hesitate to reach out to your provider or pharmacist.

Keep Track of Your Medical Appointments

Ask your provider when you need to return for a follow-up appointment. Attending every appointment will help you stay in control of your health.

Using a physical calendar or a reminder app may help you keep you up to date on your appointments.

Icon of cell phone with calendar reminder

What will happen during my medical visits?

During your visit, your provider will perform routine medical exams and ask questions to monitor your ongoing care.

Your visit may include:

Going over your lab results and explaining what they mean.

Offering tips to help you stay on top of your treatment.

Asking about your health history.

A physical exam to check for any other health issues.

A blood test for your viral load and CD4 count (or referral to a lab).

Helping you find support services if you need them.

What type of tests

help

monitor HIV?

As part of your ongoing care, you should expect to get routine blood tests to monitor your health and guide your treatment plan.

Smiling man in a blue tint on red background

These tests include:

CD4 Count

  • CD4 cells, also known as T-cells, help your body fight infections.
  • HIV reduces the number of CD4 cells in your
 blood.
  • A low CD4 count means you’re at higher risk for other infections.

Viral Load Test

  • This test measures how much HIV is in your blood.
  • When the viral load is so low that very little to no
 HIV can be detected in the blood (under 20 copies), it’s called an undetectable viral load.
  • When the viral load is so low that no HIV can be
 detected in the blood, it’s called an undetectable viral load.
  • If your viral load is undetectable, you cannot pass HIV on to a sexual partner.

Viral Load Test

  • This test measures how much HIV is in your blood.
  • When the viral load is so low that very little to no
 HIV can be detected in the blood (under 20 copies), it’s called an undetectable viral load.
  • When the viral load is so low that no HIV can be
 detected in the blood, it’s called an undetectable viral load.
  • If your viral load is undetectable, you cannot pass HIV on to a sexual partner.

What type of tests help

monitor

HIV?

As part of your ongoing care, you should expect to get routine blood tests to monitor your health and guide your treatment plan.

Smiling man in a blue tint on red background

These tests include:

CD4 Count

  • CD4 cells, also known as T-cells, help your body fight infections.
  • HIV reduces the number of CD4 cells in your
 blood.
  • A low CD4 count means you’re at higher risk for other infections.

Viral Load Test

  • This test measures how much HIV is in your blood.
  • When the viral load is so low that very little to no
 HIV can be detected in the blood (under 20 copies), it’s called an undetectable viral load.
  • When the viral load is so low that no HIV can be
 detected in the blood, it’s called an undetectable viral load.
  • If your viral load is undetectable, you cannot pass HIV on to a sexual partner.

Want to Learn More about HIV?

Check out these other pages:

Newly Diagnosed

Learning you’re HIV positive can be scary but you’re not alone. We can walk you through what to do next. Learn more

Paying for HIV Care

Get HIV care and support regardless of your ability to pay. Learn more

Stigma

Learn about HIV stigma and how to challenge it. Learn more

Know your Rights

If you’re HIV positive you have the right to live a life free of discrimination. Find out how you’re protected. Learn more

Treatment

With treatment you can reduce the amount of HIV in your blood to levels so low it can’t even be detected. Learn more

HIV Resource Finder Tool

HIV Resource Finder

HIV Resource Finder Tool

For additional HIV care and support services, including food delivery, legal assistance, mental health support, housing, and more, try our resource tool.

Find HIV Care Resources
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More Resources

Understanding Care | Living With HIV | HIV Basics | HIV/AIDS | CDC

Just Diagnosed: Next Steps After Testing Positive for HIV | NIH

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Events

Consejos de usar el buscador de recursos:

  • Buscador: Teclea una palabra o frase en la casilla de búsqueda. Si teclee más que una palabra, se buscará cada palabra individualmente. Por ejemplo: Buscar “alimentos” o “banco.” Frases incluidos en comillas mostrarán resultos para la frase. Ej. Busca “banco de alimentos.”
  • Filtro: Si la búsqueda produce demasiados resultados, aplica un filtro. Ejemplo: busca “banco de alimentos” Y selecciona “condado de Filadelfia.”
  • Orden de los resultados de búsqueda: resultados estan ordenado por relevancia.
  • Empezar de nuevo: selecciona “Reiniciar” para reiniciar la búsqueda y filtros.

Definiciones de términos

  • Administración de casos médicos, incluidos los servicios de adhesión al tratamiento

    Ayuda para facilitar las necesidades de atención médica y salud mental de personas con VIH, proporcionando además servicios de apoyo.

  • Asistencia financiera de emergencia

    Ayuda a corto plazo para cubrir necesidades de emergencia, incluidos los servicios públicos, la vivienda y el transporte.

  • Asistencia financiera de emergencia para farmacia

    Ayuda para el pago de medicamentos.

  • Atención ambulatoria por consumo de sustancias

    Tratamiento por el consumo de drogas o alcohol en un consultorio u oficina clínica.

  • Atención de salud oral

    Cuidado dental.

  • Banco de alimentos / Comidas a domicilio

    Ayuda para obtener alimentos, ya sea en un banco de alimentos o con entrega a domicilio.

  • Educación en salud / Reducción de Riesgos

    Información y educación sobre cómo se transmite el VIH y cómo atender sus necesidades de salud.

  • Especialidad en adolescentes edades de 12 a 24

    Esta agencia se idenfica como proveedor de servicios para personas de 12 a 24 años de edad. La agencia puede proveer servicios para gente de otras edades.

  • Línea directa del Centro de excelencia PEP

    Línea directa para obtener medicamentos que previenen el VIH después de una exposición.

  • Prueba del VIH

    Prueba de VIH disponibles en un servicio de atención sin cita previa.

  • Servicios de atención primaria

    Servicios médicos de atención primaria disponibles independientemente de la capacidad de pago, el estado del seguro o el estatus migratorio.

  • Servicios de atención y apoyo para el VIH

  • Servicios de prevención de sobredosis

    Servicios para prevenir la transmisión del VIH relacionada con el consumo de sustancias.

  • Servicios de prevención del VIH

  • Servicios de reducción de daños

    Servicios para prevenir la transmisión del VIH y las sobredosis. Los servicios incluyen el intercambio de jeringas usadas por nuevas, con el fin de prevenir el VIH y otras enfermedades transmisibles.

  • Servicios de salud ambulatorios / externos

    Atención médica para el VIH en consultorios u oficinas clínicas.

  • Servicios de salud mental

    Un consejero u otro profesional que lo ayude a abordar problemas de salud mental.

  • Servicios de salud sexual sin cita previa

    Atención en salud sexual, pruebas de STI y pruebas de VIH en una clínica de atención sin cita previa.

  • Servicios legales

    Ayuda por parte de un abogado.

  • Servicios lingüísticos

    Traducción de idiomas para el médico u otro proveedor de servicios.

  • TelePrEP

    Acceso en línea y por teléfono a medicamentos para prevenir el VIH.

  • Terapia de nutrición médica

    Asesoramiento de un profesional autorizado sobre qué comer según las necesidades médicas específicas y ayuda para obtener alimentos o suplementos nutricionales (como Ensure).

  • Transporte médico

    Transporte hacia citas médicas.

  • Vivienda de transición

    Ayuda para el pago de la vivienda destinada a personas con VIH que están sin hogar o enfrentan inseguridad habitacional.

  • Vivienda Ryan White

    Ayuda a corto plazo para pagar la renta.

Term Definitions

  • Adolescent Specialty Age 12 to 24

    Agency has identified itself as a provider of services specifically for the age group from 12 to 24. The agency may also provide services for other age groups.

  • Emergency Financial Assistance

    Short-term help paying for an emergency need, including utilities, housing, and transportation.

  • Emergency Financial Assistance Pharmacy

    Help with paying for medication.

  • Food Bank/Home Delivered Meals

    Help with getting food, either at a food bank or delivered to your home.

  • Harm Reduction Services

    Services to prevent HIV transmission and overdose. Services include exchange of used syringes for new syringes in order to prevent HIV and other communicable diseases.

  • Health Education/Risk Reduction

    Information and education on how HIV is transmitted and how to take care of your health needs.

  • HIV Care and Support Services

    These are services that are sometimes called “Ryan White Services.” They are services to provide HIV care or other assistance to individuals with HIV.

  • HIV Prevention Services

    These services are meant to help prevent HIV transmission. Some services are specific to people who are HIV negative, and other services are available regardless of HIV status.

  • HIV Testing

    HIV testing in a walk-in setting.

  • Legal Services

    Help from a lawyer.

  • Medical Case Management, including Treatment Adherence Services

    Help facilitating healthcare and mental health needs for people with HIV while providing support services.

  • Medical Nutrition Therapy

    Advice from a licensed professional about what to eat for a specific medical need and help getting food or nutritional supplements (such as Ensure).

  • Medical Transportation

    Transportation to medical appointments.

  • Mental Health Services

    A counselor or other professional to help deal with a mental health problem.

  • Oral Health Care

    Dental care.

  • Outpatient/Ambulatory Health Services

    HIV medical care in an office or clinic.

  • Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for Non-Occupational Exposures (PEP COE)

    A hotline to find medicine to prevent HIV after an exposure.

  • Primary Care Services

    Primary medical care services available regardless of ability to pay, insurance status, or immigration status.

  • Ryan White Housing

    Short-term help paying rent.

  • Substance Abuse Outpatient Care

    Drug or alcohol treatment at an office or clinic.

  • TelePrEP

    Online and phone access to medicine to prevent HIV.

  • Transitional Housing

    Help paying for housing for people with HIV experiencing homeless or with housing insecurity.

  • Walk-In Sexual Health Services

    Sexual health, STI testing, and HIV testing in a walk-in clinic.

Tips for searching this Resource Finder:

  • Search: Type a word or phrase into the keyword search field to view results. Multiple words entered into the field will be searched independently. Example: Search for: “food” or “bank”. Phrases enclosed with quotation marks will show results for the whole phrase. Ex. Search for “food bank”.
  • Filter: If a keyword search returns too many results, refine it by adding filter terms using the dropdown pickers and checkboxes. Example: Search for “food bank” AND Philadelphia county.
  • Order of results: Results are listed by relevance.
  • Start over: Reset the search and filters by pressing the Reset button.