Digital Toolkit for Clinicians

Did you know that approximately 1 in 7 people in the United States do not know they had HIV?

HIV crosses all boundaries—sexual orientation, gender, age, and ethnicity. That’s why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends HIV screening for all patients ages 13–64, as a part of routine health care. Patients who may be at ongoing risk for HIV should be screened at least annually. HIV screening is covered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for everyone ages 15 to 65 at least once and more frequently for those at risk.

Early diagnosis is the first step to linking people to treatment and reducing new HIV infections. Make HIV screening a part of routine care and help end the HIV epidemic. Visit HIV Nexus to learn more: www.cdc.gov/HIVNexus.

Studies have shown that pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed. More than 1 million people in the United States could benefit from PrEP. Of those, less than 25% are currently using this medication.

Did you know that as a licensed prescriber, you can prescribe PrEP? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that health care providers prescribe PrEP to prevent new HIV infections and improve health outcomes for patients at risk for HIV. Currently, two medications are approved for PrEP: Truvada and Descovy—only Truvada is approved for people at risk of getting HIV through vaginal or anal sex.* PrEP is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women and can be taken by women who have partners with HIV and wish to conceive without risk of HIV transmission to themselves or the child. PrEP should be a key tool in your patient’s HIV prevention plan, supported by a discussion about adherence, condom use, and other risk-reduction methods.

Prescribe HIV Prevention in your practice to help keep your patients healthy. Share the power of PrEP. Visit HIV Nexus to learn more: www.cdc.gov/HIVNexus.

*Note: Descovy is not approved for people at risk of getting HIV through receptive vaginal sex.

Did you know that people with HIV who take antiretroviral therapy (ART) as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load can stay healthy and have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to their sexual partners?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is committed to reducing new HIV infections by 90% in 10 years. Talking to your patients about treatment as prevention and the benefits of viral suppression is one of the best things you can do for your patients’ health and to help stop HIV transmission. At every office visit, aim to engage your patients in brief conversations to:

• Discuss the prevention steps they are taking.
• Identify barriers to ART adherence and regular ongoing care.
• Link them to social support services to help improve their engagement in and adherence to HIV care.

Each office visit is an opportunity to build trust and retain patients in care. Start the conversation about treatment as prevention today. Visit HIV Nexus to learn more: www.cdc.gov/HIVNexus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed HIV Nexus, a comprehensive website that offers clinicians the latest scientific evidence, guidelines, and resources on:

• Routinely screening patients for HIV.
• Protecting people at risk for HIV by prescribing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
• Linking people with HIV to treatment and care.
• Talking to patients with HIV about the benefits of getting and keeping an undetectable viral load to stay healthy and stop HIV transmission.

As a health care provider, you are frontline for preventing new HIV infections and improving health outcomes for people with HIV. Visit HIV Nexus to access resources and tools to help end the HIV epidemic: www.cdc.gov/HIVNexus.

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CDC Launches Free Let’s Stop HIV Together Digital Toolkit for Clinicians

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CDC Launches Free Let’s Stop HIV Together Digital Toolkit for Clinicians

Dear Colleague,

As health care providers, we are the frontline for preventing new HIV infections and improving health outcomes for people with HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently launched HIV Nexus, a comprehensive website that offers clinicians the latest scientific evidence, guidelines, and resources across the HIV continuum of care. HIV Nexus also provides digital resources, like the Let’s Stop HIV Together Digital Toolkit for Clinicians, to help health care providers engage with peers about best practices for HIV screening, treatment, and prevention.

The Let’s Stop HIV Together Toolkit is a ready to use resource for health care providers and partners who want to harness the power of social sharing and web-based information to help increase HIV screening and prevention and improve HIV treatment and care. The Toolkit offers up-to-date guidance, social media content, multimedia and digital products, and other tools to help initiate or enhance your digital HIV outreach.

Health care providers like you and me play a key role in ending the HIV epidemic. Join the conversation today using free resources from CDC: [Toolkit Link]

Sincerely,

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