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1993.03.04 :  AIDS Hotline

Contact:  Craig Packer  (301) 443-3376
March 4, 1993

       HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today announced the first
nationwide clinical consultation telephone service for doctors and
other health care professionals who have questions about providing
care to people with HIV infection or AIDS.
       The toll-free National HIV Telephone Consulting Service is
staffed by a physician, a nurse practitioner and a pharmacist.  It
provides information on drugs, clinical trials and the latest
treatment methods.  The service is funded by the Health Resources
and Services Administration and operates out of San Francisco
General Hospital.
       Secretary Shalala said, "One goal of this project is to
share expertise so patients get the best care. A second goal is to
get more primary health care providers involved in care for people
with HIV or AIDS, which reduces treatment cost by allowing patients
to remain with their medical providers and community social support
networks.  Currently, many providers refer patients with HIV or
AIDS to specialists or other providers who have more experience."
       Secretary Shalala said, "This clinical expertise should be
especially helpful for physicians and providers who treat people
with HIV or AIDS in communities and clinical sites where HIV
expertise is not readily available."
       The telephone number for health care professionals is 1-800-
933-3413, and it is accessible from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST 
(7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST) Monday through Friday.  During these
times, consultants will try to answer questions immediately, or
within an hour.  At other times, physicians and health care
providers can leave an electronic message, and questions will be
answered as quickly as possible.
       Health care professionals may call the service to ask any
question related to providing HIV care, including the latest
HIV/AIDS drug treatment information, clinical trials information, 
subspecialty case referral, literature searches and other
information.  The service is designed for health care professionals
rather than patients, families or others who have alternate sources
of information or materials.
       When a health care professional calls the new service, the
call is taken by either a clinical pharmacist, primary care
physician or family nurse practitioner.  All staff members have
extensive experience in outpatient and inpatient primary care for
people with HIV-related diseases.  The consultant asks for patient-
specific information, including CD4 cell count, current
medications, sex, age and the patient's HIV history.
       This national service has grown out of a 16-month local
effort that responded to nearly 1,000 calls from health care
providers in northern California.  The initial project was funded
by HRSA's Bureau of Health Professions, through its Community
Provider AIDS Training (CPAT) project, and by the American Academy
of Family Physicians. 
       "When providers expand their knowledge, they also improve
the quality of care they are able to provide to their patients,"
said HRSA Administrator Robert G. Harmon, M.D., M.P.H.  "This
project will be a great resource for health care professionals and
the HIV/AIDS patients they serve."

       "This service has opened a new means of communication
between health care professionals and experts on HIV care
management," said HRSA's associate administrator for AIDS and
director of the Bureau of Health Resources Development, G. Stephen
Bowen, M.D., M.P.H.  "Providers who treat people with HIV or AIDS
have access to the latest information on new drugs, treatment
methods and therapies for people with HIV or AIDS."

       HRSA is one of eight U.S. Public Health Service agencies
within HHS.

                AIDS Hotline Numbers for Consumers

  CDC National AIDS Hotline -- 1-800-342-AIDS
      for information in Spanish -- 1-800-344-SIDA
   AIDS Clinical Trials (English & Spanish) -- 1-800-TRIALS-A


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