*This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated. 
 1994.
10.31 :  PHS AIDS Treatment Information Service

Contact:  Rayford Kytle    (202) 260-3388  
Monday, Oct. 31, 1994


        PHS' AIDS TREATMENT INFORMATION SERVICE BEGINS 

     HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today announced the start of the
first 800-number service that provides federally approved treatment
information by phone or computer for people living with HIV/AIDS and
health care professionals.  

     Secretary Shalala said, "As of today, HIV/AIDS patients and
those caring for them can call ATIS, the AIDS Treatment Information
Service at 1-800-HIV-0440 and speak to a trained health information
expert about up-to-date HIV/AIDS treatments."

     Interim national AIDS policy coordinator Patsy Fleming said,
"ATIS reflects innovative, coordinated effort among government
agencies working together to provide a service that is broader than
the mandate of any individual agency -- and vital to meeting the
continuing challenges of AIDS."

     Philip R. Lee, M.D., HHS assistant secretary for health and
director of the U.S. Public Health Service, said, "In addition to
assisting health care providers, the AIDS Treatment Information
Service will help people living with HIV/AIDS extend and improve the
quality of their lives by helping them make informed decisions about
their health care with their providers."

     Surgeon General M. Joycelyn Elders, M.D., speaking in 
Atlanta at the National Skills-Building Conference for community-
based organizations, sponsored by the National Minority AIDS
Council, the National Association of People with AIDS and the AIDS
National Interfaith Network, said, "Community-based organizations
and AIDS service organizations all over America need to help get the
word out about ATIS.  It provides an invaluable additional resource
to people living with HIV/AIDS."

     The Public Health Service National AIDS Program Office has
coordinated development of the service.  Six PHS agencies have
contributed to its formation and will be funding its operation. 
These agencies are the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research,
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Indian Health
Service, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the
National Institutes of Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration.  Project officers from each of the
participating PHS agencies will be responsible for oversight of the
program.

     Representatives from AIDS communities across the country have
also participated in designing the service. 

     The data base for ATIS, which is housed at the National Library
of Medicine, part of NIH, will be continually updated to include all
federally approved HIV/AIDS treatment information.  The data base
can be accessed free via computer.

     ATIS also can provide access to other related PHS information
services including: the CDC National AIDS Hotline, providing basic
HIV/AIDS information; the CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse, providing
HIV/AIDS print and video materials; the AIDS Clinical Trials
Information Service, providing information on clinical trials for 
treatments for HIV/AIDS and associated opportunistic infections; the
HRSA-sponsored Warmline, which provides HIV/AIDS treatment
information to physicians only; the SAMHSA National Drug
Information, Treatment and Referral Hotline, which provides
information on drug treatment and community resources; and the
SAMHSA National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information,
which provides information on alcohol and drug abuse treatment and
prevention.  

     ATIS staff will not provide treatment advice, but will provide
information and advise patients of the need to discuss treatment
options with their physicians.  

     The service is staffed by highly trained health information
specialists who are fluent in English and Spanish.  Deaf access
(TDD) is included.  The service is provided Monday through Friday, 
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST.  All calls are completely confidential.

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