Continuing Medical Education Program for HIV Care

The Fraser Health HIV team is please to offer physicians some new support for:

• A continuing medical education program,
• Opportunities to obtain phone consultations,
• Joining a community of practice, and
• Providing more support to physicians willing to care for HIV patients referred by Fraser Health HIV team. We can assist with clinical support, strategies to maximize attendance to appointment, adherence to treatment and with some community support to patients who most needs it.

The Need

Many patients with HIV need the care of a family physician across all areas of Fraser Health. In Fraser Health, an estimated 350 patients are eligible for highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) but have not been able to receive it. Another 755 are currently receiving treatment outside of Fraser Health. For many it is because they have not been able to find a physician to care for them in Fraser Health. Expending access to HAART significantly improves not only the health of the patient, by increasing life expectancy substantially, but also likely improves the health of the whole community by decreasing transmission of HIV to others. Physicians have told us they would benefit from training and support in HIV care in order to care for those patients. In addition, about a third of those who have HIV are unaware of their diagnosis, representing an estimated 700 people in Fraser Health. Expending identification of HIV patient can help reduce transmission.

Continuing Education Program

Beginning January 2009, educational sessions will be offered covering a broad range of topics accredited for Mainpro Credit M1. See schedule for the sessions delivered through conference call and on-line material. If you or your group which customized sessions, workshops and onsite presentations can be organized. Please contact Dr. Veronic Clair , to organize a customized session. All sessions include time to problem solve on issues encountered in practice.

Phone consultations

We are please to offer physicians with answers to questions related to HIV through phone consultations, from 8:30 to 5. Questions about HIV/AIDS primary care can be answered by phoning Dr. Clair at 604-816-9664. Questions about more complex HAART or infectious diseases issues can be answered by Dr. Yazdan Mirzanejad, Infectious Disease specialist, at 604-587-3744 (Rapid Access Clinic direct physician line) or for urgent consultation by cell phone at 604-614-3755. Physicians in Fraser Health also have access to phone consultations at any time with the Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Physician Hotline:  1-800-665-7677 and HAART Pharmacy Hotline: 1-800-547-3622.

Compensation for HIV care

General practitioners have asked for adequate compensation when seeing HIV patients. The MSP fee guide was updated with the following billing fee:

HIV/AIDS Primary Care Management – in or out of office - per half hour or major portion thereof: 80.00$. Other fees such as Community Patient Conference Fee, GP Mental Health Management Fee and GP Mental Health Telephone/Email Management Fee, might be eligible.

Community of practice and extra support

We are also forming a community of practice of general practionners who would agree to provide care to HIV patients referred or followed by the Fraser Health HIV team. Physicians participating in the community of practice will receive extra-support for self-learning and Mainpro C credits. If you are interested in being part of the community of practice, please contact Dr. Veronic Clair .