Southern Alberta HIV Clinic

Information for Patients

Information for Patients Overview

Welcome to the Southern Alberta Clinic website! In the Information for Patients section of our website you will learn about how our clinic works and the different services that are available to you.

Booking Process

Booking Process: Whether you are newly diagnosed as HIV-positive, a recent immigrant, or have moved from another province, here's what you need to know about the booking process at the Southern Alberta Clinic.

Medical Visits

Medical Visits: The Southern Alberta Clinic provides medical care to all HIV-positive patients in southern Alberta. If you have tested HIV-positive this is the place to be! Find out what to expect at your initial and follow-up visits.

Disease Management Plan

Disease Management Plan: The Southern Alberta Clinic believes that a multidisciplinary cooperative approach is essential for providing the best possible care to patients with a disease that has so many medical manifestations and social implications. A multidisciplinary team of health care workers including physicians, peer counsellors, pharmacists, social workers, clinical researchers, nurses, and a dietitian work together.

Nutrition Services

The nutritionist at the Southern Alberta Clinic can give you advice on how to change your eating habits to get the best nutritional value. This will enable you to keep your body and muscle mass and enable you to be active longer. Nutrition services are provided free of charge.

Overview

About the Nutritionist

Diet & HIV Infection

Food Safety

Weight Concerns

Gastrointestinal Symptoms

Lipodystrophy

Website Resources

Social Work

The social workers at the Southern Alberta Clinic are available to help with any aspect relating to HIV. Social workers can help with a wide variety of issues ranging from basic needs such as income support programs, to counselling around diagnosis adjustment and partner/family/relationships.

Overview

Counselling & Support Services

Financial Programs & Support

Paying for Drugs

Paying for Drugs: Alberta Health and Wellness pays 100% of the cost of licensed HIV drugs that have been approved and listed on the provincial drug list. You must have a valid Alberta Personal Health care number to obtain HIV drugs free of charge.

Lab and Blood Work

Lab and Blood Work: Lab tests and blood work is done through Calgary Lab Services at either the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre, Foothills Medical Centre or Peter Lougheed Centre. Some rural hospitals are also available. Routine blood work should be done two weeks prior to your appointment.

Research

Research: The Southern Alberta Clinic monitors its success in ensuring that research studies are accessed by all different groups attending our clinic. Patients attending the clinic are invited to participate in many aspects of research.

Pregnancy & HIV

Pregnancy & HIV: If you are pregnant and HIV-positive, here is what you need to know about your HIV treatment and how to protect your baby from contracting HIV.

Alberta Public Health Act & HIV/AIDS

Alberta Public Health Act & HIV/AIDS: Since HIV is a notifiable disease under the Public Health Act, any sexual and/or injection drug partners you have had since you became infected with HIV will be contacted and offered HIV testing. Find out your responsibilities regarding sexual and injection drug-sharing activities. Failure to obey the law may result in criminal charges.

Definition of HIV & AIDS

Seroconversion Illness

Clinic Protocols: Desensitization to Septra or Bactrim Protocol

Clinic Protocols: Immunization

Clinic Policy: Missed Appointments

Clinic Policy: Moving to a New Province

Clinic Policy: Travelling or Living Abroad for Extended Periods

Drug Information Sheets

Community Resources

HIV/AIDS Glossary

HIV Testing Sites




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Southern Alberta Clinic Home About the Clinic HIV Information HIV disease description Epidemiology of HIV Information for Patients Booking process Medical Visits Disease management plan Nutrition services Social work Paying for drugs Lab and blood work Research Information for Professionals Clinic protocols Treatment guidelines Clinic Policies Laboratory monitoring Education Opportunities Enrolment stats Drug Information Drug information sheets Paediatric patients Formulations Drug interactions Research Collection and usage of data Research activity Publications and abstracts Resources Community resource list HIV/AIDS links Glossaries Contact Us	Southern Alberta HIV Clinic Information for Patients Information for Patients Overview Welcome to the Southern Alberta Clinic website! In the Information for Patients section of our website you will learn about how our clinic works and the different services that are available to you. Booking Process Booking Process: Whether you are newly diagnosed as HIV-positive, a recent immigrant, or have moved from another province, here's what you need to know about the booking process at the Southern Alberta Clinic. Medical Visits Medical Visits: The Southern Alberta Clinic provides medical care to all HIV-positive patients in southern Alberta. If you have tested HIV-positive this is the place to be! Find out what to expect at your initial and follow-up visits. Disease Management Plan Disease Management Plan: The Southern Alberta Clinic believes that a multidisciplinary cooperative approach is essential for providing the best possible care to patients with a disease that has so many medical manifestations and social implications. A multidisciplinary team of health care workers including physicians, peer counsellors, pharmacists, social workers, clinical researchers, nurses, and a dietitian work together. Nutrition Services The nutritionist at the Southern Alberta Clinic can give you advice on how to change your eating habits to get the best nutritional value. This will enable you to keep your body and muscle mass and enable you to be active longer. Nutrition services are provided free of charge. Overview About the Nutritionist Diet & HIV Infection Food Safety Weight Concerns Gastrointestinal Symptoms Lipodystrophy Website Resources Social Work The social workers at the Southern Alberta Clinic are available to help with any aspect relating to HIV. Social workers can help with a wide variety of issues ranging from basic needs such as income support programs, to counselling around diagnosis adjustment and partner/family/relationships. Overview Counselling & Support Services Financial Programs & Support Paying for Drugs Paying for Drugs: Alberta Health and Wellness pays 100% of the cost of licensed HIV drugs that have been approved and listed on the provincial drug list. You must have a valid Alberta Personal Health care number to obtain HIV drugs free of charge. Lab and Blood Work Lab and Blood Work: Lab tests and blood work is done through Calgary Lab Services at either the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre, Foothills Medical Centre or Peter Lougheed Centre. Some rural hospitals are also available. Routine blood work should be done two weeks prior to your appointment. Research Research: The Southern Alberta Clinic monitors its success in ensuring that research studies are accessed by all different groups attending our clinic. Patients attending the clinic are invited to participate in many aspects of research. Pregnancy & HIV Pregnancy & HIV: If you are pregnant and HIV-positive, here is what you need to know about your HIV treatment and how to protect your baby from contracting HIV. Alberta Public Health Act & HIV/AIDS Alberta Public Health Act & HIV/AIDS: Since HIV is a notifiable disease under the Public Health Act, any sexual and/or injection drug partners you have had since you became infected with HIV will be contacted and offered HIV testing. Find out your responsibilities regarding sexual and injection drug-sharing activities. Failure to obey the law may result in criminal charges. Related Pages Definition of HIV & AIDS Seroconversion Illness Clinic Protocols: Desensitization to Septra or Bactrim Protocol Clinic Protocols: Immunization Clinic Policy: Missed Appointments Clinic Policy: Moving to a New Province Clinic Policy: Travelling or Living Abroad for Extended Periods Drug Information Sheets Community Resources HIV/AIDS Glossary HIV Testing Sites
	E-mail comments to Southern Alberta HIV Clinic Webmaster. Page last updated on: January 23, 2009