Southern Alberta HIV Clinic

Information for Professionals

Education Opportunities

Education Opportunities

The Southern Alberta Clinic attempts to provide education and information regarding HIV to both the general public and a broad range of health care professionals within our region. Health care requests for training for routine staff may entail the supervisor submitting a request defining objectives and expectations from the training.

Physician Education

Physicians who are undergoing residency training at The University of Calgary in the programs of Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Community Health Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology may elect to spend some time in the clinic to gain experience in the area of HIV/AIDS. This training usually entails seeing patients during a regular clinic and reviewing the history, physical findings and care plan with the patient and the preceptor. The preceptor is a regular member of the Southern Alberta Clinic medical staff.

Experience in HIV care is also available for primary care physicians based in southern Alberta who wish to familiarize themselves with the patient population, the disease manifestations, the drugs currently used and the potential side effects and the operational aspects of a central clinic working collaboratively with the primary care physician.

The aim of the sessions is to train physicians to be knowledgeable and comfortable in HIV disease management who can act as resources and leaders in the local communities regarding all health issues and HIV.

In addition to this hands-on experience, a formal 1/2 day CME updates are offered in conjunction with the University of Calgary CME office. For details call (403) 220-7240.

Social Work

The Southern Alberta Clinic provides practicum field placements for social workers in the MSW course at the University of Calgary. Field work includes crisis support and referral, community practice, family/couples, group work, individual casework/counselling, program evaluation/research, social action/advocacy, social planning/policy development in the context of HIV care. The students work with a multidisciplinary team handling crisis, income security and referral issues. Opportunities exist to work with diverse minority groups.

Dietitian

Dietetic Interns

All dietetic interns within the CRHA receive a two hour in-service provided by the clinic's nursing staff, social workers and dietitian. This provides an introduction to the disease, it's etiology and demographics, a review of outpatient care of the HIV-positive client and the services available to them, specifically referral to the dietitian and the basic principles of nutritional care in HIV infection. Dietetic interns with the CRHA also have the opportunity to spend a two-day elective with the clinic dietitian. The intern will work within the
multi-disciplinary environment of the clinic and participate in the nutritional care of HIV-positive clients, including anthropometric measurements, bioelectrical impedance analysis and computer analysis of nutrient intake. Dietetic interns outside of the CRHA can spend one or two days at the clinic as part of an elective.

Registered Dietitians

An overview of outpatient care can be arranged if a dietitian wishes to spend one day in the clinic. Health care professionals who visit the Southern Alberta Clinic can discuss nutritional care of the HIV-positive client with the clinic dietitian.

General

Presentations have been given to client groups, volunteers, students, health professional and medical staff. The topics covered are as follows:

Role of dietitian in the care of the HIV-positive individual.
Principles of nutrition and HIV infection.
Practical aspects of nutritional care, meal planning and symptom management.
Issues of weight loss, changes in body composition and assessment techniques.
Food safety and meal preparation hints.

Pharmacy

Pharmacy Residents

Pharmacy residents with the CRHA have an opportunity to spend a two week elective rotation with the clinical pharmacist. During this time period, the resident learns about HIV and opportunistic infections with primary emphasis on drug therapy. The resident will be involved in medication related activities within the clinic setting, including medication counseling and therapy monitoring.

General

Presentations on medication therapies and the pharmacist's role in the care of the HIV-positive individual are given to health care professionals, residents and students. The clinic pharmacist is also involved in providing written drug information in the form of hand-outs, charts, and publications as well as part of the website and newsletters.

Nursing

The nursing staff at the Southern Alberta Clinic offer educational support to other health care professionals in southern Alberta caring for patients affected by HIV/AIDS. Our goal is to support the care and management of HIV-positive individuals in the community. The clinic nurses are available to provide either formal or informal instruction to those involved with HIV/AIDS patients.

Some of the educational/instructional topics that have been provided include:

In-servicing small groups on the basics of disease progression, opportunistic infections, treatments and protocols.
Role of the Southern Alberta Clinic in caring for HIV/AIDS patients.
Clinic orientation on an individual or small group basis, i.e., assist nurses in caring for HIV-positive patients.
Instruction on treatment protocols.
Consultation by phone or fax.
Written literature is available upon request.

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Health care requests for training for routine staff may entail the supervisor submitting a request defining objectives and expectations from the training. Physician Education Physicians who are undergoing residency training at The University of Calgary in the programs of Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Community Health Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology may elect to spend some time in the clinic to gain experience in the area of HIV/AIDS. This training usually entails seeing patients during a regular clinic and reviewing the history, physical findings and care plan with the patient and the preceptor. The preceptor is a regular member of the Southern Alberta Clinic medical staff. Experience in HIV care is also available for primary care physicians based in southern Alberta who wish to familiarize themselves with the patient population, the disease manifestations, the drugs currently used and the potential side effects and the operational aspects of a central clinic working collaboratively with the primary care physician. The aim of the sessions is to train physicians to be knowledgeable and comfortable in HIV disease management who can act as resources and leaders in the local communities regarding all health issues and HIV. In addition to this hands-on experience, a formal 1/2 day CME updates are offered in conjunction with the University of Calgary CME office. For details call (403) 220-7240. Back to top Social Work The Southern Alberta Clinic provides practicum field placements for social workers in the MSW course at the University of Calgary. Field work includes crisis support and referral, community practice, family/couples, group work, individual casework/counselling, program evaluation/research, social action/advocacy, social planning/policy development in the context of HIV care. The students work with a multidisciplinary team handling crisis, income security and referral issues. Opportunities exist to work with diverse minority groups. Back to top Dietitian Dietetic Interns All dietetic interns within the CRHA receive a two hour in-service provided by the clinic's nursing staff, social workers and dietitian. This provides an introduction to the disease, it's etiology and demographics, a review of outpatient care of the HIV-positive client and the services available to them, specifically referral to the dietitian and the basic principles of nutritional care in HIV infection. Dietetic interns with the CRHA also have the opportunity to spend a two-day elective with the clinic dietitian. The intern will work within the multi-disciplinary environment of the clinic and participate in the nutritional care of HIV-positive clients, including anthropometric measurements, bioelectrical impedance analysis and computer analysis of nutrient intake. Dietetic interns outside of the CRHA can spend one or two days at the clinic as part of an elective. Registered Dietitians An overview of outpatient care can be arranged if a dietitian wishes to spend one day in the clinic. Health care professionals who visit the Southern Alberta Clinic can discuss nutritional care of the HIV-positive client with the clinic dietitian. General Presentations have been given to client groups, volunteers, students, health professional and medical staff. The topics covered are as follows: Role of dietitian in the care of the HIV-positive individual. Principles of nutrition and HIV infection. Practical aspects of nutritional care, meal planning and symptom management. Issues of weight loss, changes in body composition and assessment techniques. Food safety and meal preparation hints. Back to top Pharmacy Pharmacy Residents Pharmacy residents with the CRHA have an opportunity to spend a two week elective rotation with the clinical pharmacist. During this time period, the resident learns about HIV and opportunistic infections with primary emphasis on drug therapy. The resident will be involved in medication related activities within the clinic setting, including medication counseling and therapy monitoring. General Presentations on medication therapies and the pharmacist's role in the care of the HIV-positive individual are given to health care professionals, residents and students. The clinic pharmacist is also involved in providing written drug information in the form of hand-outs, charts, and publications as well as part of the website and newsletters. Back to top Nursing The nursing staff at the Southern Alberta Clinic offer educational support to other health care professionals in southern Alberta caring for patients affected by HIV/AIDS. Our goal is to support the care and management of HIV-positive individuals in the community. The clinic nurses are available to provide either formal or informal instruction to those involved with HIV/AIDS patients. Some of the educational/instructional topics that have been provided include: In-servicing small groups on the basics of disease progression, opportunistic infections, treatments and protocols. Role of the Southern Alberta Clinic in caring for HIV/AIDS patients. Clinic orientation on an individual or small group basis, i.e., assist nurses in caring for HIV-positive patients. Instruction on treatment protocols. Consultation by phone or fax. Written literature is available upon request. Back to top Quick Links Return to Information for Professionals Home Back to top
	E-mail comments to Southern Alberta HIV Clinic Webmaster. Page last updated on: January 26, 2009