Infectious Diseases Clinic The Infectious Diseases Clinic provides treatment through the coordinated efforts of a care team.
During your office visit, you will meet with a physician and a nurse provider. They'll evaluate your health care needs, ordering tests and answering any questions you may have. They will also call on the services of other members of the Infectious Diseases health care team when needed. For example, if you have insurance issues that need to be addressed, a social worker is available to see you. If you have any questions about drug interactions, you may see our pharmacist. If you are interested in participating in a clinical research trial, a research nurse will be available to assist you.
Medications can be refilled during clinic visits. Please bring all your medication bottles, or a list of medications, to every office visit. If you will not have enough medications to last until then, call your physician's secretary or nurse provider to call in a refill to your pharmacy. Please call before you run out, and allow 24 hours for refills to be handled by telephone.
The treatment of HIV may require many blood tests and x-rays. Some studies are very specialized and the results may take a few weeks to return. If you have any questions about your test results, or would like a copy of the results mailed to you, call your nurse provider or physician's secretary. They will be happy to assist you and, if necessary, contact your physician for other information you may need.
Hospitalization In the event that hospitalization is needed, we try to make arrangements to admit you to the Infectious Diseases unit (I-2), located on the second floor of Henry Ford Hospital. This unit is staffed by Infectious Diseases physicians and an HIV Clinical Care Coordinator who will facilitate outpatient follow-up care and provide assistance with any needs you may have after discharge.
The care of our patients is of the utmost importance. This continuity of care approach between the inpatient and outpatient settings provides an added link between patients and the primary care provider team.
If you are admitted into the hospital through the Emergency Room, we may not know you are in the hospital. If this happens, please call us directly or ask the inpatient physician to contact us. If arrangements cannot be made to transfer you to the I-2 unit, an Infectious Diseases physician will work with the inpatient physician in managing your care. If you are ever hospitalized, please call your Infectious Diseases physician at 313-916-2556.
Partners Testing The Infectious Diseases Clinic offers a partners HIV testing and counseling service, available during clinic hours or by appointment.
Notification If you test positive, it is important that you understand that this infection is not passed to another person through casual contact.
Michigan law requires that you notify any new partner of your status prior to having sex with them. Past sexual and needle-sharing partners also should be notified so that they can also be counseled and offered testing. If requested, your local health department will assist you in notifying partners.
Inform all health care providers, both medical and dental, who are providing treatment, about your HIV infection. This will help them care for you. The law prohibits health care providers from refusing to treat you based upon your HIV infection.
Recent studies have shown that the administration of antiretroviral medications to HIV-infected women during their pregnancy may reduce the risk of transmission from mother to newborn by about two-thirds. If you know you are infected with HIV and pregnant, you should consult with your health care provider.
Be careful about discussing your HIV status with others. Some people may not understand the nature of the infection or how it is actually spread. This may lead to misunderstanding and create problems for you with friends, co-workers, or others.
Confidentiality Thirty-three states, including Michigan, have enacted confidentiality statutes relating to a person's HIV status. The Rights of People Who are HIV Positive, Michigan's Confidentiality Statute MCLA 333.5131, includes the following:
General Rule: All reports, records, and data pertaining to testing, care, treatment, reporting, research and information pertaining to partner notification associated with HIV are confidential.
Physician-Patient Privilege: Ordering an HIV test, the taking of a test and the results of a test are all protected under PPP.
Exceptions:
Court Order/Subpoena: A court may issue an order or subpoena disclosing the information but the court must first determine that (1) there is no other way to obtain the information or it would not be effective, and (2) that the public interest outweighs the potential injury to the person. Any order must:
limit the disclosure only to the essential part of the record;
limit disclosure to only those who need to know;
include other measures to limit the disclosure for the person's protection.
To the Legislature: If reporting to the legislature but the person's identity may not be disclosed.
To a physician or local health officer of a person known to be contact of person who is HIV+: If the physician or health officer determines disclosure is necessary to prevent a foreseeable risk of further transmission.
Affirmative duty to disclose. Physician and local health officers have an affirmative duty to disclose. This duty may be discharged by referring the individual who is HIV infected to the appropriate local health department for assistance with partner notification. (Because referring the individual to the Partner Notification Program may discharge this duty, it is never a good idea to disclose the person's status. Doing so could result in a lawsuit and the person disclosing risks having a judge or jury disagrees with his/her decision to disclose.)
By anyone to an authorized representative of the health department or health care provider for one of the reasons below: The disclosure shall not contain the identity of the individual except when the individual making the disclosure determines that disclosure is reasonably necessary to prevent a foreseeable risk of transmission.
Protect the health of an individual
Prevent further transmission of HIV
Diagnose and care for a patient.
Health department to an employee of a school district: The health department will inform school districts if they feel there is a danger. (A child that is HBV or HIV+ and has the tendency to bite is an example.)
Authorized by the individual: The authorization must be specific to HIV/AIDS.
If there is a statute that requires it: Test results that requires it: Test results to health department 333.5114; Partner notification by health department (MCLA 333.51 14a); Marriage License Applicants (MCLA333.5119 (3)); First responders (MCLA 333.20191); Child protection laws (722.621 to 722.636) and Child placement. Any individual arrested or charged with an offense involving prostitution, criminal sexual conduct, use of IV drugs (MCLA 333.5129); exposure of corrections department employees to blood or bodily fluids of prisoners; request for HIV or HBV infection testing (MCLA 791.267b).
Henry Ford Hospital Infectious Diseases Clinic Clara Ford Pavilion - First Floor
2799 West Grand Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 916-2556 (phone)
(313) 916-2993 (fax)
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
After Hours support is available. Call (313) 916-2600 and ask for the on-call Infectious Diseases Physician.
