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INFORMATION AND EDUCATION SERVICES
Hall Health Primary Care Center (HHPCC) offers a variety of information regarding Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Medical Consultation
A medical consultation visit with a Hall Health, Primary Care Center health care provider is available to all currently registered students at no charge. If you have questions or concerns that you want to discuss in person about any of your health care needs, including HIV, AIDS, or any sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), make an appointment to speak with one of our health care providers. Non-students who are managed care patients are responsible for paying co-payments. All other patients are charged a regular consult visit fee.
Wellness Resource Center
This "self-help" clinic is on the second floor of HHPCC, Room 213. It is stocked with brochures, newsletters, books and videos on a wide variety of topics including safer sex, HIV, HIV antibody testing, AIDS, and other STDs. Call 616-8476 for hours of operation. All telephone calls and visits to the Wellness Resource Center are kept anonymous.
HIV/AIDS Education
Health Education Dept. staff are available for individual conferences and Peer Health Educators offer presentations to residence hall groups, sororities, fraternities and other organizations on a variety of topics related to HIV, AIDS, or STDs and their prevention. Call 616-8476 to schedule individual conferences or 543-8006 for more information about available presentations.
Information Hotline (685-AIDS)
This line is staffed by knowledgeable HHPCC personnel who can answer general questions regarding HIV, AIDS or STDs. Callers may also ask to speak directly to a medical professional if they prefer. These calls are handled anonymously.
TESTING SERVICES
Hall Health Primary Care Center offers HIV Antibody Testing on a confidential basis.If you request a confidential HIV antibody test, the test information and results are entered into your medical record. HHPCC maintains your record in a strictly confidential manner.
Test Procedures
Make an appointment to see an HHPCC health care practitioner. If you prefer not to give the reason for the appointment, tell the person scheduling that you would like a "CONFIDENTIAL appointment."
During this visit your practitioner will conduct a pre-test assessment. The clinician will ask you specific questions about your medical history as well as past and present patterns of behavior which could increase or decrease your risk for acquiring the HIV virus or other STDs. The practitioner will then advise you whether or not an HIV antibody test is recommended and why. You will receive an explanation of the test, information about how to interpret test results and suggestions about ways to protect yourself and your sex partner against HIV and other STDs.
If you decide to have the HIV antibody test, a post-test counseling session is scheduled for two weeks later when the results will be available.
During your post-test counseling session, the results of your test will be discussed with you. This session will involve discussion of a variety of topics that depend on the test results. If your results are negative, your provider will answer your questions and discuss risk factors and risk factor reduction with you. If your results are positive, your provider is there for emotional support and will discuss options and referrals, and answer any questions you may have.
If your HIV test is positive and you do not return for post-HIV counseling, your practitioner will attempt to contact you.
COST
There is no charge for any pre- or post-test counseling if you are a currently enrolled UW student. Non-students who are insured should consult their benefit plans for coverage. Those not insured will be billed accordingly.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Hall Health Primary Care Center maintains referral lists of community HIV-related services. We can give you the names of organizations that provide services such as support groups, in-home or long term care, or crisis information. For information' about additional testing locations in Seattle, call the HIV/STD Information Hotline: (206) 205-7837.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Hall Health Primary Care Center adheres strongly to strict confidentiality and non-disclosure policies to protect the information in your medical records. Information cannot be released from your medical record to anyone (including parents, employers, instructors, friends, domestic partners, or spouses) without your written consent (except as permitted by law). This includes dates of service, diagnosis, treatments or procedures. In addition, any information in your medical record relating to the diagnosis or treatment of STDs, HIV, AIDS, drug/alcohol use or addiction, or mental illness must be specifically identified on requests for your medical records and cannot be released with a general release statement.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL:
Consulting Nurse 206-221-2517
Mental Health Clinic 206-543-5030
Patient Services Center (Appointments & Registration) 206-616-2495
Peer Health Educators 206-543-8006
Wellness Resource Center 206-616-8476
Women's Clinic 206-685-1031
AIDS Information Hotline 206-685-AIDS
University of Washington Policy on Human Immunodeficiency Virus
This policy is intended to provide basic information to members of the campus community about the ways in which the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the causative factor leading to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), is transmitted. It is also designed to make the academic community aware of the fundamental principles which will govern University-sponsored clinical and educational activities relating to HIV infection and AIDS and to ensure that confirmed or suspected cases of infection are managed appropriately.
Extensive medical research indicates that the HIV is not transmitted through casual contact. Transmission requires intimate sexual contact or exposure to needles associated with intravenous drug abuse, to blood or blood products, or to other body fluids. Accordingly, legal and ethical considerations militate against the adoption of any policies or courses of action which would deny ordinary privileges and rights, including that of privacy, to students, faculty or staff members who are known or suspected to be infected with the HIV.
The University shall disseminate accurate and objective educational information on the HIV and AIDS to the campus community. The University will also make available to eligible persons appropriate clinical services, including testing and counseling, and will make referrals as necessary to other health-care agencies.
Administrative responsibility for implementing this policy is assigned to the Director of Hall Health Primary Care Center. The Director will be advised by a committee composed of the Director of Environmental Health and Safety, the Executive Director of Health Sciences Administration, the Director of Personnel Services, the Vice President for Student Affairs and an ex-officio representative of the Office of the Attorney General. The committee may call upon other members of the University community for assistance.
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