America Living With AIDS

Educating Caregivers
HIV education and training programs
for health care providers must be
improved and expanded, and better
methods developed to disseminate
state-of-the-art clinical information to
the full range of health care providers,
including physicians, nurses, physicians' assistants, social workers, psychologists, and other health and mental health care providers. The AIDS
Education and Training Centers, federally funded by the Health Resources
and Services Administration, have the
potential for training thousands of
care providers. Education and training
programs will require the combined
support of government agencies and
professional associations. Primary
care providers must be trained in HIV
care, and specialty backup of technical
advice and consultation must be provided. A few states have made continuing medical education in HIV care a
condition of relicensure. Some medical professional associations have
developed extensive training programs. But they should not be expected to carry the full load.
A greater sense of urgency is necessary in the development and dissemination of professional standards of
care for HIV disease. The Agency for
Health Care Policy and Research has
just begun to develop standards of
clinical care for asymptomatic HIV
infection. Professional associations of
health care workers, with mechanisms
in place for reaching their memberships, have a key role to play in standard setting.
Fellowship programs and career
development awards for individuals

devoted to the care of people with HIV
disease are ways of rewarding professionals and helping to establish role
models for subsequent trainees. Career
development and career advancement
for individuals who choose to make
AIDS care and education a
significant part of their
professional life should be
available. N
The adoption of "uni- would see me,
versal precautions"- infection. On
avoidance of exposure to me that his offic
blood and body fluids and he would
regardless of whether or sterilize the r(
not patients or health care visit. A second i
workers are believed to be she had plants
infected-provides the take the risk oj
best means of minimizing her plants and
risks from HIV for both her other
patients and caregivers in
the health care setting. RONALD
Health care workers July J
should be encouraged to
adhere vigorously to
guidelines for infection
control. Concerted efforts must be
made to work with health professionals
at the earliest stages of training on attitudinal issues and ways to best manage
occupational risks. Medical schools,
dental schools, nursing schools, and
schools of allied health should incorporate into their required curricula
training on proper ways to avoid risks
from blood-borne pathogens. Such
programs must be continued during
postgraduate training when young
professionals form lifelong habits of
practice.

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