Health News
Sinai Hospital?s Rapid HIV program is helping more Baltimore citizens learn their status.
The program, which allows those in Sinai ER-7 to have a quick free test to learn whether they are HIV positive, recently received funding to continue for another three years. The program began in 2008.
?The program as a whole is testing more people than expected,? says Penny Green, Rapid HIV Program Coordinator. There have been about 8,193 people tested as of November 30, 2010 and 69 of those were HIV positive. When people are HIV positive, the sooner they learn their status, the sooner they can begin treatment and increase their life expectancy, as well as reduce the chance of spreading the disease to someone else.
Many people are reassured by the results of being negative, and Green follows up with those who are positive, connecting them to the services offered at Sinai. Those who are positive are also tested for syphilis.
While there are other sites in the city offering free HIV testing, the program is a convenient way to offer the test, especially for those who would not have sought out testing otherwise.
?There?s a gap in routine testing and we are meeting that need,? says Carine Chen-McLaughlin, case management coordinator. ?There?s no stigma and it?s less threatening to people, as they are already here.?
To find additional information on free HIV testing in Baltimore, click here.
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Health News
Sinai-ER Offers Rapid HIV Testing
Sinai Hospital?s Rapid HIV program is helping more Baltimore citizens learn their status.
The program, which allows those in Sinai ER-7 to have a quick free test to learn whether they are HIV positive, recently received funding to continue for another three years. The program began in 2008.
?The program as a whole is testing more people than expected,? says Penny Green, Rapid HIV Program Coordinator. There have been about 8,193 people tested as of November 30, 2010 and 69 of those were HIV positive. When people are HIV positive, the sooner they learn their status, the sooner they can begin treatment and increase their life expectancy, as well as reduce the chance of spreading the disease to someone else.
Many people are reassured by the results of being negative, and Green follows up with those who are positive, connecting them to the services offered at Sinai. Those who are positive are also tested for syphilis.
While there are other sites in the city offering free HIV testing, the program is a convenient way to offer the test, especially for those who would not have sought out testing otherwise.
?There?s a gap in routine testing and we are meeting that need,? says Carine Chen-McLaughlin, case management coordinator. ?There?s no stigma and it?s less threatening to people, as they are already here.?
To find additional information on free HIV testing in Baltimore, click here.
- Pharmacies To Offer Free Hiv Tests As Part Of Pilot Program; No Ky. Locations Chosen Yet
Getting tested for HIV may soon be as easy as going to the pharmacy to get a flu shot or blood pressure check. Pharmacies in 24 cities and rural communities will offer rapid HIV tests free of charge as part of a $1.2 million program. Testing is already...
- Monday, June 27 Is National Hiv Testing Day
Kentuckians are being encouraged to find out their HIV status on Monday, June 27, National HIV Testing Day. About 1,700 Kentuckians were diagnosed with HIV between Jan. 1, 2005 and Dec. 31, 2009. About 1 in 3 Kentucky adults under the age of 65...
- Idaho Study: Drug Testing For State-aid Recipients Inefficient
As discussion continues among Kentucky lawmakers over whether public-assistance recipients should undergo mandatory drug testing, an Idaho study has concluded such an undertaking is not cost-effective. "The costs of legal action alone during the first...
- A New Strategy In Fighting Hiv
Tuesday?s announcement of a new national policy of addressing HIV and AIDS has inspired optimism among many Baltimore health care workers. The White House report, available here, announced several goals, including lowering the rate of new cases of HIV...
- Sinai Hospital Auxiliary Awards Grant To Comprehensive Sports Concussion Program
The Comprehensive Sports Concussion Program (CSCP) at LifeBridge Health has been awarded a $5,800 grant by the Sinai Hospital Auxiliary. Designed to diagnose and treat sports-related concussions with the most optimal treatment, the CSCP is a collaboration...