title: Missed Opportunities for HIV Diagnosis.
abstract: It has been previously shown that patients may present for multiple health issues in the years preceding their initial HIV diagnosis. This retrospective cohort study analyzed the data of patients with a new HIV diagnosis, at Ochsner Health System between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2012. The primary end point was missed opportunities, the number of healthcare visits these patients made in the 2 years prior to being diagnosed with HIV. The 125 patients in the study cohort had 649 healthcare visits during which an HIV test was not performed. These missed opportunities are the key to capturing the undiagnosed and unaware HIV-positive individual. Primary care is an ideal setting to conduct HIV testing for those who have access to regular health care. However, nontraditional providers should also be encouraged to conduct HIV testing regardless of their ability to provide treatment because evidence shows that knowledge of the diagnosis may change behavior.
authors: 1 Department of Internal Medicine, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA, USA.
authors: Asia
authors: A
authors: Downing
authors: 2 Department of Infectious Diseases, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA, USA.|3 Ochsner Clinical School, The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
authors: Julia B
authors: JB
authors: Garcia-Diaz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: AIDS; HIV; cost of illness; delayed diagnoses; health services accessibility