Testing patients in Vancouver hospitals diagnoses more than 30 people with HIV in first year
December 13, 2012 - VANCOUVER, BC - Doctors and nurses at Vancouver Coastal Health and
Providence Health Care have diagnosed more than 30 patients with HIV in the first year of an HIV testing
pilot in Vancouver hospitals.
Starting in October 2011, staff at St. Paul's (SPH), Vancouver General (VGH), Mount Saint Joseph (MSJ) and UBC (UBCH)
hospitals began offering HIV tests to patients upon admission when other blood tests are ordered. This method of testing is one of
the strategies of the successful four year Seek and Treat for Optimal Prevention of the HIV/AIDS (STOP HIV/AIDS) program, which
the Government of B.C. recently announced will be expanded provincially in 2013.
"HIV does not discriminate," says Dr. Patricia Daly, Chief Medical Health Officer, Vancouver Coastal Health. "The patients
we have diagnosed are women, men, seniors, and are from a range of communities. This reinforces our recommendation that all adults
should have an HIV test as part of their routine health care."
Prior to this pilot, usually only those at known high risk for HIV, such as those who use intravenous drugs, were offered the test.
This pilot has shown that routinely recommending an HIV test upon admission to a hospital is effective at diagnosing people with HIV
and linking people to care.
"Evidence shows that most people newly diagnosed with HIV have had many prior interactions with the health care system
that were missed opportunities for diagnosis," says Dr. Réka Gustafson, Medical Health Officer and Medical Director of Communicable
Disease Control for Vancouver Coastal Health. "We can't stress enough how very crucial early treatment is for those infected.
While HIV is a chronic infection, early treatment prolongs and improves people's lives and reduces transmission to others."
An HIV positive person on their prescribed medication is up to 96 per cent less likely to transmit the infection. It is
estimated there are 3,500 people in British Columbia who are infected with HIV but don't know it.
More than 5,000 patients in Vancouver hospitals had an HIV test between October 2011 and October 2012. Testing has been
well received by patients. Approximately 94% of patients accepted the test when asked by their physician or health care provider.
"We see too many people who are newly diagnosed with HIV, but are already in the advanced stages of the disease," says
Scott Harrison, Program Director, HIV/AIDS and Urban Health at Providence Health Care. "We have an excellent system of support, care
and treatment available in Vancouver, and by increasing access to HIV testing, we hope to fight the stigma associated with HIV and
help people get the care and support they need as quickly as possible."
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is responsible for the delivery of $3 billion in community, hospital and residential
care to more than one million people in communities including Richmond, Vancouver, the North Shore, Sunshine Coast, Sea to Sky
corridor, Powell River, Bella Bella and Bella Coola.
Providence Health Care (PHC) is one of Canada's largest faith-based health care organizations, operating 16 health
care facilities in Greater Vancouver. PHC operates one of two adult academic health science centres in the province, performs
cutting-edge research in more than 30 clinical specialties, and focuses its services on six "populations of emphasis":
cardio-pulmonary risks and illnesses, HIV/AIDS, mental health, renal risks and illness, specialized needs in aging
and urban health and is home to the B.C. Centre
for Excellence in HIV/AIDS.
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CONTACT:
Tiffany Akins
Public Affairs Specialist
Vancouver Coastal Health
Phone: 604-708-5281
Cell: 604-319-7530
tiffany.akins@vch.ca
Dave Lefevbre
Senior Media Relations Specialist
Providence Health Care
Phone: 604-682-2344 ext. 66987
Cell: 604-837-6003
dlefevbre@providencehealth.bc.ca
"Reproduced with permission - "Vancouver Coastal Health"
Vancouver Coastal Health
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