Dr David Koren: It's Important for Providers to Empower Patients With HIV

Providers should make sure patients are involved in treatment decision-making, said David E. Koren, PharmD, MPH, BCPS, AAHIVP, FIDSA, infectious disease clinical pharmacist at Temple University Hospital.

Transcript

What conversations should pharmacists have with patients and providers to ensure the best care for HIV?

As patients and providers work together, I think it's really important that providers empower the patients as much as possible, particularly among patient populations that may have traditionally been left behind by the American health care system.

Making sure that patients are a part of treatment decision-making, giving the patient as much information as possible, and making sure to emphasize the fact that receiving the medication in the case of long-acting injectables [will] not only be beneficial to their health, but also re-emphasizing the fact again and again and again that undetectable equals untransmissible, or U=U, which is a major part that we can do to decrease the stigma for those living with HIV.