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Improving HIV/AIDS services through palliative care: An HRSA perspective

Journal of Urban Health volume 77, pages 244–254 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

There has been a dramatic shift of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrom (HIV/AIDS) epidemic into poor, marginalized, and minority communities in the US. At the same time, the availability of new highly active antiretroviral treatments has made it possible for a large number of individuals to live for a much longer time with their disease. A net result is that the US is faced with an increasing number of people who are living with HIV/AIDS and are dependent on publicly supported health care services. In this paper, we review the palliative care efforts of the federal agency, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), responsible for providing Ryan White CARE Act HIV/AIDS care to medically underserved populations. In addition to supporting traditional hospice care, HRSA's HIV/AIDS Bureau has begun a series of initiatives that apply a broader concept of palliative care to its HIV programs in hospital-and community-based settings. Our interest is not to substitute palliation for access to new HIV therapies, such as highly active antiretroviral treatments, but to ensure that our health delivery systems attend to the alleviation of symptoms and suffering along with the provision of antiretroviral and other necessary treatments. HRSA's HIV/AIDS Bureau is organizing a broader provision of palliative care for its clients and actively contributing to improving care for the disenfrachised internationally.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. HIV/AIDS Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishert Lane, Room 7A-07, 20857, Rockville, MD

    Joseph F. O'Neill MD, MPH

Authors
  1. Joseph F. O'Neill MD, MPH
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  2. Katherine Marconi PhD.
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  3. Ann Surapruik MPH
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  4. Nancy Blum MPH, MA
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Additional information

The authors are from the HIV/AIDS Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, HRSA.

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O'Neill, J.F., Marconi, K., Surapruik, A. et al. Improving HIV/AIDS services through palliative care: An HRSA perspective. J Urban Health 77, 244–254 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02390535

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02390535

Keywords

  • Palliative Care
  • Health Care Service
  • Federal Agency
  • Health Resource
  • Broad Concept