FRIDAY, May 14, 2010 (HealthDay News) -- A new U.S. survey, touted as the first of its kind, reveals that primary care doctors are taking over a larger share of care for people with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Fifty-four percent of primary care doctors surveyed said they treat HIV-positive patients, and 43 percent said the number of HIV cases they treat had increased over the past year.
Among primary care physicians who treat HIV-positive patients, more than one-third said they see more than 200 cases a year.
"The state of HIV primary care is evolving rapidly, with serious implications for the health-care system," Brian Hujdich, executive director of HealthHIV, the organization that commissioned the report, said in a news release.
Hujdich called on more medical education for primary care doctors so they can provide better care.
HealthHIV, located in Washington, D.C., is a non-profit organization that provides education, technical assistance and health services research to organizations, communities and professionals to advance the care and support for people living with, or at risk for, HIV/AIDS.
The report, based on a national survey of 1,165 respondents, will be presented in July at the International AIDS Conference in Vienna.
More information
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides information about HIV/AIDS at AIDS.gov.
