PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Each 30 Minutes , Someone Finds Out His or Her HIV , HVB , HCV Status at Baylor Black Sea Foundation
“ Carrying out an extensive program to diagnose HIV and hepatitis B and C viruses in a population of over one million people is a success . The partnership with health professionals has led to a steady increase in the number of people referred by family doctors or other specialists to our voluntary counseling and testing centers . But such a result can only be achieved through strategic partnerships with the funders of our programs . We are grateful for all the support Baylor continues to receive !” - Ana-Maria Schweitzer , Executive Director Community health is a constantly changing landscape . The approach of our team is a complex one :
• Since 2007 , we have been at the forefront of diagnosing the HIV infection .
• Since 2009 , the voluntary counseling and testing program has been extended to viral hepatitis B and C .
• We focus our efforts with the same attention to improve the knowledge about the care that our patients need , we aim to develop a professional , trusting relationship with the people receiving long term care ,
• We identify and share with our colleagues from other medical institutions key information on how specific activities can be improved . The voluntary counseling and testing services address to a population exceeding 1 million inhabitants in the Dobrogea region . Baylor Black Sea Foundation considered that the integrated approach is very useful , offering counseling and testing for the three infections . Pre- and post-test counseling sessions constantly lead to a knowledge increase in respect of the risks of infection and measures to prevent such an infection , also helping to determine the way in which a newly diagnosed person may have become infected . “ It is necessary for people to make out of the voluntary testing a current , timely practice of health assessment . Thus , those diagnosed can have access to treatment as close to the date of infection as possible , ensuring that the chances of successful health management are higher . We make sure that those diagnosed find out that they can have access to long-term medical and psychosocial care services at Baylor Foundation Romania and that they can also receive from us navigation services in the public health services system . The modern screening program for viral hepatitis and HIV carried out in Constanța and Tulcea counties has made the Baylor Black Sea Foundation a reliable partner of the community and health professionals in the fight against blood-borne infections . We strive to reach out to all those in the general population who still have undiagnosed infections with hepatitis viruses , as well as to the members of high-risk groups .” - Mihaela Bogdan , program director Baylor Black Sea Foundation has shown that it has the professional capacity to integrate the Hep-HIV screening service into a wider system : thus , we offer long-term care for newly diagnosed people both in Baylor Foundation Romania voluntary counseling and testing centers and other medical institutions . Currently , members of the medical community in Dobrogea rely on Baylor Foundation Romania services to ensure that their patients get the most out of the specialized care services they need for the chronic conditions they suffer from . Newly diagnosed individuals receive a disease assessment and personalized treatment , including non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis and navigation services in the public health system . This “ test and treat ” strategy aims to increase the number of people tested , those diagnosed , causing a decrease in the prevalence of viral hepatitis and HIV and a reduction in the social burden of chronic infections in the Dobrogea region .
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