PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
The Pandemic Should Not Delay the Diagnosis of other Serious Infections or Access to Treatment
Advantageous Testing Conditions Our screening program continues to respond to all testing requests until maximum capacity is reached : every 30 minutes , someone finds their status at the Foundation ’ s testing centers . The service remains free , voluntary , fast and confidential . Test teams provide identical pre- and post-test counseling services both at Baylor Black Sea Foundation ’ s centers and in the field . Baylor Foundation Romania makes sure this way that access to screening is provided in various communities : we ’ re present not only at our testing centers but in hospitals , universities , offices of companies that request our service , homes for the elderly and children , detention centers as well . In 2020 , at the end of the state of emergency , the testing program was resumed only after we made sure that it would run safely both for people who are being tested voluntarily or on the doctor ’ s recommendation and for the testing team . Thus , new rules have been established to reduce the risk of infection with the new coronavirus : Thus , strict rules were communicated to the beneficiaries :
• scheduling time : any delay will result in the cancellation of the test and reschedule , depending on the available spots ,
• waiver of companions : if their presence is not absolutely necessary ( legal representative ),
• strict control of the number of people in the waiting rooms at the same time ,
• the correct wearing of personal protective equipment , mask and footwear , as well as the use of hand sanitizer , all of which are available free of charge at the entrances to the buildings or testing sites ,
• strictly follow the instructions received from the staff of the center - receptionist , counselor , medical staff , etc ., throughout the time spent in the center , in order to limit unnecessary exposure to risks ,
• reducing the time spent in the office by completing the Hep-HIV risk assessment questionnaire in advance , the session being led by phone by the test counselor . “ The current sanitary context put us , in May , in front of a challenge , namely that of reorganizing the testing activity , at the end of the state of emergency . Then , in May , we marked as we hope , the only interruption in the history of the voluntary and free-of-charge testing program that we run in the community ; the program can be accessed by anyone who wants to know their Hep-HIV status . Testing for HIV and viral hepatitis continues at Baylor Black Sea Foundation , with prior appointment , proceedings the service recipients are already accustomed to . We have taken all measures to ensure the safety of staff and have established a set of rules to limit the transmission of COVID-19 to the beneficiaries of the HIV-Hep counseling and testing service . Recent data show that coordinated action is needed to encourage people not yet tested for Hep-HIV to schedule a test appointment and avoid having certain infections diagnosed late .” - Iuliana Ciocea , Patient Navigator
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