Last October, POZ Maga- zine published an article en- titled ”Love Your Doc? POZ Readers Tell Why." The piece summarized the results of a survey of the magazine's HIV- positive readership, reducing their voluminous responses down to a few essential prin- ciples by which we PWA’s can evaluate the medical care we receive. V These are the basic issues to con- sider when you are selecting a doctor or thinking about switching pro- viders: 1. You need to feel com- fortable with your doctor. You _need to trust him. Be aware that your doctor is essentially your employee. It’ s your health that’ s on the line. ”Above all, will this person be judgmental about your life? Run for the hills at the first raised eye- brow... If [your doctor] isn't open-minded about comple- mentary strategies you find useful, watch out for difficulties down the road." But bear in - mind also that ”a doctor should be able to tell you what you don't want to hear when you need to hear it most." 2. In some way, shape or form, your doctor gets paid for seeing you. You have a right, regardless of your financial circumstances, to be treated like a fully paying customer. Your doctor should be willing to go all out to get you the treat- ment you want. You should never hear, ”You can't afford that,” or "T hat drug is too dif- ficult for you to get.” Or, worst of all, ”I refuse to help you ex- plore that treatment option.” 3. A caregiver's willing- ness to spend as much time as needed reviewing new infor- mation, answering questions or explaining a test — again and again if needed — might be more important than get- ting to the train on time. In other words, delays are the likely price you'll pay for the quality of service your condi- tion dernands. A good patient must be patient, so on this point, cut your doctor a little slack. 4. Your physician must be willing to involve you in your own care. According to the poll, this was crucial to nearly every PWA who re- Sponded. Your doctor must be Willing to listen to your ideas and say "I don't know” if you have questions she doesn't have the answers to. There is so much happening so quickly on the research front, that a good doctor will often need to do Some homework to keep you “P to date. But you must not be afraid to challenge her. A good Physician ”understands that, While expected to suggest a Well-informed course of action, the final decision is yours." 5. Given the immense psychological needs and emo- tional complexity of life with HIV, things personal can't be entirely ignored. Your doctor should be willing to talk to you about the impact of HIV on any and all facets of your life. Here again, if you sense that he is uncomfortable with or dismiss- ive of your concerns, get outta there. 6. No person with HIV can afford to receive medical care that is not absolutely state-of-the-art from a physi- cian who is not up-to-the- minute in the latest develop- ments in the use of new drugs. An AIDS practitioner who de- scribes her methodology as "conservative” is in the wrong line of work and would do well to go into podiatry, or some specialty where lives are not on the line. Information of this kind, gleaned from the direct experi- ence of other PWA’s across the country and around the world, is one of the most vital re- sources we have in our continu- ing struggle to stay healthy and survive this epidemic. Here in Vermont, where the HIV—posi— tive population is relatively small and widely dispersed, it is doubly important that we strive to share what we've learned in order to bolster one another on a road that is very hard and at times can seem ter- ribly lonely. In the past, I've made no secret of my concerns with the policies of Fletcher Allen's Comprehensive Care Clinic. Roughly a year ago, I left Fletcher Allen and began get- ting primary treatment for my HIV at the Burlington Commu- nity Health Center. It wasn't an easy. decision to make. The fa- cilities of the Health Center seemed pretty humble in com- parison to the solid, institu- tional atmosphere of the CCC. Furthermore, the case-load of HIV-positive patients at the Health Center is small next to the hundreds of PWA’s who pass through the CCC. ” But, on every one of the above points, the Health Cen- ter has scored a perfect 10. My primary care provider, David Heckscher, like everyone I've dealt with at the Health Center, is totally committed to my re- ceiving the very best care I can get. He treats me with respect and sensitivity and we have an excellent rapport. Our relation- ship.is fundamentally informa- . -. tive and reciprocal. When I've expressed interest in treatment strategies he's not familiar with, he gets on the "Warm Line” to San Francisco General Hospital and finds out what we need to know. David is already very knowledgeable when it comes to HIV, yet it is not uncommon for him to speak with these ex- perts for one or two hours at a time to ferret out the possible causes" of difficulties I've en- countered with medications and their side—effects. Further- more, with the help of Pat Parker, the Health Center's resi- dent social worker, he makes damn sure Iget the medications and counseling I need, whether I can afford to pay for them or not. David doesn't pull any punches. If he feels that I'm not handling some aspect of my health as well as I might be, he gives it to me right between the eyes. He does not judge me on any level. When I walk into that somewhat shabby little build- ing on Riverside Avenue, I know that I'm getting the best medical care available any- where. I am in charge of my treatment and I have a first—rate team behind me. And I am pleased to say that the proof is indeed in the pudding. I've never felt better in my life. HIV—related issues aside, the Community Health Center is predicated on, and lives up to, sound principles of social- ized medicine. You only pay what you can afford. Whatever your gender, age, sexual pref- erence or cultural background, you will get the same thorough attention and prompt treat- ment. My partner and I go the Health Center weekly for Vita- min B-12 and testosterone shots. It is always a treat, no matter how grumpy we may be beforehand, to be there. We've gotten to know all the nurses and the staff at the front desk and we're greeted with good humor and genuine warmth every time we see them. Never underestimate the power of human kindness. It's all the more impressive, considering the long hours these excellent folks put in. (I must add that Nancy, who commands the ap- pointment desk, is a goddess. I . firmly believe that two minute's conversation with this woman, once a week, will bring anyone's viral load down a notch or two.) HIV is an affliction of both the body and the soul. Make sure your medical team _ is up to the task. At the Burlington Community Health Center, you will be treated fully and well. It is definitely worth checking out. Tell ’em.lohn.sent. . yOU. Vvitomin CCCOOOCCOCCC Knowlo OUT IN THE MOUNTAINS — SEPTEMBER 1998 -— 23 Now offering: A therapeutic support group for women coming out of heterosexual marriages andlor lifestyles to identify as lesbian. DIANE LEARDI. Llcsw Counseling ' 5‘qCl'\oi‘.l1eT'apq dgealllr» 5 , pfOl(lSlQlf)llQl 9.ervit-.0 0 am. Mon-Sat H)-6 \°/ 3453‘-3590 ' (807) 254-7345 Brattleboro, VT 0530:‘ VERMONT’S FINEST Vitamins onnection 3 Herbs - Homeopothics - Books - Bodq Core - Pet Care l-800- 760-C5020 Lower Main Street ,Downtown Burlington Across From the Downhill Edge Mail Order Worldwide www.»VitaminConnection.com Feng Shui Harmony Learn to arrange your home and office to create harmony and prosperity in your life. 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