Treating HIV or AIDS is complicated because each person is unique and different AND medical treatment changes often. At every state of the diseases, choices have to be considered and some may be hard to make, especially when complications arise.

Many patients do better in addressing their own health care when they take an active role in treatment plans and that could include choosing a provider. Asking others is one of the first steps that you might consider when you are seeking a provider. Ask the provider who tested you or the provider who gave you the results, or ask other people living with HIV, to refer you to a provider who understands the needs and care that is required of those living with HIV/AIDS.

Make sure you take some of the following into consideration when you choose a provider; it may help you avoid anxieties, frustrations, discouragements, and disappointments:

• Training and experience of provider: make sure that they have experience in treating other people at different stages of HIV disease AND that they are knowledgeable about the disease, treatment and research.
• Approach to treating HIV/AIDS: find out if they are conservative in how they provide treatment, do they rely on traditional science-proven methods? Or are they aggressive in their approach by trying new and experimental treatments? Are they optimistic by being hopeful when they treat and interact with their patients? Are they realistic? Or are they pessimistic? How long have they been treating HIV patients and how many are they currently seeing?
• Rapport with other patients: Ask others (see list above) to see if providers are available when you need to see or reach them. Will they be respectful of your decisions? Will they explain your treatment and provide educational information when you do not understand? Are they culturally competent and respectful?

Adapted from Adherence Issues from the HIV Insite website and www.aids.org Fact Sheet.