For patients living with HIV or AIDS, seeing a physician for regular check-ups is just one aspect of care. That was the central idea behind the creation of Life Forward, a comprehensive program connecting patients in Brooklyn and beyond with tailored medical, mental health, and social services. “We created Life Forward to expand HIV and AIDS care beyond physicians seeing patients, performing labs, and prescribing medications,” explains Monica Ghitan, MD, Associate Director for Infectious Diseases and Medical Director of the program at Maimonides Medical Center. “We intentionally emphasize all aspects of care, beyond the infection alone.”
Approximately 300 patients are served by the program, which recently expanded to include patients with hepatitis C, often seen as a co-infection in patients with HIV. Patients work with a coordinator who helps to create a personalized care plan following a complete evaluation of medical, nutritional, and behavioral needs. Other than referrals to social service agencies to support needs such as housing or food, any referrals—such as to counselors or medical specialists—are kept within the Maimonides Health network.
Importantly, participants in Life Forward are all seen by a physician in a private-practice setting, and a coordinator helps patient navigate insurance options, including government-funded insurance offered to every patient diagnosed with HIV. An on-site pharmacist is a crucial member of the Life Forward care team, communicating with patients regarding side effects and helping them to incorporate medications into their daily routines.
“Often our patients will be asymptomatic, so even a minor side effect of their medication regimen can discourage them from taking it,” explains Dr. Ghitan. “Our pharmacists call patients to check-in, remind them to take the medications, and answer any questions they may have.”
With consistent adherence to today’s available medications to treat HIV, adds Dr. Ghitan, the majority of patients can expect a normal quality of life—which is why medication management remains a centerpiece of the Life Forward program. For more information or to enroll a patient, call (718) 283-5912.
