1. Choose A Doctor

There are many providers who specialize in HIV care and are ready to support you. The right doctor will understand HIV, listen to your concerns, respect you, and work with you as a partner in your care. When you feel comfortable with your medical team, it’s easier to stay healthy and get the care you deserve.

When choosing a doctor or clinic, you may want to ask:

• Do you have experience caring for people living with HIV?
• Are you trained or board certified in HIV medicine, infectious diseases, or internal medicine?
• How many patients living with HIV do you currently see?
• How long is the usual wait for an appointment?
• If I have a question or concern, how quickly will someone get back to me?
• Can you help connect me to other services I may need, like mental health care, substance use support, or housing assistance?
• Do you accept my insurance or Medicaid?
• Do you work with New York State programs, such as Ryan White–funded services, to help cover care if I don’t have insurance?

Remember, you have the right to ask questions and choose a provider who feels right for you. Help is available, and you don’t have to navigate HIV care alone.

2. Partnership Is Key

People living with HIV have strong protections, more treatment options, and access to supportive care teams. Building a respectful partnership with your medical team is key to staying healthy.

Once you find the right care team, communicate openly, respect each other, and make every visit count. Missing appointments can disrupt treatment, but outreach staff can help with reminders, transportation, telehealth, and flexible scheduling.

Tips for getting the most out of your visits:

Speak up.
Share what’s working and what isn’t, including side effects or daily challenges.

Keep communication open.
Reschedule missed appointments promptly. Outreach coordinators can help you stay on track.

Come prepared.
Write down questions, symptoms, side effects, missed doses, new medications, or life changes.

Stay informed.
Learn about HIV treatment and support services in New York to make confident decisions.

Your care team is your partner. Outreach workers, case managers, and providers are there to support you —reach out between visits if needed.

3. Staying on Meds Works

HIV treatment is more flexible and effective than ever — often just one pill a day or long-acting injections given monthly or every two months. Outreach teams, case managers, and HIV service programs can help you find and stay on a treatment plan that works for your life.

Taking your medication exactly as prescribed lowers your viral load, protects your immune system, and supports U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable). Skipping doses allow the virus to multiply and can lead to drug resistance.

Stay on track with treatment:

• Take the correct dose at the correct time each day
• Follow food instructions if required
• Use reminders, pillboxes, or pharmacy packaging if helpful
• If you miss a dose, contact your provider, pharmacist, or outreach worker for guidance
• Ask your care team about long-acting injectable options if daily pills are hard to manage

Support is available — staying connected to care makes treatment success more likely.

4. Know Your Numbers

HIV care includes regular lab tests to track your health and make sure your treatment is working. Clinicsand outreach programs can help you schedule labs, understand results, and stay connected to care.

Your first tests create a health “baseline.” Follow-up tests show how your immune system and treatment are doing. Small changes are normal — what matters most is the overall trend.

HIV lab tests check:

• CD4 count (immune system strength)
• Viral load (amount of HIV in your blood)
• Treatment effectiveness (working toward undetectable)
• Kidney, liver, cholesterol, and blood health
• Other related infections

If appointments or labs a re hard to keep, outreach staff can help with reminders, coordination, and support.