- Pay
- $70–109k
- Where
- 1 Clara Barton Drive Albany, NY 12208
- Level
- Mid
Department/Unit:
HBD - Aids Program
Work Shift:
Day (United States of America)
Salary Range:
$70,068.00 - $108,605.00
JOB DESCRIPTION
POSITION TITLE : HIV Counselor and Retention Specialist
DEPARTMENT/DIVISION: Medicine/ HIV Medicine
REPORTS TO: Supervisor of Case Management/ Manager of Client Services
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Provides HIV counseling testing services onsite and in the community. Provides engagement, re-engagement, linkage, referral, and other services to new patients and patients who have fallen out of care (and patients at risk for falling out of care).
HIV Counselor Provides counseling and testing at approved community events, according to established procedure Participates in outreach/ publicity events, as needed and approved by supervisor Provides out-patient HIV pre- and post- test counseling for scheduled or walk-in clients according to established procedure Recognizes signs of HIV sero-conversion and notifies medical provider to assure best practice is followed Serves as liaison to community agencies regarding counseling and testing Maintains stock of charts, documents, educational materials, and related paperwork for clients being tested and related paperwork Facilitates provider completion of HIV reporting/Partner Notification forms and forwards appropriate copy to NYS DOH. Follow guidelines for clients with newly positive HIV tests (internal)
Assures confirmatory test
Arrange appointment with medical provider for client to receive confirmatory test
Follows up to assure confirmatory test is received prior to provider appointment
Links patients into HIV care within 30 days of confirmatory test
Coordinates with community and internal care team to facilitate access to HIV care
Collaborates with internal multidisciplinary team and staff from community agencies to link newly positive HIV patients to care at AMC DHIVM within 14-30 days of HIV confirmatory test Tracks information on patients with new diagnoses (those tested by DHIVM as well as those referred to HIV medicine) to monitor timeliness of linkage to care and retention in care as required by funders. Follows NYS HIV testing guidelines and AMC policy when conducting pre- and post-testing. Conveys information regarding the following:
benefits of HIV testing
the relationship between HIV and AIDS
modes of HIV transmission
testing options (anonymous vs confidential)
testing procedures, purpose of the test, meaning of the results, and the window period
Provides risk/harm reduction education and counseling relevant to the patient’s individual behavioral context (i.e. condom use, needle cleaning) Adapts counseling technique to suit the patient’s developmental level and personal circumstances. Responds to patient’s questions and concerns in a satisfactory manner. Assesses patient’s ability to cope with the HIV test results, and the availability of supportive resources in the patient’s immediate living environment. Assesses patient’s capacity to consent to HIV testing and obtains appropriate consent to perform testing.
HIV Post-test counseling
Conveys HIV test results including discussion of the meaning of the results and addresses patient’s immediate concerns and questions. Meets the needs of patients with negative test results:
Discusses the possibility of HIV exposure during the “window period” and assists the patient in determining if/when to get re-tested.
Reinforces risk/harm reduction strategies relevant to the patient’s personal situation.
Attends to the needs of patients with positive test results:
Discusses the availability and importance of medical care and follow-up services Provides education regarding behavior change to prevent transmission of HIV to others
Encourages partner/contact notification and offers assistance
Provides referrals for HIV testing of partners and children, as needed
Provides referrals to medical and support services and other services, as needed (within AMC and the community)
Utilizes knowledge of AMC and community…