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Abstract: 

Early in 1994, the Massachusetts Department of Correction (MDOC) formed an AIDS task force made up of representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), Massachusetts Department of Correction (MDOC), contracted medical providers, community resources, and prison advocates. In July 1994, Correctional Medical Services (CMS), the medical vendor, implemented the AIDS task force recommendations. The HIV case management program was inaugurated. At a minimum it was to have the following positions: Nurse Case Managers, Primary Care Physicians, HIV test Counselors/Educators, Discharge Planner, Dietitians, and Infectious Disease Specialists. This multidisciplinary team of providers, with the HIV nurse case manager as the “point person” lends hands-on care and extensive expertise to the patient. Although each team member is significant, this article will focus on the central role of the HIV nurse case managers.

Keywords: HIV, expertise, Infectious Disease, KOP, viral load, discharge plan

Affiliations:  1: Correctional Medical Services-Massachusetts.