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What was the most
difficult issue you had to deal with when you started? Ms. Gage answers,
“The isolation of being the only dietitian in our small state providing
services for this population. I was, and continue to be, grateful
for the listserv of the American Dietetic Association’s (ADA) HIV/AIDS
Dietetic Practice Group as it helps me to be aware of issues that my
patients need information on.”
Who is your best ally?
Ms. Gage notes, “My best allies include other members of the health care
team; primarily nursing staff. They are always encouraging patients
to see the dietitian, essentially being a cheerleader for our services.
We have an adherence program that also encouraged collaboration between
nursing and nutrition staff.”
What differences exist
between current clientele and that of the HIV-positive person in the 1980s?
According to Ms. Gage, CCC has increasingly seen people who do not have
their basic needs met, i.e. transportation (a tremendous problem
in a rural state that is cut in half by a mountain range and no availability
to public transportation except in one county), housing, food, and sanitation/safety.
“We have a larger group of clients that enter our clinics with pre-existing
mental health problems, which has made an impact on resources that we need
to see offered to help patients remain safe. As patients have increasing
access to the Internet and to information that is posted on various Internet
sites, we also have needed to provide more fact-based reviews of complementary
and alternative medicine. The philosophy has been to educate our clients,
so that they can make informed decisions. The dietitian has been
primarily responsible for the development of these resources.”
“Access to food is an
issue that continues to receive attention, particularly due to the extent
of the poverty, the lack of public transportation to get to grocery stores,
and the riff of knowledge on basic food preparation techniques.” |
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