LGBTQ+

HIV & PrEP

We offer onsite Rapid HIV Testing and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) counseling for patients considered high risk for contracting HIV at our Infectious Disease Clinic in Atlantic City.

Our Location:

1401 Atlantic Avenue

Atlantic City, NJ 08401

Infectious Disease Clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

New Patients

• To schedule new patient infectious disease appointment with any of the Providers at the Infectious Disease Clinic, please call 609-441-2104. Our clinic will need to review your medical records including visit notes and labs prior to scheduling your first appointment.

• To schedule new TB patient appointment please call Department of Health 609-347-6442. The Department of Health will coordinate your care with our Clinic.

• To schedule new STI patient appointments please call 609-441-2104.

Overview

• The AtlantiCare Infectious Disease Clinic was established in 1989. It is a multidisciplinary, hospital based practice which provides health maintenance, disease prevention, Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, TB and HIV/AIDS specialty care. The AtlantiCare Infectious Disease Clinic is located in the center of Atlantic City, and is a well-established with providers who have extensive experience in caring for patients diagnosed with infectious diseases. The Infectious Disease Clinic is funded in part by New Jersey Department of Health and the Division of HIV, STD and TB Services. We provide services for patients eligible for the Ryan White Part B grant and we serve Atlantic and Cape May counties for patients with no insurance.

• Our Clinic provides onsite Rapid HIV Testing and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) counseling for patients considered high risk for contracting HIV. Because of our hospital affiliation, laboratory and pharmacy support are easily accessible and are onsite.

Understanding the need

LGBTQ+ individuals experience disparity in the prevalence of certain physical and mental health concerns, and in receiving care, due to a variety of factors including stigma, ignorance of, and insensitivity to their unique needs. These disparities include the following:

• Less access to insurance and health care services, including preventive care (such as cancer screenings).

• Lower overall health status.

• Higher rates of smoking, alcohol, and substance abuse.

• Higher risk for mental health illnesses, such as anxiety and depression

• Higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection

• Increased incidence of some cancers

• Studies suggest that the cause of these disparities is a lack of environmental and community supports, and not biological predisposition.

Source: Advancing Effective Communication, Cultural Competence, and Patient-and Family- Centered Care for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Community: A Field Guide – The Joint Commission

Promoting Respect Individuality Diversity and Equality at AtlantiCare (PRIDE)

AtlantiCare embraces its strategic commitment to diversity and inclusion. In 2010, we began to formalize our approach to this most valuable piece of the puzzle. Since then, our diversity and inclusion initiatives have consisted of multi-faceted approaches to ensure alignment with our organizational vision and Performance Excellence Commitments.

To help address these issues, AtlantiCare formed seven Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), including PRIDE (Promoting Respect Individuality Diversity and Equality at AtlantiCare), which focuses on issues affecting the LGBTQ+ population, both within AtlantiCare and in the communities we serve. 

Our PRIDE group has spearheaded work to revise policies and procedures impacting staff and patients, leading to to ARMC's designation as an HEI Leader in LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality for seven consecutive years. PRIDE has also helped to implement annual training programs for AtlantiCare staff and providers.

The group has also coordinated community focus group sessions to obtain LGBTQ+ community feedback on delivery of care and seated an LGBTQ+ community member to the ARMC Patient Advisory Council.

• LGBTQ+ PRIDE Brochure
• Recruitment Ad 

Patient Education Materials

 
Why do we ask questions about sexual orientation and gender identity during registration?

• Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Questions - English
• Preguntas sobre orientación sexual e identidad de género - Espanol

Fact Sheets

• Coming Out to Your Health Care Provider
• Gender Dysphoria Fact Sheet (pdf)
• You Can Help End Homophobia
• PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) and HIV Testing & Counseling

Additional Resources

• Medline Plus 
  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/gaylesbianandtransgenderhealth.html
• Gay & Lesbian Medical Association 
  http://www.glma.org/
• Human Rights Campaign (HRC) – Health 
  https://www.hrc.org/
• National Center For Transgender Equality 
  http://transequality.org/
• Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference 
  http://www.trans-health.org/
• The Trevor Project 
  http://www.thetrevorproject.org/ 
  The Trevor Project 's 24/7 Lifeline at 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386)
• Lambda Legal 
  http://www.lambdalegal.org
• Transgender Law Center 
  http://www.transgenderlawcenter.org
• The Joint Commission 
  http://www.jointcommission.org/
• South Jersey Fertility Center (pdf)

Community Engagement

    In the years since its creation, AtlantiCare's PRIDE group has ...

• Created an "It Gets Better Video" in support of LGBTQ+ youth. Video posted on It Gets Better website
• Participation in numerous AtlantiCare and community health fairs
• Participation in numerous AtlantiCare and community career fairs
• Created external "Meet-Up" social group for Healthcare LGBTQ+ professionals and allies
• Participation in Stand-OUT Expo in Atlantic City, supporting awareness of LGBTQ+ community

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