An HIV diagnosis can be an overwhelming test result, but at the right care facility, it can also be the beginning of an ongoing relationship between the patient and care team. At Southside Medical Center, testing is only one part of a much larger picture that includes prevention education, medication management, counseling, long-term wellness planning and helping our patients access all of the resources they need. We can connect you with the mental health support and community resources that make your treatment affordable and sustainable so that you can get back to spending your time on the people and activities you enjoy most.
Providing HIV Services in Atlanta
Atlanta carries one of the heaviest HIV burdens of any metropolitan area in the United States. According to research compiled from CDC data, Georgia leads the nation in reported HIV cases with a rate of 23.1 per 100,000 residents. More than 40,000 people are living with HIV in the Atlanta metro area, and the epidemic disproportionately falls on certain communities because of barriers like stigma and limited healthcare access.
Southside Medical Center was founded in 1967 as the Atlanta Southside Comprehensive Health Center. As a federally qualified health center, SMC has served underserved communities across metro Atlanta for nearly 60 years. The center’s President and CEO, Dr. David M. Williams, began his public health career as an epidemiologist and became Georgia’s first Director of the AIDS program. Today, Southside Medical Center is involved in HIV prevention, testing and treatment because we want to serve our community and make comprehensive healthcare more accessible.
HIV Prevention Starts With a Conversation
Knowing Your Risk
HIV can affect anyone, but certain factors increase the likelihood of exposure. These include having sex without a condom, sharing needles or syringes, having multiple sexual partners and having a partner whose HIV status is unknown. There are also social and economic factors, like a lack of access to regular healthcare or living in a community with a high prevalence of HIV.
What PrEP Can and Cannot Do
PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis, and is a medication taken by HIV-negative individuals who are at a higher risk of contracting the virus. It is available as a daily oral pill or as an injection given on a regular schedule.
The CDC has reported that PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed. However, PrEP needs to be used consistently. Missing doses quickly reduces its protective benefit. PrEP also does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections, so it still needs to be combined with other precautions like condom use and regular STI screening.
The Proper Use of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
Post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, is a 28-day course of antiretroviral medication taken after a potential exposure to HIV. It must be started within 72 hours of the exposure, and the sooner it begins, the better. PEP exists for emergency situations like a condom breaking, an accidental needlestick in a healthcare setting or a sexual assault. It is not a substitute for consistent prevention strategies and is not designed for repeated use. Patients who find themselves needing PEP more than once should talk with their provider about whether daily PrEP is a better fit.
The Importance of Ongoing HIV Testing
A single HIV test provides good information for a small snapshot of time, but it cannot account for exposures that occurred in the weeks right before or after the test. Anyone who is sexually active and has other risk factors for HIV should consider ongoing testing.
At Southside Medical Center, testing is confidential and performed in a supportive setting. Our options include rapid tests that deliver results in about 20 minutes, and lab-based tests that can detect the virus at earlier stages. Those who test regularly can catch infection earlier, begin their treatment sooner and reduce the chance of transmitting the virus to others.
What Happens After a Positive Result
The First Conversation Is the Most Important One
At Southside Medical Center, no patient receives the news of a positive HIV test and walks out the door feeling alone. Counseling begins immediately after a positive result, and we sit with our patients and explain what a diagnosis means in real life. You will learn right away that HIV is a manageable condition. Effective treatment is available, and you will still be able to lead a normal and healthy life with the right support. You will leave your first visit with a plan.
Antiretroviral Therapy and What “Undetectable” Means
Antiretroviral therapy, or ART, reduces the amount of virus in the body to levels so low that standard lab tests can no longer detect it. HIV tests will still return a positive result, but the immune system can recover, and the risk of transmitting the virus sexually drops to effectively zero. “Undetectable equals untransmittable” or U=U is supported by large-scale clinical research. Most patients take ART as a single daily pill or monthly injection, which, when taken consistently, can keep the virus suppressed for life.
HIV Counseling As Part of Your Treatment
Anxiety and depression commonly come alongside a diagnosis of HIV, and these mental health concerns can make it difficult for patients to stay consistent with their medication and follow-up care or to have a good quality of life. Counseling is built into our treatment model at SMC to make sure you get the proper support at every stage of treatment. You will have access to individual counseling, family and partner sessions, connections to community support organizations, and group counseling, so you have this support from every angle.
Overcoming Financing Barriers to HIV Care
Cost should never be the reason someone delays or avoids HIV care. Southside Medical Center maintains an extensive network of partnerships and programs specifically designed to remove financial barriers for patients.
Your Support Network at Southside Medical Center
- Ryan White Program: This federal program helps patients who are uninsured or underinsured access medical care, antiretroviral medications, dental care, mental health services, case management and medical transportation. SMC operates its Ryan White services through Fulton County for 20 metro Atlanta counties.
- Gilead Sciences Partnership: SMC partners with Gilead Sciences Inc. to expand access to HIV medications and prevention resources, including PrEP, for patients who may not otherwise be able to afford them.
- AID Atlanta and Positive Impact: These community organizations work closely with SMC to provide additional counseling, support groups, case management and wraparound services for people living with HIV.
- United Way AmeriCorps Volunteers: Volunteers support SMC’s HIV programs by helping patients navigate the healthcare system, complete paperwork and stay connected to the services they need.
- Housing, Medicaid and Rent Assistance Resources: SMC connects patients with resources for stable housing, Medicaid and Medicare enrollment, rent assistance and behavioral health services. Stable housing is one of the strongest predictors of whether a patient stays in care and maintains viral suppression.
What to Expect
First visits typically include a conversation about your health history, lab work and an introduction to support services. You do not need insurance to be seen, and financial counselors can help identify programs that cover the cost of your care. You can review what to bring to your first visit on the SMC website.
Schedule Your HIV Care Appointment at Southside Medical Center in Atlanta, GA
Southside Medical Center provides comprehensive HIV prevention, testing and treatment services for patients across metro Atlanta. To schedule an appointment, call 404-688-1350 or visit the SMC website to book online.