HIV Specialty Care

Whether you just learned you were exposed to HIV or you’ve been diagnosed and need long-term care, you deserve the compassionate, affirming HIV specialty care provided by the team at The R.O.C. Center. We offer exceptional, holistic care, including advanced medications that reduce the viral load, long-term monitoring, and mental health care. We also serve as your advocate, coordinating your care and helping you find community-based services that meet all your needs. Schedule an in-person or telehealth appointment online or by calling our office in New Orleans, Louisiana, or Houston, Texas.

What is HIV/AIDS?

HIV is a viral infection that’s most often spread through sexual contact (whether vaginal, oral, or rectal). You can also get the virus through direct contact with infected blood (sharing needles), and mothers can transmit the virus through breast milk.

The virus damages and destroys immune system cells, making it difficult for your body to fight infections and illnesses. AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is the most advanced stage of HIV.

What symptoms indicate I need HIV specialty care?

HIV goes through three stages: acute, chronic, and AIDS.

The symptoms of acute HIV include:

• Fever

• Cough

• Diarrhea

• Headache

• Muscle aches

• Joint pain

• Sore throat

• Skin rash

• Swollen lymph glands

Your symptoms don’t reflect the severity of the infection. You may have mild symptoms but a high viral load (the amount of virus in your bloodstream).

You don’t have symptoms during the chronic stage, but the virus keeps multiplying and destroying immune cells.

The third stage, AIDS, is diagnosed when immune cell counts drop below a certain level or when you have recurrent infections. A weak immune system leads to many possible infections and illnesses, like cancer and hepatitis.

What treatment will I receive through HIV specialty care?

At The R.O.C. Center, we provide comprehensive HIV treatment, including:

Antiretroviral therapy (ART)

ART medications slow the spread of the virus, which protects your immune system from further damage and gives it time to recover.

In many people, ART reduces the viral load to undetectable levels. While the virus is still in your body, it can’t be detected in your blood.

As a result, you stay healthy and can’t transmit it to partners. In other words, undetectable = untransmittable (U=U).

PrEP

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a medication that lowers the risk of getting infected if you’re exposed to HIV. PrEP is available in daily pills and long-acting injectables, but not everyone qualifies for the injectable form.

What other HIV specialty care services might I receive?

We provide lifelong support with additional services, such as:

• Routine viral load monitoring

• Access to labs, pharmacy services, and medication refills

• Management of coexisting conditions like hepatitis and diabetes

• Case management and service coordination

• Referrals for dental care, housing, and legal services

• Education and support for U=U

We also help you find essential services outside our clinic. We offer:

• Transportation help

• Referrals for housing and food resources

• Substance use support

• Mental health support

• Insurance navigation and Ryan White program access

• Peer navigation and finding support groups

If you need exceptional, compassionate, and stigma-free care for HIV, call The R.O.C. Center or connect online to request an appointment.

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