Is Any Patient Truly "Hard to Treat"?

In the United States, some of our most innovative steps forward in HIV care and research are taking place at one of the oldest HIV care facilities in the world. Humbly named Ward 86, this unassuming wing of San Francisco General Hospital opened 40 years ago as the first U.S. clinic dedicated specifically to the treatment of people living with HIV. Since then, it has been at the forefront of a host of initiatives and programs that seek to improve access to HIV prevention and treatment—and to increase the quality of the care we provide.     That mission includes, most recently, a heavy focus on people who are unstably housed; people who are on public assistance; who are dealing with substance dependency; or who have mental illness. The effort underway at Ward 86 aims to prove that these patients are not nearly as "hard to treat" as has often been traditionally assumed.     The medical director of Ward 86, and our guest on the podcast this month, is Monica Gandhi, M.D., M.P.H. She joins us to talk about Ward 86's recent initiatives and thought-provoking study findings. We'll also explore whether Ward 86's approach to care can realistically serve as a model for clinics across the country.     Read the transcript: https://www.thebodypro.com/article/future-hiv-care-podcast-15-gandhi-hard-to-treat     This month's episode is hosted by Myles Helfand. Our executive producer is Myles Helfand; our project manager is Alina Mogollon-Volk; our audio producers/engineers are Alex Portaluppi and Lucy Mueller; and our series editors are Maria Elena Perez and Juan Michael Porter II. Audio for this episode was edited by Kimberly Buikema.