Take Charge of Starting Care

Summary

• Find a provider and begin treatment as soon as possible.
• Stay on top of appointments and treatment. Keep every medical visit and follow your treatment plan so your care works as intended.
• Communicate openly with your care team. Ask questions, share concerns, and be honest about your health to get the best support.
• Keep your information organized and up to date. Track your lab results, medicines, and contact details so you can work with your provider to coordinate your care.

Working with Your HIV Health Care Team: Together on the Journey

HIV treatment works best when you actively involved. Here are some ways you can take charge of starting your care and getting the best results:

• Find a provider. After you are diagnosed with HIV, it’s important to see a health care provider who can help you start medicine to treat HIV as soon as possible. Starting treatment with HIV medicine (called antiretroviral therapy or ART) as soon as possible is the best thing you can do to stay healthy.
• Keep your appointments. Regular visits with your care team help your provider choose the right treatment and make sure it’s working. Use reminders like a calendar, phone alerts, or apps, or ask a friend to help. If you need to cancel, let the provider’s office know and reschedule as soon as possible.
• Prepare for visits. Write down questions and concerns ahead of time and take notes during your appointment. Look at some sample questions if you’re not sure what to ask.
• Communicate openly. Share accurate, honest information about your health, including sexual activity and substance use. Your provider needs to know so they can manage your care.
• Stay organized. Keep a simple record of your lab results, medicines, schedules, and treatment plan. Save your provider’s and pharmacy’s numbers in your phone and keep your contact info current so you never miss an important update.
• Keep moving forward. You’ve taken a big step to begin the journey of treatment; now stay strong for the road ahead! Support your treatment with healthy daily habits like moving your body more and choosing nutrient-dense whole foods to keep your body strong.
• Keep learning. Knowledge builds confidence. Explore HIV.gov’s HIV Health and Wellness at your own pace.

Learn more about Seeing Your Health Care Provider.