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Implement Comprehensive Women’s Health Care for HIV-Infected Women:
Find Ways to Get Patients to Their Gynecology (GYN) Appointments

Patients/clients, HIV staff, and health care organizations all benefit from helping women to keep their gynecology (GYN) appointments. Regular GYN appointments maximize the opportunity for early detection and treatment of a number of conditions, thereby increasing the likelihood of recovery, reducing treatment costs, and ensuring effective use of staff resources. The suggestions below have helped many programs increase the number of women who keep their appointments.


Tips
  • Schedule an integrated appointment that includes a pelvic exam as part of the periodic physical exam. This makes an additional appointment unnecessary.
  • Train staff to schedule GYN appointments when patients/clients are not menstruating and do not have conflicting medical or business appointments.
  • Implement patient reminder systems, including reminder letters and/or telephone calls prior to the appointment.
  • Implement a specific campaign to "Get Your GYN Exam" (for example, two times per year during ‘low’ times in January and June).
  • Provide transportation and/or reimbursement for women to attend GYN exams.