HIV test

[meiwaihk]

Did you all need to do the HIV test before going to AUC? :x
It seems like other Caribb schools don't require that.

[MDXRS22]

Most do require the test....
But the outcome will not prevent you from attending school...positive or negative.... "Good grades and Money will surely help quite much."

[Skipper]

go to the other med school with no HIV test needed if you dont like the rule

skipper

[rocky_wayne]

Yes, we were all required to get this test....WHy I have no idea...

Rock

[buffykitty]

I am not a student yet but am sure that it is required to help prevent the introduction of such disease to an island where it isn't really prevalent. Disease prevention.
TB

[islandchic36]

I am not a student yet but am sure that it is required to help prevent the introduction of such disease to an island where it isn't really prevalent. Disease prevention.
TB

Unfortunately it is prevalent :(

[stateofequilibrium]

I am not a student yet but am sure that it is required to help prevent the introduction of such disease to an island where it isn't really prevalent. Disease prevention.
TB

HIVs not prevelant?

[Macgyver1]

In orientation they said the statistics was 3% of the Island is HIV positive? (Someone please correct me if Im wrong)
Im not sure though, just pulling it out of my head...

[McGillGrad]

It is required by almost all North American medical schools along with a criminal record check because you will eventually be in contact with patients and you have no right to hide such information because it directly affects the health of others.

[rnagy54]

In orientation they said the statistics was 3% of the Island is HIV positive? (Someone please correct me if Im wrong)
Im not sure though, just pulling it out of my head...

When we started in September 04, the stat was over 60% have HIV on the island and growing. This will not prevent you from getting in, they just want to know so that they can make arrangements for your health and that of those around you (so they said).

Good luck,
Nagy

[emt036]

It is required by almost all North American medical schools along with a criminal record check because you will eventually be in contact with patients and you have no right to hide such information because it directly affects the health of others.
Yet, after a dirty needlestick, patients have the right to hide HIV status from their Health Care Providers (at least in NYS). :-/

[swimguy23]

Yes, we were all required to get this test....WHy I have no idea...

Rock

i believe the island requires it for the student visa we get

[YODA]

i believe the island requires it for the student visa we get It is needed for rotations, 2 of the sites i have been too required it. as for the island's prevalence, the health department of SXM (french side) state that its right around 5%, that is know cases, who knows how any unknows. I was on the addmissions committe and the issue of HIV never came up.

Dr Ouchly should have the updated numbers for the island.

later
YODA

[swimguy23]

Yet, after a dirty needlestick, patients have the right to hide HIV status from their Health Care Providers (at least in NYS). :-/

huh? after a needlestick you do not need consent to draw blood from a patient to test for HIV

[McGillGrad]

huh? after a needlestick you do not need consent to draw blood from a patient to test for HIV

After ANY needles stick you get the have the joy of every drug cocktail for every nasty bug out there....yay!

Then you do tests on the patient...or at least you look on their chart.

[jjb1980]

When we started in September 04, the stat was over 60% have HIV on the island and growing. This will not prevent you from getting in, they just want to know so that they can make arrangements for your health and that of those around you (so they said).

Good luck,
Nagy

60%? That can't be right. . .

[swimguy23]

After ANY needles stick you get the have the joy of every drug cocktail for every nasty bug out there....yay!

Then you do tests on the patient...or at least you look on their chart.

yeh i know that, best if started within 3 hours.....what i was saying is you dont need consent to draw the blood from the patient and have it tested.....also charts arent that great to review bc a lot of stuff isnt routinely tested for

[emt036]

huh? after a needlestick you do not need consent to draw blood from a patient to test for HIV
In NYS you need to get a consent (in triplicate) that is sent to the State lab. You can only get this consent after the pt is counseled by an HIV counselor.

When I had my needlestick, the pt refused and I had to make a decision if I wanted to go on the cocktail or not based on how high a risk I thought the pt was... Sort of like playing Russian roulette, but it turned out ok (so far...)

[ML]

I am not a student yet but am sure that it is required to help prevent the introduction of such disease to an island where it isn't really prevalent. Disease prevention.
TB
The last I heard, 20% of the islanders are HIV +ve.
-ML

[YODA]

The way my home state is, that following a needle stick, if blood is already in the lab you can test it, but if not you have to get consent to draw it.

Later
YODA

[DrShikima]

The way my home state is, that following a needle stick, if blood is already in the lab you can test it, but if not you have to get consent to draw it.

Later
YODA

Nah Yoda, when working in baton rouge... I got hit with a suture needle during a TAH. The resident stuck me.... anes and circ nurse drew up the blood and sent it off to the lab to be tested. I broke scrub, washed up, rescrubed..... finished the case and then went to the ER and followed up with employee health.

[YODA]

Nah Yoda, when working in baton rouge... I got hit with a suture needle during a TAH. The resident stuck me.... anes and circ nurse drew up the blood and sent it off to the lab to be tested. I broke scrub, washed up, rescrubed..... finished the case and then went to the ER and followed up with employee health.
Cool, all i was laying out was the policy at my old job.

Later
YODA

[grace]

Wow, gotta love the variance in stats...2%, 20%, 60%...I wonder who knows the real stats. When I was on the island, rumor was between 25-30% and I was also told that the numbers aren't very solid since St. Maarten is such a touristy place that might get affected if people knew the true HIV/AIDS rate. Again, who knows the truth in that, but while we're on rumors... ;)

[stateofequilibrium]

Gold is a good carrier for HIV

[islandwife]

Wow, gotta love the variance in stats...2%, 20%, 60%...I wonder who knows the real stats. When I was on the island, rumor was between 25-30% and I was also told that the numbers aren't very solid since St. Maarten is such a touristy place that might get affected if people knew the true HIV/AIDS rate. Again, who knows the truth in that, but while we're on rumors... ;)

Ya, I wouldn't pay much attention to any health stats given out here. There was an article in the local paper about a Dengue upswing, but Curacao and others prevented ANY info whatsoever from being made available as far as infection rate, number of tests taken, or even how many people get temp. unemployment benefits for Dengue.
If they can't be truthful with Dengue, why would HIV be any different?

[YODA]

Ya, I wouldn't pay much attention to any health stats given out here. There was an article in the local paper about a Dengue upswing, but Curacao and others prevented ANY info whatsoever from being made available as far as infection rate, number of tests taken, or even how many people get temp. unemployment benefits for Dengue.
If they can't be truthful with Dengue, why would HIV be any different?
Talk with Dr. Outchly, she works with the island aids foundation and through the student group she runs they get the information on the prevalence on the rock.

later
yoda

[islandwife]

Talk with Dr. Outchly, she works with the island aids foundation and through the student group she runs they get the information on the prevalence on the rock.

later
yoda

Yup, will do. I am working with her on some crime issues this month.

[DRDRWMD]

I have asked a few different people the rates and I heard everything from the official 3% to nearly the entire population. The most reliable source says it is probably about 6% and one test of the Haitan population came back at 15%. I believe the HIV test is jsut a requirement for an island Visa just like the cheesy letter of "Good Conduct" from your local police department.

[DrShikima]

Yup, will do. I am working with her on some crime issues this month.

What issues are you working on? What's been happening? I heard of this one student's rental car was just stolen from the maho garage I think friday night.....

Sounds like theft has really become a problem recently ... starting just prior to christmas.

[islandwife]

What issues are you working on? What's been happening? I heard of this one student's rental car was just stolen from the maho garage I think friday night.....

Sounds like theft has really become a problem recently ... starting just prior to christmas.

Well, we will be doing it later this month. It will be in AUC News once the article is researched and written.
(Shameless plug time)
;)

[rnagy54]

What issues are you working on? What's been happening? I heard of this one student's rental car was just stolen from the maho garage I think friday night.....

Sounds like theft has really become a problem recently ... starting just prior to christmas.

Actually, I was with the guy, and it turns out that he forgot where he moved the car between bars... OOPS! This was after spending 2 hours in the security booth at the garage and trying to see the car come in and go out! SOOO FUNNY.

So, he found it the next day by subway... Funniest thing I EVER HEARD!!!

*Dude where's my car?
Where's your car dude?
*dude where's my car?

AND THEN.....
Later,
Nagy

[DrShikima]

Actually, I was with the guy, and it turns out that he forgot where he moved the car between bars... OOPS! This was after spending 2 hours in the security booth at the garage and trying to see the car come in and go out! SOOO FUNNY.

So, he found it the next day by subway... Funniest thing I EVER HEARD!!!

*Dude where's my car?
Where's your car dude?
*dude where's my car?

AND THEN.....
Later,
Nagy

DUDE!! that's a hilarious movie... I'm glad that it was resolved.....