Medical faculty also provide timely clinical consultation in person, or via the telephone or internet. Since the first AIDS cases were identified, knowledge of the disease and its treatment has increased exponentially. The AETCs offer front-line healthcare providers including physicians, nurses, physician assistants, dentists and pharmacists the very latest in AIDS education and training so that they can give their patients the best care possible. The National Association of AIDS Education and Training Centers notes that HIV-positive persons who obtain medical services from experienced HIV providers have improved clinical outcomes and reduced mortality. The AETCs have trained these experienced HIV providers for more than a decade.
Training is designed following an assessment of local needs.
Therefore, special emphasis is placed on training Ryan White funded providers and those who are located in community-based organizations including rural healthcare facilities, community and migrant health centers, public health clinics, AIDS service organizations, correctional facilities, and other nonprofit organizations. They conduct targeted, multidisciplinary education and training for health care providers through a nationwide network of universities and associated organizations. This effective infrastructure is used to disseminate clinical knowledge, emerging treatment guidelines, and to provide rapid responses to the ever-changing nature of the HIV epidemic. In addition, the AETC National Resource Center is located at Johns Hopkins University, the National Evaluation AETC is located at Columbia University, and the National Minority AETC is located at Howard University. The following is an outline of the basic and identifying information, which is included for each program and major subcontractor.