In 2006, the CDC recommended that HIV testing should be universal. Why aren’t doctors listening?

There are a variety of cited reasons, ranging from lack of reimbursement, concerns about informed consent, and availability of counseling.

The major reason however, is time. Primary care doctors are already inundated with numerous guidelines, including a variety of cancer screenings, as well as checks for diabetes and cholesterol. It’s been mentioned that if doctors performed every screening check on an panel of 2,500 patients, the average workday would stretch to 18 hours.

Something has to be left out, and that apparently, is HIV screening. It’s another reason why primary care needs to be reformed to focus on time and prevention.

topics: hiv, screening