Primary Care and Specialty Care in the Age of HAART

The complexities of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) have touched off a re-examination of the qualifications and expertise needed to care for patients with HIV and AIDS. ACC's March 1997 feature, "Primary HIV Infection and the Acute Retroviral Syndrome," suggested that patients with acute HIV infection be referred to infectious disease specialists if possible. Some primary care physicians wrote thoughtful commentary taking issue with this recommendation. ACC Associate Editor Bruce Soloway, a family practitioner who has long cared for patients with HIV and AIDS, discusses the issue this month. ACC invites readers to respond by electronic mail (aidsclin@world.std.com), mail (1440 Main Street, Waltham, MA 02154), or fax (617-647-00…