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Department of Medicine

Frequently Asked Questions

Your time is valuable! As an academic specialty practice, we review and use information from your referring provider (including notes, lab test results, and imaging results) to optimize the care you receive at your first visit. Our goal is to offer guidance about next steps in evaluation or management the first time we see you.

In some cases, once we have completed our evaluation and stabilized your condition, we can communicate our findings and a management plan (if applicable) to your referring provider so you can continue to receive care closer to home.

If you have HIV and would like to be seen for HIV care or are interested in HIV prevention (PreP), you do not need a referral. It is helpful if we have prior medical records, but you may call 984-974-7198 and make an appointment.

If you have HIV and would like to be seen for HIV care or are interested in HIV prevention (PreP), you do not need a referral. It is helpful if we have prior medical records, but you may call 984-974-7198 and make an appointment.

HIV Medical Care Services:

o Expert medical care providers who provide compassionate care

o Antiretroviral therapy (ART) to maintain undetectable viral load

o On-site pharmacy, laboratory and radiology services

  • Pharmacist dedicated to HIV care and prevention, and hepatitis treatment
  • Mental Health – Psychiatry and Counseling services are available
  •  Substance Use services including medication assistance and counseling
  • Dental Care referrals to the UNC Adams School of Dentistry
  • Partnerships with primary care, OB-GYN, pulmonology, and neurology physicians

HIV Support Services:

  • Social work and Nursing Case Management
  •  Nutrition counseling and plans to improve health and well-being
  • Housing assistance
  •  Financial and benefit eligibility and assistance
  • Transportation assistance
  • Health Education and Prevention
  • Other Services:

· PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) – Medication and support to prevent HIV

· Partner HIV testing

· Hepatitis C treatment

· Treatment and prevention services for other infectious diseases

Your provider can place a refer through EPIC, EPIC Care Link, or a faxed referral. See Refer a Patient for more details and for referral forms.

In general, we request that 6-12 months of relevant clinic notes, laboratory test results, and imaging (radiology) results are sent with the referral, unless this information is already available in EPIC.

Specific information may be required based on the condition to be evaluated. Common examples include: prior testing for the condition, bloodwork, medication history, and summaries of hospitalizations. Please visit our Refer a Patient page for specific referral criteria.

You can now see most test results in MyChart as soon as they become available.

In many cases, your provider will send you a result note (also through MyChart) within 1-2 business days. However, your provider may take up to 1 week to communicate about some results, as they may need to re-review your chart or take other actions first. If you do not have MyChart access, we strongly encourage you to Sign Up. Without MyChart access, your provider may need to send a mailed letter with your test results.

If you have an upcoming appointment with your provider, they may wait to discuss test results with you at your visit.

If your provider is a UNC Health provider, they can place an E-consult. After a brief chart review, one of our Endocrine Faculty members will place written recommendations in your chart (in EPIC) within 2-3 business days. If the question is too complex for an E-consult, an in-person visit may be recommended.

At this time, we are unable to offer E-consults to providers outside the UNC Health system. However, we are actively working on ways to share our expertise to providers around the state in the near future, including virtual consultations.

We strive to see patients with most infectious diseases concerns as quickly as possible, including priority slots for urgent conditions.

However, in some cases, the reason for referral is a common condition that is well-managed by a primary care provider or for which an initial workup is required for specialty care.At times we are unable to accommodate all requests in order to maintain access for adults who require infectious diseases consultation.

In other cases, the referral is for a condition that is not within our scope of practice or for which we do not have available treatment options.

Please visit our Clinical Services page for a list of common endocrine conditions that primary care providers typically manage.

There are many reasons that people can participate in clinical trials. Participating in a trial can help others by moving science and medical care forward. For some individuals with a disease or illness, participating in a trial can also allow access to the latest treatment options as well as additional care from clinical trial staff.

UNC Infectious Diseases has a large clinical trials unit. We welcome your interest! Please see our Global HIV Prevention and Treatment Clinical Trials Unit website for more information.