Controversies: The Role of HIV Specialists

To the Editor.—The recent articles regarding who should care for HIV-infected patients acknowledge the importance of support and education for those primary care practitioners who provide HIV care. Patients not only need primary care physicians and specialists knowledgeable about HIV disease, but also need pharmacists, nurses, dietitians, social workers, and other health care professionals with diverse skills. It is unrealistic, however, to expect that all members of a team will be fully knowledgable and consistently accessible to all HIV-infected persons.