HIV prevention and care

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What are HIV and AIDS?

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that damages the body's immune system. AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a condition caused by HIV in which the immune system is severely weakened and can't fight off certain serious illnesses.

A person can be infected with HIV and not have any symptoms for many years. That's why it's very important to be screened regularly for infection and to consider medications for prevention if you're at risk for HIV exposure. There are also highly effective medications for treating HIV infection now. They can prevent damage to the immune system and help people living with HIV live long and healthy lives.

One connected care team

At our HIV Prevention and Care Clinic, a multidisciplinary team works together to provide a wide range of HIV specialty care and primary care to people living with HIV, as well as HIV prevention services to communities throughout Oregon and southwest Washington.

HIV care

If you’re a Kaiser Permanente member living with or recently diagnosed with HIV, you can call our clinic at 503-249-5536, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., to schedule an intake appointment. No referral is needed. We’ll match you with an HIV specialist who will provide your HIV care. If you want, your specialist can also provide your primary care.

Our social workers and registered nurses will help get you started by reviewing any needed medication refills, updated labs, records from previous care, and your health coverage. They’ll let you know about helpful resources like referrals for emergency housing, grocery or meal assistance, behavioral health services, and transportation assistance. They’ll also help you schedule an appointment for an initial visit with one of our HIV specialists.

What is PrEP?

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an HIV prevention strategy for people who don’t have HIV but are at risk for exposure to the virus. It involves taking medication to stay HIV negative. When taken as prescribed, PrEP is a highly effective way to help prevent HIV infection.

How to get PrEP

PrEP is available by prescription through our HIV Prevention and Care Clinic. No referral is needed for PrEP consultation.

To schedule a virtual appointment with our clinic to discuss PrEP, simply choose any of these options:

What is PEP?

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is an HIV prevention strategy for people who may have been exposed to HIV — for example, through an injury with a needle used by another person or though sex. It involves taking a 28-day course of antiviral medication to help prevent infection.

How to get PEP

If you think you may have been exposed to HIV in the last 3 days (72 hours), seek immediate care with any of these options:

Taking PEP

When you request PEP, you’ll need to complete baseline lab tests and will be prescribed a starter pack of antiviral HIV medications. It’s important to pick up your medications and start the first dose as soon as possible.

Within 2 to 3 days, our HIV Prevention and Care Clinic will contact you to schedule an appointment to:


• Check in and see how you’re doing with the medication
• Review the risk of HIV transmission

• Prescribe the remaining weeks of antivirals to complete your PEP treatment
• Schedule any recommended follow-up labs



If you need care related to a sexual assault, please go to the nearest emergency room and seek immediate care.