Office of HIV/AIDS & Viral Hepatitis

Information for Providers

Steps for Partner Notification

1. Discuss with your patient all possible partners that could be at risk of HIV infection. Focus on partners who have had unprotected sex or shared needles with the patient during the time the patient could have been infectious.

2. Clarify which partners your patient will notify and which partners your patient would like assistance in notifying.

3. For the partners your patient plans to notify:

   • Discuss when, where and how your patient will notify them.
   • Discuss patient expectations and possible partner reactions.
   • Provide coaching and offer to refer partners for counseling and testing.
   • Establish a system to confirm that the patient has notified these partners and spouses of the exposure.

4. For the partners your patient wants the Department of Health to notify, gather as much of the following locating information as possible:

   • Partner’s name and age (date of birth).
   • Address and home phone number.
   • Work plane and phone number.
   • Names (and relationships to partner) of any adults living with this partner.
   • Places where this partner spends time or “hangs out” (bars, coffeehouses, bowling alleys, street corners, jail, etc.).
   • Names and phone numbers of relatives or friends who might help find this partner.
   • Description: height weight, complexion, eye and hair color, hair style, facial hair, tattoos, glasses, nicknames, aliases and any other distinguishing features.
   • Anything else that might help someone find and recognize this partner.
   • The exposure type (sex and/or needle-sharing) and possible exposure time period are also helpful.

Many patients will not have all of this information. In some cases, partners can be found with less information. However, the more information gathered, the better the possibility of finding the partner. Refer the gathered locating information on to the Department of Health.

5. All partner information must be destroyed either immediately after notification, or within three months of the date information was gathered, whichever occurs first.

For assistance gathering information or notifying partners, call the Partner Counseling and Referral staff at the Rhode Island Department of Health at 401-222-2320 or call Phil Barber at Partner Counseling and Referral Service at 401-265-0518.