Health Department

KCHD's Centers of Excellence (COE) Clinic is a specialty clinic that provides care to those infected with HIV. Although there is no cure for HIV infection, there are treatment options that can help people living with HIV experience long and productive lives. If you have been diagnosed with HIV, you should start medical care immediately.

Established in 2000, the primary mission of the COE Clinic is to ensure those who are uninsured or underinsured have access to HIV providers. The COE Clinic also provides nutrition and pharmaceutical counseling if needed. Additionally, we have medical care managers available within the clinic to link patients to other services. Our staff is dedicated to building strong, trusting relationships with our patients.

Who the COE Clinic serves

The COE serves adult residents of Knox County and the East Tennessee region (16 counties that surround Knox County) who are on TennCare, the Knox County Indigent Care Program, and those who are Ryan White eligible. Those with private insurance and Medicare may qualify through the Ryan White income guidelines.

HIV in the United States

HIV and AIDS remain a problem in the United States. While great progress has been made in preventing and treating HIV, nearly 38,000 people in the U.S. were diagnosed with HIV in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An estimated 1.2 million people in the U.S. were living with HIV at the end of 2022.

HIV is primarily spread through sexual behaviors and needle or syringe use. HIV is not transmitted by air, water, saliva, sweat, tears, closed-mouth kissing, insects, pets, or sharing toilets, food or drinks.

HIV, however, knows no boundaries. It can affect anyone regardless of sexual orientation, age, gender or race. There are certain groups that are at a higher risk for HIV. According to the CDC, gay and bisexual men accounted for 67 percent of new HIV diagnoses in 2022.

About 1 in 7 people in the U.S. who have HIV don’t know they have it. The CDC recommends everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as a part of routine health care. KCHD offers HIV testing through its Communicable Disease Control Clinic. Testing is offered on a walk-in basis.

Contact

The COE Clinic is open from 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesday-Friday. On Tuesdays, the COE Clinic is open from 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.

All services are by appointment only. All patient services and patient information are confidential. No one will be denied service because they cannot pay.

COE Clinic Phone: 865-215-5080