Creating a "health connection" between STD services and primary care

Women's health nurse practitioners may find their practice includes men who present for treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STD). In seven months, the women's health nurse practitioner at Temple Health Connection treated 70 African-American males for STDs. Seventeen males (24%) were diagnosed with hypertension. Nine of these patients returned for follow-up care with a primary care adult nurse practitioner. Our experience shows it is important to combine STD treatment with accessible primary health care.