OSU HIV telehealth clinic increases access for rural Oklahomans
While HIV is often considered an urban health issue, there are rural counties with similar rates of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA), and according to a National Rural Health Association
policy brief
, rural dwellers face additional challenges. Rural PLWHA are less likely to have insurance coverage, live further from health care providers trained to treat HIV and "traditional norms and conservative values in rural areas often translate into high prevalence of HIV-related stigma and low rates of disclosure resulting in reluctance to come forward for HIV screening and treatment among rural individuals." Not only does lack of treatment decrease the quality of life for the individual, but it can also increases transmission of the virus to others.
In an effort to improve the lives and access to care of HIV patients in rural Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences' Mobile Telemedicine Clinic, has been traveling to destinations to meet rural patients closer to home. Dr. Madhuri Lad, provides the telehealth consults for the HIV clinics, and has been a champion of the program.
"The mobile clinic has been a great asset to rural health because of the lack of transport for some of our patients. I usually like to see patients every three months, which can be difficult for many patients if they have to come to the clinic in Tulsa," said Lad.
The mobile HIV clinic currently travels to Poteau and McAlester, Oklahoma, in the Southeastern part of the state, but Dr. Lad said she hopes they can expand to other communities.
Not only is Dr. Lad working to expand access through the mobile telehealth clinic, but she also leads an HIV ECHO at OSU, to increase training and support for providers with HIV patients.
"One of the biggest challenges we hear with HIV ECHO has been hesitancy of providers to treat HIV. Instead of wanting to treat, they often want to link their patients to other resources, but even when they [refer] to other providers, they may still be the primary care provider for the patient."
Lad explained that they are encouraging providers with HIV patients to attend the ECHO, even if they plan to refer patients to other providers.
"It is important to be familiar with the medication and drug-drug interactions and learning how to treat and screen for other common comorbidities, such as Hepatitis C.
She added that screening recommendations are sometimes different for HIV patients. For example, female patients have an increased risk of cervical cancer so annual screenings are recommended.
The OSU HIV/Viral Disorders ECHO meets the first and third Tuesday of the month from 12 Noon to 1 p.m.
Show-Me ECHO, the University of Missouri's Project ECHO, is also starting an HIV ECHO in November. To learn more, go to their webpage at
ShowMeECHO.org
.
