Iowa City-based University of Iowa Health Care rolled out a telehealth program called TelePrEP to improve human immunodeficiency virus prevention in rural areas.
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, or PrEP, is a daily medication regimen aimed at preventing individuals at risk of HIV from contracting the virus. Through the pilot program — funded by the Iowa Department of Public Health — patients will be able to receive medication delivered by mail across the state of Iowa.
The TelePrEP program connects patients and UI Health Care pharmacists and providers via video conferencing for in-home visits. "We need to try different approaches such as this telehealth technology to make sure PrEP is available to those who need it, regardless of where they live," said Michael Ohl, MD, medical director of the TelePrEP service.
The program is a joint effort by pharmacists, physicians and public health professionals from the Signal Center for Health Innovation, the Iowa Department of Public Health, Johnson County Public Health and the UI Health Care Departments of Infectious Disease and Pharmaceutical Care.