People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences With Telemedicine

Health Promot Pract. 2021 May;22(3):298-299. doi: 10.1177/15248399211001071. Epub 2021 Mar 12.

Abstract

Preserving routine primary care for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) has been an important challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. Telemedicine platforms have offered novel means through which care for these individuals may be maintained. Opt-In for Life is a unique mobile health application that contains telemedicine capabilities as well as other features designed specifically for the care of PLWH. Opt-In for Life was implemented early in the pandemic at Hershey Medical Center, although the center is now using a different telemedicine platform across its health care system. Institutional decisions regarding telemedicine platforms are complex. Opt-In for Life contains features that may improve the care of PLWH where telemedicine software alone may be limited.

Keywords: COVID-19; HIV; coronavirus; mobile health primary care; telemedicine.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • HIV
  • HIV Infections* / diagnosis
  • HIV Infections* / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Telemedicine*