The University Health System’s Ryan White Clinic, the largest provider of HIV care in western Virginia, was awarded last month a $525,000 grant from the AIDS United Foundation to develop a smartphone application to help improve treatment for people diagnosed with HIV who are living in rural areas. The application is part of the Positive Links initiative developed by the treatment center, which combines the free phone app with specialized counseling sessions and priority access to care providers for newly diagnosed patients.
Patients living in rural areas often face a stigma within their communities, said Asst. Prof. Dr. Rebecca Dillingham, a physician in the clinic who is leading the Positive Links program. Their isolated environments can also lead to depression which, in turn, increases the likelihood patients will become inconsistent in following their treatment plans, she added.
“[The phone application] will provide social support, increase connection with the clinic, and provide reminders [of appointments],” Dillingham said.
The application is being developed in collaboration with the clinic’s clients, Dillingham said, so the developers will be able to address the patients’ specific needs.
The program plans to provide its patients with the smartphones and pay for data plans starting in June, Dillingham said.
Though the clinic is part of a national federally-funded Ryan White program, the Positive Links program is currently unique to Charlottesville. Dillingham said she hopes in the future the program will be able to expand to other rural communities across the country.
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