In the 90s, AOL users would get “You’ve Got Mail” notifications in their inboxes — now, in 2014, doctors may be delivering news like “You’ve got Chlamydia” through an app.
In a move that is sure to start a trend, an app called Healthvana would allow health care practitioners to send HIV and STD results right to their patient’s phones.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, one of the largest HIV/AIDS organizations in the U.S., has been piloting Healthvana in three of their testing locations with promising results.
To date, 66 percent of patients have logged in to check their results on the app, a huge improvement from the paltry 5 percent who usually access their patient information online.
Healthvana maintains that their app isn’t just convenient; it’s also HIPAA compliant and uses industry-leading encryption software and privacy measures. The app also takes into account the power of the human touch.
So while it may relay results for syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia tests immediately upon release — HIV results, if positive, will still be given at the doctor’s office so patients can receive counseling and support.
Company founder Ramin Bastani is excited about this collaboration with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
According to a spokesperson with CWR Partners, Bastani said:
The antiquated system of delivering patients lab results for HIV and STD testing is not helping reduce the spread of these infections. Currently, healthcare providers have to legally call patients who tested positive, however many patients aren’t reached and don’t know they need treatment. Now, every patient receives their lab results within a few days — this is the very first time any healthcare provider is doing this kind of groundbreaking work and providing a better patient experience. I truly believe this will slow the spread of STDs and reduce patient anxiety.
The CDC has reported that even though hundreds of millions of dollars have been put into HIV and STD prevention efforts, unfortunately, HIV infection rates have not changed in 20 years.
The hope is that this app and other fresh initiatives like it will finally shake up that paradigm.