[Telemedicine, prison and illness associated with HIV]

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Telemedicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Telemedicine offers a solution for delivering specialized healthcare to underserved populations.
• Penitentiary centers face unique challenges in providing consistent medical care, particularly for infectious diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the activity and effectiveness of telemedicine consultations for infectious diseases between a hospital and a penitentiary center.
• To assess patient outcomes and treatment adherence within this telemedicine model.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study analyzed videoconference-based infectious disease tele-consultations from 2013-2017.
• Data included patient demographics, diagnoses (HIV, HCV), antiretroviral therapy (ART), and treatment interventions.

Main Results:

• 75 patients underwent 168 tele-consultations, with increasing demand over time.
• 96% of patients were HIV positive, with high rates of ART adherence and viral suppression.
• Hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment was the primary reason for consultation (72%), with high utilization of direct-acting antivirals.

Conclusions:

• Telemedicine is a growing, efficient, and highly accepted modality for infectious disease care in correctional facilities.
• The service effectively manages complex conditions like HIV and HCV, reducing hospital transfers.
• A significant portion of patients required ART adjustments, highlighting the need for specialized infectious disease expertise.