TelePrEP

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HITEQ Center post on
TelePrEP

Using telehealth to expand access to PrEP

According to the Rural health Information Hub, the risk of contracting HIV can be greatly reduced through Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), but the medication must be taken every day and patients need follow-up appointments every 3 months. Some patients often don't have access to it due to stigma, distance from the nearest specialist, and a shortage of primary care providers willing to prescribe and monitor PrEP.

TelePrEP programs can connect health center patients with a provider who can determine if PrEP is appropraite for the patient and prescribe PrEP as appropriate, through telemedine. This approach to extending services in a way that addresses barriers to care experienced by certain populations.

A number of resources below profile telePrEP opportunities and approaches, click through the Resource Links to learn more.