health experts are turning to sophisticated computer mapping technology and electronic medical records to identify pockets of Americans most at riskinfection.
In one study, presented on Tuesday at 2011 National Conference in Atlanta, researchers at the Cleveland Department of Public Health saw big improvements in ratestesting when they added reminders to patients' electronic health records about the need for routine testing.
In another, officials inCountyDepartment of Public Health used disease mapping technology to identifyinfected patients not getting adequate treatment -- increasing the risk of transmission.
That plan aims to focus resources whereis mostheavily concentrated -- amonggay and bisexual men of all races, blacks and Hispanics.Currently, about 1.2 million people in the United States areinfected the virus that causes about one out of five people who are infected do not know it.And rates are much higher among high-risk individuals, according to data fromof 21 cities presented at the meeting Alexandra
continues to severely impact three groups at high risk of infection -- men who have sex with men, injection drug users and poor heterosexuals.
The study, which included data on nearly 30,000 individuals, found 19 percent of men who have sex with men were infected
9 percent of injection drug users were infected, and 2 percent of heterosexuals in low-socioeconomic groups were infected.
That compares with infection rates of just 0.47 percent in the overall U.S. population. Among those who were infected, nearly half did not know they
To help remind doctors of the need for testing
Avery of the Cleveland Department of Public Health studied the impact of adding reminders to the electronic medical record system used at MetroHealth, a Cleveland-based hospital system that provides care to patients regardless of insurance status.
When they started the study, only 4 percent of patients aged 13 to 64 were screened
2008 to 2009
To increase routine, last July MetroHealth added
testing prompt to the electronic medical records system reminding doctors to screen all patients aged 13 to 64 if they had not been previously tested.
Within six months of the changes
testing in the hospital's outpatient clinics rose dramatically, increasing by nearly two-thirds. The effort was especially effective at increasing testing among men, with first-time testing rising from 2.9 percent of those tested to 6.1 percent
Separately, a team director of OfficeCounty used disease mapping software to track
infection and treatment rates among the county's more than 10 million residents.
Sayles studied treatment coverage among more than 12,000 HIV-infected individuals whose care was paid for through
which providesrelated services to those who do cannot afford their care.
Overall, 90 percent of patients reported getting antiretroviral drugs to keep the virus under control.
But a cross-check of postal codes showed significant variation in treatment by neighborhood. Where patients lived also played a role in how well their infection was controlled.
In general, blacks, people under 24, recent substance abusers, recent prisoners and the poor were more likely to have poorly controlled disease.
In one study, presented on Tuesday at 2011 National Conference in Atlanta, researchers at the Cleveland Department of Public Health saw big improvements in ratestesting when they added reminders to patients' electronic health records about the need for routine testing.
In another, officials inCountyDepartment of Public Health used disease mapping technology to identifyinfected patients not getting adequate treatment -- increasing the risk of transmission.
That plan aims to focus resources whereis mostheavily concentrated -- amonggay and bisexual men of all races, blacks and Hispanics.Currently, about 1.2 million people in the United States areinfected the virus that causes about one out of five people who are infected do not know it.And rates are much higher among high-risk individuals, according to data fromof 21 cities presented at the meeting Alexandra
continues to severely impact three groups at high risk of infection -- men who have sex with men, injection drug users and poor heterosexuals.
The study, which included data on nearly 30,000 individuals, found 19 percent of men who have sex with men were infected
9 percent of injection drug users were infected, and 2 percent of heterosexuals in low-socioeconomic groups were infected.
That compares with infection rates of just 0.47 percent in the overall U.S. population. Among those who were infected, nearly half did not know they
To help remind doctors of the need for testing
Avery of the Cleveland Department of Public Health studied the impact of adding reminders to the electronic medical record system used at MetroHealth, a Cleveland-based hospital system that provides care to patients regardless of insurance status.
When they started the study, only 4 percent of patients aged 13 to 64 were screened
2008 to 2009
To increase routine, last July MetroHealth added
testing prompt to the electronic medical records system reminding doctors to screen all patients aged 13 to 64 if they had not been previously tested.
Within six months of the changes
testing in the hospital's outpatient clinics rose dramatically, increasing by nearly two-thirds. The effort was especially effective at increasing testing among men, with first-time testing rising from 2.9 percent of those tested to 6.1 percent
Separately, a team director of OfficeCounty used disease mapping software to track
infection and treatment rates among the county's more than 10 million residents.
Sayles studied treatment coverage among more than 12,000 HIV-infected individuals whose care was paid for through
which providesrelated services to those who do cannot afford their care.
Overall, 90 percent of patients reported getting antiretroviral drugs to keep the virus under control.
But a cross-check of postal codes showed significant variation in treatment by neighborhood. Where patients lived also played a role in how well their infection was controlled.
In general, blacks, people under 24, recent substance abusers, recent prisoners and the poor were more likely to have poorly controlled disease.
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