In 2011, Medical AIDS Outreach (MAO), a non-profit, community-based AIDS Service Organization in Montgomery, AL, used mapping to improve delivery of HIV-related clinical care expertise via telemedicine. This was done by overlaying an AIDSVu state map of HIV cases by county with a state map of healthcare provider shortage areas by county. MAO assessed how these data overlapped to determine where rural telemedicine clinics would have most impact to fulfill unmet needs for HIV care.
The overlay of maps helped MAO identify areas with the greatest need: rural areas within the state’s poorer counties. Successful deployment of resources to support HIV prevention and care using remote methods allowed MAO to reach 300 patients by the end of 2012, 95% of whom are still receiving treatment and virologically suppressed. The ultimate goal for their patients was achievement of viral suppression – a critical factor in limiting the spread of HIV.
In December 2013, MAO received national recognition in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for their telemedicine work. MAO is currently working to expand its telemedicine program and continues to use AIDSVu maps to understand the impact of HIV in Alabama.
