New HIV/AIDS Mobile Management Tool Implemented in Africa

Denver, CO and Washington DC (PRWEB) April 21, 2011

A new clinical/mobile health management system by Vista LifeSciences now supports HIV/AIDS treatment and management in Lesotho, Africa. The Vista mHealthTM system allows medical workers to ensure quality and continuity of care by using mobile technology to access electronic records for HIV/AIDS patient assessments and interventions. Vista LifeSciences began implementing this Phase II HIV/AIDS clinical/mobile healthcare management system in June 2010 at the Makoyane HIV/AIDS Wellness Centre in Lesotho's capital, Maseru. The Program is funded through a Public-Private Partnership by Vista LifeSciences and The U.S. President Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Using the Vista netbook-based application, more than 20,000 patient encounters have already been entered, covering years of treatment. This conversion from a paper-based system to electronic health records permits mobile health vans to access electronic records throughout rural regions of Lesotho. "There is an extraordinary team of healthcare professionals at the Wellness Centre with significant expertise in the management of HIV/AIDS," said Mickey Lutz, Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Vista LifeSciences. "Medical leadership at the Wellness Centre and the medical records team show significant vision in this project. Their accomplishments are extraordinary."

Vista mHealthTM was tailored to meet customer needs following detailed interviews with the Wellness Centre staff and administrators, including nurses, pharmacists, counselors and their physician. Lesotho, Africa, has one of the highest HIV positive rates in the world. Controlling it requires identifying HIV positive individuals and providing regular medical management. These requirements were factored into the selection and design of equipment and networks, as well as the need for the application to be both "occasionally connected" and operate on equipment with long battery life. The application can operate effectively in the clinic environment, where patients move from counselor to pharmacist to nurse, all having access to electronic patient records. It can also operate on a mobile van, carrying electronic health records with a ruggedized netbook, ready to be synchronized upon return to the central clinic.

PEPFAR funds for the Vista LifeSciences Lesotho program are administered by the Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of Vista LifeSciences and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Naval Health Research Center.

About Vista LifeSciences

Vista LifeSciences, based in Colorado and Washington D.C., is dedicated to delivering technology solutions to meet global healthcare challenges. Vista LifeSciences works closely with clinicians and researchers in hospital, clinic, sports, and military environments to develop and deliver solutions for medical treatment and decision-making. Vista mHealthTM supports health and emergency management and includes mobile technology to document patient encounters and access patient records and care guidelines.

Vista LifeSciences is the exclusive distributor of ANAM4, the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics library. Clinicians in the public and private sector have used ANAM4 to collect more than a million neuropsychological assessments. For more information, visit our website http://www.vistalifesciences.com.

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