Howard Brown Health Utilizes Technology to Minimize Wait for Sexually Transmitted Infection Test Results
Electronic Test Results Delivered Directly from the Lab to a Patient’s Mobile Device via Healthvana App
Chicago, IL (January 26, 2016) – Howard Brown Health and Healthvana, a patient engagement platform, announced a groundbreaking partnership to reduce patients’ wait times for STI test results. Patients of Howard Brown walk-in clinic can electronically receive their test results as soon as they are available, and schedule future testing reminders, using its Healthvana app. Since April 2015, over 2,500 Howard Brown patients have used Healthvana and 80% have checked their available results in less than one day, on average.
Recently released CDC data on sexually transmitted infections shows STI rates are at historic highs with more cases of chlamydia reported in 2014 than ever before. Howard Brown Health and Healthvana are collaborating to make testing easier and more convenient for people in the Chicago area.
“The time between a lab test and getting your results can feel very long, even if it’s only a few days. Using this new technology, our patients can track their testing schedule and results, bringing convenience into the process of sexual health,” said David Ernesto Munar, President and CEO of Howard Brown Health. “Our walk-in clinic sees more than 5,600 patients each year. This technology reduces administrative time and relieves patients of the anxiety of having to call in for a test result or wait until someone calls them.”
Howard Brown and Healthvana comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy regulations, enabling patients to securely access their test results (negative and positive) and care instructions as soon as the laboratory results are ready. Because Howard Brown utilizes rapid HIV testing, HIV-positive test results are provided only in person.
Howard Brown Health offers confidential and comprehensive testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including screening for viral hepatitis, on a walk-in basis six days a week at its clinic located at 4025 N. Sheridan Road. No appointment is necessary. See www.howardbrown.org/walk-in-clinic for more information.
“We believe the collaboration with Howard Brown Health is an exciting step forward in meeting the needs of the Chicago area LGBTQ community,” said Healthvana’s CEO Ramin Bastani. “Our company is privileged to help amplify the important work that Howard Brown has done for many, many years. We want our technology to help reduce anxiety, empower patients and destigmatize testing which will encourage future testing.”
About Howard Brown Health:
Founded in 1974, Howard Brown Health is the Chicago-based health care and research organization primarily serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning/queer (LGBTQ) community and its allies. A patient-centered health home, Howard Brown provides primary medical care, behavioral health services, specialty chronic and infectious disease services, and conducts community-based clinical and behavioral research. www.howardbrown.org
About Healthvana:
Healthvana is a modern, mobile-friendly platform that improves communication between healthcare providers and their patients – leading to more efficient staff and happier patients. The company’s patient engagement solutions are cloud-based and include electronic patient intake, electronic test results delivery with next steps, electronic reminders and an HIV and STD testing locator. Since launching in the summer of 2014, Healthvana had delivered over 200,000 test results to patients across the United States – with over 80% of patients checking their results within one day. Learn more: www.Healthvana.com, 310-205-04246 or info@healthvana.com.
Press Inquiries:
Erik Roldan, Howard Brown Health, erikr@howardbrown.org, 773.388.8661
Kelly Cinelli, CWR Partners for Healthvana, kelly@cwrpartners.com, 774.218.6490