Healthmap putting HIV patients on the road to better health

L-R: Andrew Way (Alfred Health CEO), Dr Julian Elliott and

Professor Sharon Lewin (Doherty Institute Director)

by Anne Crawford

A novel program that helps people with HIV manage their own health is striking a chord with participants in an Australia-wide trial led by Monash University and Alfred Hospital researchers.

HealthMap links people with HIV with health care coaches in a program aimed at countering the increased risk of diseases associated with the lifelong illness, such as heart attack and cancer. The program uses phone-based coaching and an online shared health record to give participants a clear summary of their health status and support and resources to improve their health and quality of life.

Photo of the Week: HealthMap group

Department of Infectious Diseases HealthMap group. L-R: Mr Jarrel Seah, Ms Julia Stout, Ms Andrea Morrow, Ms Karen Klassen. The project aims to improve the health status of people living with HIV in Australia by developing a self-management tool for use by patients. It will be accessed via smartphone, tablet or desktop, to help patients manage their medications, health goals and connect them with health care providers.See more about the HealthMap project at www.med.monash.edu.au/cecs/infectious-diseases/research/clintrials-research/elliott-hiv-healthmap.html

Participants sought: HealthMap and prevention of heart disease in HIV

Photo: Living Positive Victoria

You are invited to participate in a research study to help people with HIV be healthier, HealthMap. The program includes:

• access to interactive health records at home as well as other resources,
• access to phone and online health coaching,
• access to anonymous online chat groups.

The HealthMap program is being launched as a one year study.  It is a randomised trial, and the study doctors will be randomised. Doctors and their patients randomised to the 'intervention' arm will receive immediate access to the HealthMap program. Doctors and their patients randomised to the 'control' arm will receive access to the HealthMap program after one year. See more about HealthMap and the research study.

Contact Ms Karen Klassen Ph: 1800 004 284 or email: karen.klassen@monash.edu

Position vacant: Clinical Research Fellow - HealthMap, InfectiousDiseases

Work type: 0.5 EFT; Fixed term: Initial 12 months. Closing date 19 July 2013.

HealthMap is a 5-year NHMRC-funded Partnership Project, which is developing a novel approach to the care of people living with HIV. Within a framework of chronic disease self management, the project will evaluate in a large cluster randomised trial the effect on cardiovascular risk of an online environment with interactive health care plans and health coaching.