In rural America, many individuals find themselves shortchanged when it comes to opportunities to improve their sexual wellness. They struggle to access comprehensive healthcare due to provider shortages, pharmacy deserts, broadband limitations, and limited public transportation. And when adding sexual wellness to their healthcare, they also face the stigma associated with it.
Consider these facts:
- One in five Americans lives in a rural area.
- From a societal perspective, small-town life can lead to health literacy issues, language barriers, fear of stigma related to certain medical conditions, and real concerns about healthcare privacy.
- Nearly 50% of rural patients are either uninsured or covered by public payers, which narrows their pool of eligible healthcare providers and increases wait times to see a clinician.
- These rural health equity barriers are directly associated with poor care outcomes, low adoption of preventive services, and reliance on costly emergency department visits for non-emergent health needs.
- For preventive care and treatment related to sexual health concerns such as HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), the growing scarcity of clinical care, combined with concerns about discrimination, leaves those living in rural areas at a significant disadvantage.
Despite these considerable barriers, community health organizations and the private sector are collaborating to develop innovative solutions that expand rural healthcare access. As a healthcare services organization with a 50-plus-year legacy of providing compassionate, comprehensive, and inclusive care to underserved populations, Avita Care Solutions is committed to addressing the problem head-on. Read on to learn how two of its brands, telehealth provider Q Care Plus and Avita Pharmacy, are partnering with covered entities to deliver personalized sexual wellness care to patients across the country.
Despite considerable barriers, community health organizations and the private sector are collaborating to develop innovative solutions that expand rural healthcare access.
Shifting rural sexual health services from something avoided to accessible
Access to sexual healthcare in rural America already faces headwinds due to a shortage of qualified providers, but stigma surrounding HIV treatment, the HIV prevention medication pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and STIs adds a critical layer of friction that delays or prevents care, says Dr. Jennifer Peña, MD, FACP, AAHIVS, VP of Clinical Services at Q Care Plus.
“In small, close-knit communities, concerns about privacy and judgment are real, leading many patients to avoid testing, PrEP initiation, or timely STI treatment,” she says. “The data reflect this: Rural areas have lower PrEP uptake and HIV screening rates, yet often see rising STI incidence and later HIV diagnoses.”
Limited access to specialized sexual health services further compounds the issue, Dr. Peña says. “The result is delayed prevention and treatment, which drives worse outcomes. Reducing stigma and increasing discreet, accessible care options are essential to closing these gaps.”
Q Care Plus is addressing this problem through multiple channels. It partners with community-based health organizations to offer their patients access to stigma-free telehealth services from world-class providers trained to deliver HIV prevention, long-term HIV treatment, and sexual wellness care. The platform also streamlines the process for rural patients by connecting them with convenient lab options and collaborating with Avita Pharmacy to deliver medication quickly, securely, and discreetly. Patients can pick up their prescriptions at one of 60-plus Avita Pharmacy locations nationwide, or have them delivered for free.
Doing so removes two of the biggest barriers to rural sexual health: access and anonymity, Dr. Peña says. “Patients can get HIV/STI screening, start PrEP, and receive treatment without traveling long distances or navigating potentially stigmatizing in-person visits,” she explains. “This matters because convenience and privacy directly drive engagement. Studies show that telehealth increases screening rates, shortens time to treatment, and improves PrEP initiation and adherence, particularly among underserved populations. By meeting patients where they are, on their phones and on their own time, telehealth shifts sexual health from something avoided to something accessible, proactive, and continuous.”
In small, close-knit communities, concerns about privacy and judgment are real, leading many patients to avoid testing, PrEP initiation, or timely STI treatment. The data reflect this: Rural areas have lower PrEP uptake and HIV screening rates, yet often see rising STI incidence and later HIV diagnoses.
Partnering with community health centers to create pharmacy oases
What good is getting medical care if you have nowhere nearby to fill your prescribed medications? That’s the situation in more than 45% of U.S. counties, which are home to over 48 million people. Nicknamed “pharmacy deserts,” these areas are defined as places where community members must travel farther than usual (sometimes up to 10 miles) to reach their closest pharmacy.
Not being able to easily fill a prescription is only part of the problem, says Avita Chief Pharmacy Officer Chris Creamer. “Historically, pharmacists have been among the most accessible and trusted healthcare professionals for patients,” he says. “While we see pharmacy deserts in many urban neighborhoods, they’re even more prevalent in rural areas and especially impactful for marginalized patients and those with chronic health conditions, who need easy access to their medications and the support of a pharmacist who truly understands the barriers they face.”
While more than 1,300 retail and independent pharmacies have closed since 2021, Avita has expanded its pharmacy footprint in many rural areas, Creamer says. “Avita Pharmacy has over 500 pharmacy services agreements with covered entities, supporting them and their patients through our broad network of locations across the country,” he says. “We have a large presence in states with a high incidence of HIV diagnoses and healthcare access constraints, many of which are in the southern United States. We partner extensively with covered entities that serve patients in these rural areas, enabling us to reach beyond large cities and provide stigma-free, compassionate care to many hard-to-reach communities in need.”
We partner extensively with covered entities that serve patients in these rural areas, enabling us to reach beyond large cities and provide stigma-free, compassionate care to many hard-to-reach communities in need.”
The difference between transactional care and being truly understood
Q Care Plus and Avita Pharmacy collaborate to offer streamlined, rural-friendly access to sexual healthcare, united by the clinical expertise and cultural competency of their providers.
“At Q Care Plus, we don’t just expand access,” Dr. Peña says. “We elevate the standard of care patients receive once they get to us. Our model is built on highly trained, specialized clinicians in HIV prevention and treatment who are comfortable having nuanced, judgment-free conversations about PrEP, HIV, and STIs. Patients can feel the difference between transactional care and being truly seen and understood.
“We’ve also intentionally designed an experience that prioritizes dignity, privacy, and continuity,” she says. “Patients aren’t treated like numbers. At Q Care Plus, our patients are supported longitudinally by their assigned providers, with care plans tailored to their needs and lives. For many in small or underserved communities, that combination of clinical excellence, discretion, and a culture of respect creates a space where sexual health is no longer taboo but is normalized and actively supported.”
Our model is built on highly trained, specialized clinicians in HIV prevention and treatment who are comfortable having nuanced, judgment-free conversations about PrEP, HIV, and STIs. Patients can feel the difference between transactional care and being truly seen and understood.
This patient experience of inclusive, compassionate care continues when their prescriptions are filled through the Avita Pharmacy network, Creamer says. Avita pharmacy teams receive extensive training and specialize in culturally competent HIV, PrEP, and LGBTQ+ care and support. Over 70% of Avita pharmacists are currently certified as HIV Pharmacists by the American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM).
“Our teams truly understand the unique barriers and needs of our patients, including medication adherence, insurance prior authorizations, medication financial assistance, transportation challenges, and care coordination with their medical providers,” he says. “This allows our pharmacy teams to fully support our patients on their personal healthcare journeys and achieve the best possible outcomes.”
Our teams truly understand the unique barriers and needs of our patients, including medication adherence, insurance prior authorizations, medication financial assistance, transportation challenges, and care coordination with their medical providers. This allows our pharmacy teams to fully support our patients on their personal healthcare journeys and achieve the best possible outcomes.
