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American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) have a high risk of diabetes-related vision loss, in part because only half get the annual eye exam needed for timely diagnosis and treatment. But using an innovative telemedicine program, IHS increased the number of AI/ANs who receive an annual retina exam by 20% from 2007 to 2015.
The IHS teleophthalmology program, established in 2000, provides high-quality retinal exams in primary care clinics. More than 70,000 retinal exams have been done for AI/AN patients, IHS says. The exam can be done during a regular office visit without dilation. The retinal photographs are sent electronically to a central reading center where they’re interpreted by trained and certified IHS eye doctors.
The program, available at about 100 sites in 25 states, has not only increased access, IHS says, but also reduced the overall cost of care by preventing complications resulting from delayed or missed care. Screening and treating eye disease in patients with diabetes mellitus costs $3,190 per quality-adjusted life-year saved, IHS says; $840,000 would be saved annually in detecting high-risk diabetic retinopathy (DR). Another $1,090,000 would be saved by reducing the need for additional surgery for complications resulting from delayed identification of patients with high-risk DR.
The program has been validated to American Telemedicine Association Category 3, meaning its clinical outcome is equal to or better than a conventional eye examination for DR. As one of the few and largest programs validated and operating at this level, IHS says the teleophthalmology program has brought high-quality point-of-care specialty service to more than 150,000 AI/AN patients.
American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) have a high risk of diabetes-related vision loss, in part because only half get the annual eye exam needed for timely diagnosis and treatment. But using an innovative telemedicine program, IHS increased the number of AI/ANs who receive an annual retina exam by 20% from 2007 to 2015.
The IHS teleophthalmology program, established in 2000, provides high-quality retinal exams in primary care clinics. More than 70,000 retinal exams have been done for AI/AN patients, IHS says. The exam can be done during a regular office visit without dilation. The retinal photographs are sent electronically to a central reading center where they’re interpreted by trained and certified IHS eye doctors.
The program, available at about 100 sites in 25 states, has not only increased access, IHS says, but also reduced the overall cost of care by preventing complications resulting from delayed or missed care. Screening and treating eye disease in patients with diabetes mellitus costs $3,190 per quality-adjusted life-year saved, IHS says; $840,000 would be saved annually in detecting high-risk diabetic retinopathy (DR). Another $1,090,000 would be saved by reducing the need for additional surgery for complications resulting from delayed identification of patients with high-risk DR.
The program has been validated to American Telemedicine Association Category 3, meaning its clinical outcome is equal to or better than a conventional eye examination for DR. As one of the few and largest programs validated and operating at this level, IHS says the teleophthalmology program has brought high-quality point-of-care specialty service to more than 150,000 AI/AN patients.
American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) have a high risk of diabetes-related vision loss, in part because only half get the annual eye exam needed for timely diagnosis and treatment. But using an innovative telemedicine program, IHS increased the number of AI/ANs who receive an annual retina exam by 20% from 2007 to 2015.
The IHS teleophthalmology program, established in 2000, provides high-quality retinal exams in primary care clinics. More than 70,000 retinal exams have been done for AI/AN patients, IHS says. The exam can be done during a regular office visit without dilation. The retinal photographs are sent electronically to a central reading center where they’re interpreted by trained and certified IHS eye doctors.
The program, available at about 100 sites in 25 states, has not only increased access, IHS says, but also reduced the overall cost of care by preventing complications resulting from delayed or missed care. Screening and treating eye disease in patients with diabetes mellitus costs $3,190 per quality-adjusted life-year saved, IHS says; $840,000 would be saved annually in detecting high-risk diabetic retinopathy (DR). Another $1,090,000 would be saved by reducing the need for additional surgery for complications resulting from delayed identification of patients with high-risk DR.
The program has been validated to American Telemedicine Association Category 3, meaning its clinical outcome is equal to or better than a conventional eye examination for DR. As one of the few and largest programs validated and operating at this level, IHS says the teleophthalmology program has brought high-quality point-of-care specialty service to more than 150,000 AI/AN patients.