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Abstract #52084 Published in IGR 14-4
Screening diabetic and hypertensive patients for ocular pathology using telemedicine technology in rural West Virginia: a retrospective chart review
Ahmed R; Petrany S; Fry R; Krasnow MThe West Virginia medical journal 2013; 109: 6-10
PURPOSE: There is a disparity between the number of people who need healthcare and availability of medical services in rural areas. This paper describes the experience of using telemedicine technologies for ophthalmologic evaluation in diabetic and hypertensive patients presenting to a community health center in rural West Virginia. METHODS: A registered nurse at a community health center in McDowell County, WV was trained to use a retinal camera to capture high-resolution digital images of the retina. Patients with diabetes or hypertension were screened during their routine primary care visits. Retinal photos were transmitted to an ophthalmologist for review and reports from the screenings were returned with instruction for follow-up care or specialist referral when indicated. FINDINGS: A retrospective chart review of 643 patients with diabetes or hypertension who were screened for ocular problems from October 2003 to December 2009 was completed. 44.8% of patients who were screened in the primary care center were identified as having 1 of 34 types of eye pathology that were previously unknown, of which 33% of patients were recommended to seek prompt attention by a retina consultant or glaucoma specialist for suspected ocular pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Our review demonstrates the actual benefits of telemedicine in the effective screening of diabetic and hypertensive patients for eye pathology, and our experience suggests that using distance medicine and telemedicine technologies is valuable for screening rural populations.
Department of Internal Medicine, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, USA.
Classification:
6.19 Telemedicine (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods)
1.6 Prevention and screening (Part of: 1 General aspects)
