Factors Associated with Utilization of Teleretinal Imaging in a Hospital-Based Primary Care Setting
Regular eye examinations to screen for the initial signs of diabetic retinopathy (DR) are crucial for preventing vision loss. Teleretinal imaging (TRI) offered in a primary care setting provides a means to improve adherence to DR screening, particularly for patients who face challenges in visiting e...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Vision |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5150/7/3/53 |
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| author | Kira J. Szulborski Selin Gumustop Claudia C. Lasalle Kate Hughes Shiyoung Roh David J. Ramsey |
| author_facet | Kira J. Szulborski Selin Gumustop Claudia C. Lasalle Kate Hughes Shiyoung Roh David J. Ramsey |
| author_sort | Kira J. Szulborski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Regular eye examinations to screen for the initial signs of diabetic retinopathy (DR) are crucial for preventing vision loss. Teleretinal imaging (TRI) offered in a primary care setting provides a means to improve adherence to DR screening, particularly for patients who face challenges in visiting eye care providers regularly. The present study evaluates the utilization of TRI to screen for DR in an outpatient, hospital-based primary care clinic. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) but without DR were eligible for point-of-care screening facilitated by their primary care provider, utilizing a non-mydriatic, handheld fundus camera. Patient demographics and clinical characteristics were extracted from the electronic medical record. Patients who underwent TRI were more likely to be male, non-White, and have up-to-date monitoring and treatment measures, including hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), microalbumin, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, in accordance with Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) guidelines. Our findings demonstrate that TRI can reduce screening costs compared to a strategy where all patients are referred for in-person eye examinations. A net present value (NPV) analysis indicates that a screening site reaches the break-even point of operation within one year if an average of two patients are screened per workday. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:51:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bbe9c71cf77949aeaf2df38168163202 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2411-5150 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:51:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vision |
| spelling | doaj.art-bbe9c71cf77949aeaf2df381681632022023-11-19T13:24:25ZengMDPI AGVision2411-51502023-08-01735310.3390/vision7030053Factors Associated with Utilization of Teleretinal Imaging in a Hospital-Based Primary Care SettingKira J. Szulborski0Selin Gumustop1Claudia C. Lasalle2Kate Hughes3Shiyoung Roh4David J. Ramsey5Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, 1 Essex Center Drive, Peabody, MA 01960, USADivision of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, 1 Essex Center Drive, Peabody, MA 01960, USADivision of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, 1 Essex Center Drive, Peabody, MA 01960, USADivision of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, 1 Essex Center Drive, Peabody, MA 01960, USADivision of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, 1 Essex Center Drive, Peabody, MA 01960, USADivision of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, 1 Essex Center Drive, Peabody, MA 01960, USARegular eye examinations to screen for the initial signs of diabetic retinopathy (DR) are crucial for preventing vision loss. Teleretinal imaging (TRI) offered in a primary care setting provides a means to improve adherence to DR screening, particularly for patients who face challenges in visiting eye care providers regularly. The present study evaluates the utilization of TRI to screen for DR in an outpatient, hospital-based primary care clinic. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) but without DR were eligible for point-of-care screening facilitated by their primary care provider, utilizing a non-mydriatic, handheld fundus camera. Patient demographics and clinical characteristics were extracted from the electronic medical record. Patients who underwent TRI were more likely to be male, non-White, and have up-to-date monitoring and treatment measures, including hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), microalbumin, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, in accordance with Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) guidelines. Our findings demonstrate that TRI can reduce screening costs compared to a strategy where all patients are referred for in-person eye examinations. A net present value (NPV) analysis indicates that a screening site reaches the break-even point of operation within one year if an average of two patients are screened per workday.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5150/7/3/53diabetic retinopathydiabetes mellitusscreeningtelemedicineteleretinal imagingcost analysis |
| spellingShingle | Kira J. Szulborski Selin Gumustop Claudia C. Lasalle Kate Hughes Shiyoung Roh David J. Ramsey Factors Associated with Utilization of Teleretinal Imaging in a Hospital-Based Primary Care Setting Vision diabetic retinopathy diabetes mellitus screening telemedicine teleretinal imaging cost analysis |
| title | Factors Associated with Utilization of Teleretinal Imaging in a Hospital-Based Primary Care Setting |
| title_full | Factors Associated with Utilization of Teleretinal Imaging in a Hospital-Based Primary Care Setting |
| title_fullStr | Factors Associated with Utilization of Teleretinal Imaging in a Hospital-Based Primary Care Setting |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors Associated with Utilization of Teleretinal Imaging in a Hospital-Based Primary Care Setting |
| title_short | Factors Associated with Utilization of Teleretinal Imaging in a Hospital-Based Primary Care Setting |
| title_sort | factors associated with utilization of teleretinal imaging in a hospital based primary care setting |
| topic | diabetic retinopathy diabetes mellitus screening telemedicine teleretinal imaging cost analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5150/7/3/53 |
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