Why Teleretinal Imaging is at Telemedicine’s Forefront of Innovation

Virtual medical services have become a standard part of care delivery in today’s healthcare environment. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the use of telemedicine practices, resulting in over 76% of US hospitals using telemedicine in some capacity since 2020. The pandemic may have started the trend, but it’s easy to see why people continue to use virtual medical services: Telemedicine is economical, efficient, effective, and growing in popularity.

Teleretinal imaging is one of the most reliable and impactful forms of telemedicine. It harnesses the power of the internet and advanced imaging capabilities to assist in identifying diseases like diabetic retinopathy, a condition linked to high blood sugar. It’s caused by leaking blood vessels in the retina, which can lead to blindness if left untreated. Anyone with diabetes is at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.

Primary care providers, community health clinics, in-home providers, and rural health centers can use teleretinal imaging to provide screenings for retinal diseases. Below are some ways this innovative imaging system can help you provide the best care for your patients.

 

Teleretinal Imaging Promotes Earlier Detection

The sooner health concerns are identified, the more time there is to create a treatment plan that will be optimally effective for patients. Using the IRIS platform for diabetic teleretinal screening promotes early detection of retinal issues. 

The IRIS teleretinal screening platform is a comprehensive diagnostic system. It’s composed of an innovative asynchronous teleretinal screening, drastically increasing accessibility to diabetic eye exams. The process is simple: 

1. Capture retinal images with a fundus camera.
2. Upload images to the secure, cloud-based platform. 
3. Image enhancement software is automatically applied to all fundus images.
4. Licensed eye care providers remotely diagnose images.
5. Images and diagnoses are delivered back into your EHR for easy patient referral.

 

Increased Access to Screenings

Using a teleretinal imaging solution increases diabetic retinal exam compliance by broadening access to screenings. With the increased accessibility of teleretinal imaging services, patients can receive their annual diabetic eye exams from their primary care provider, community health center, or home health service rather than having to schedule an additional appointment with an ophthalmologist, arrange transportation, and take time away from work or family. The ease of getting an eye exam at a routine check-up boosts the frequency of patient exams, which increases the possibility of early detection of diabetic retinopathy.

 

Teleretinal Imaging Creates a Larger Network of Communication

Teleretinal imaging solutions like the IRIS teleretinal screening platform can connect your practice with eye specialists who examine the images you submit and make diagnostic recommendations. The IRIS Reading Center (IRC) gives you access to a leading telemedicine physician group. The IRC network provides interpretations for diagnostic diabetic eye exams thousands of times a day, across all 50 states giving your providers and patients confidence in the knowledge of experts interpreting the results.

Teleretinal Imaging Can Help You Achieve Quick, Accurate Diagnoses

Teleretinal imaging solutions like IRIS leverage the power of fundus cameras to capture precise images of the back of the eye, also known as your retina. IRIS historically has the highest exam success rate in the industry. IRIS provides both original and enhanced images for interpretation which have an average gradability of 92–95%, compared to alternate teleretinal imaging technology, which has a gradability of about 80-85%. The better the image quality, the more likely a doctor will be able to see and diagnose an issue.

 

Teleretinal Imaging Can Increase Your Practice’s Offerings and Revenue

By adding services like diabetic retinopathy screenings, your practice will improve the quality of care and patient health, which leads to increased patient satisfaction rates. This also expands your revenue stream and access to other significant financial benefits related to HEDIS and HCC/RAF. 

 

Find out how much more revenue you could be bringing in with IRIS’s ROI calculator.

 

Looking Into the Future of Telemedicine 

The ever-expanding field of telemedicine has many benefits. Teleretinal imaging is an easy and effective way for doctors to take advantage of telemedicine to catch preventable sight-threatening illnesses.

In particular, IRIS’s asynchronous teleretinal screening technology provides the images and data that help eye care providers diagnose diabetic retinopathy and other eye diseases. It’s one of the most advanced telemedicine solutions on the market today, and it can elevate your practice and the care you deliver to your patients.

 

Interested in how IRIS could improve your practice? Use our ROI calculator and find out, or sign up for a demo to see our technology in action. 

FAQs

What is teleretinal screening?

Teleretinal screening is a diagnostic eye test to detect diabetic retinopathy and other eye conditions. Using a specialized camera, providers capture an image of the structures of the eye and upload it to a secure platform. Eye specialists can review the images to identify signs of diabetic retinopathy. Results are transmitted to the provider and/or patient through a portal.

What is a teleretinal screening program?
A teleretinal screening program offers increased patient access to critical eye health screenings. Programs can take place at community clinics, rural health centers, or via mobile health services. This offers patients an opportunity to receive a diabetic eye screening without needing to make an appointment with an eye specialist.

How is teleretinal imaging used? 

Teleretinal imaging helps improve the overall patient experience. For example, instead of a patient having to pay another co-pay, take another day off of work, and/or find someone to drive them, they can now get their eyes screened at their primary care provider’s office. It is then sent to the cloud (aka Telehealth) to be reviewed to find pathology.

 

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