Implementation of a cloud-based referral platform in ophthalmology: making telemedicine services a reality in eye care
Background
Hospital Eye Services (HES) in the UK face an increasing number of optometric referrals driven by progress in retinal imaging. The National Health Service (NHS) published a 10-year strategy (NHS Long-Term Plan) to transform services to meet this challenge. In this study, we implemented a cloud-based referral platform to improve communication between optometrists and ophthalmologists.
Methods
Retrospective cohort study conducted at Moorfields Eye Hospital, Croydon (NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK). Patients classified into the HES referral pathway by contributing optometrists have been included into this study. Main outcome measures was the reduction of unnecessary referrals.
Results
After reviewing the patient’s data in a web-based interface 54 (52%) out of 103 attending patients initially classified into the referral pathway did not need a specialist referral. Fourteen (14%) patients needing urgent treatment were identified. Usability was measured in duration for data input and reviewing which was an average of 9.2 min (median: 5.4; IQR: 3.4–8.7) for optometrists and 3.0 min (median: 3.0; IQR: 1.7–3.9) min for ophthalmologists. A variety of diagnosis was covered by this tool with dry age-related macular degeneration (n=34) being most common.
Conclusion
After implementation more than half of the HES referrals have been avoided. This platform offers a digital-first solution that enables rapid-access eye care for patients in community optometrists, facilitates communication between healthcare providers and may serve as a foundation for implementation of artificial intelligence.
Top-30
Journals
|
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
|
|
|
Eye
7 publications, 9.09%
|
|
|
Ophthalmologe
4 publications, 5.19%
|
|
|
Progress in Retinal and Eye Research
3 publications, 3.9%
|
|
|
Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics
3 publications, 3.9%
|
|
|
Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology
2 publications, 2.6%
|
|
|
Translational Vision Science and Technology
2 publications, 2.6%
|
|
|
JMIR Medical Informatics
2 publications, 2.6%
|
|
|
JAMA Ophthalmology
2 publications, 2.6%
|
|
|
Frontiers in Medicine
2 publications, 2.6%
|
|
|
International Journal of Retina and Vitreous
2 publications, 2.6%
|
|
|
Clinical and Experimental Optometry
2 publications, 2.6%
|
|
|
British Journal of Ophthalmology
2 publications, 2.6%
|
|
|
BMJ Open
2 publications, 2.6%
|
|
|
Digital Health
2 publications, 2.6%
|
|
|
Sustainability
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
Telemedicine Journal and e-Health
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
Current Opinion in Ophthalmology
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
Medicine (United States)
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
Journal of the Chinese Medical Association
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
European Journal of Ophthalmology
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
npj Digital Medicine
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
Ophthalmology and Therapy
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
Die Ophthalmologie
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
Ocular Surface
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
Ophthalmology Science
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
PLoS ONE
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
Ophthalmology
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
The Lancet Digital Health
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
|
Publishers
|
5
10
15
20
25
|
|
|
Springer Nature
22 publications, 28.57%
|
|
|
Elsevier
13 publications, 16.88%
|
|
|
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
6 publications, 7.79%
|
|
|
Wiley
6 publications, 7.79%
|
|
|
BMJ
5 publications, 6.49%
|
|
|
SAGE
4 publications, 5.19%
|
|
|
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)
2 publications, 2.6%
|
|
|
JMIR Publications
2 publications, 2.6%
|
|
|
American Medical Association (AMA)
2 publications, 2.6%
|
|
|
Frontiers Media S.A.
2 publications, 2.6%
|
|
|
MDPI
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
Mary Ann Liebert
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
Academy of Medicine Singapore
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
IntechOpen
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
Walter de Gruyter
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
British Psychological Society
1 publication, 1.3%
|
|
|
5
10
15
20
25
|
- We do not take into account publications without a DOI.
- Statistics recalculated weekly.