Telemedicine-based diabetic retinopathy screening programs: an evaluation of utility and cost-effectiveness

Diabetes is the main cause of blindness among working age adults, although treatment is highly effective in preventing vision loss. Eye examinations are recommended on a yearly basis for most patients for timely detection of retinal disease. Telemedicine-based diabetic retinopathy screening (TMDRS)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSmart homecare technology and TeleHealth Vol. 3; p. 119
Main Author Cuadros, Jorge A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Abingdon Dove Medical Press Limited 01.01.2015
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
Accuracy
Blindness
Clinics
Cost analysis
Cost control
Diabetes
Diabetes therapy
Diabetic retinopathy
Diagnosis
Edema
Evaluation
Eye diseases
Glaucoma
Health maintenance organizations
Health screening
HMOs
Ophthalmology
Patients
Photography
Primary care
Retina
Social aspects
Systematic review
Telemedicine
Visual impairment
United States > US
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Summary:Diabetes is the main cause of blindness among working age adults, although treatment is highly effective in preventing vision loss. Eye examinations are recommended on a yearly basis for most patients for timely detection of retinal disease. Telemedicine-based diabetic retinopathy screening (TMDRS) programs have been developed to identify patients with sight-threatening diabetic eye disease because patients are often noncompliant with recommended live eye examinations. This article reviews the cost-effectiveness of the various forms of TMDRS. A review of relevant articles, mostly published since 2008, shows that societal benefits generally outweigh the costs of TMDRS. However, advances in technology to improve efficacy, lower costs, and broaden screening to other sight-threatening conditions, such as glaucoma and refractive error, are necessary to improve the sustainability of TMDRS within health care organizations. Patient satisfaction with these telemedicine programs is generally high. New models of shared care with primary care providers and staff are emerging to improve patient engagement and follow-up care when individuals are found to have sight-threatening eye disease. TMDRS programs are growing and provide valuable clinical benefit. The cost-utility is currently well proven in locations with limited access to regular eye care services, such as rural areas, poor communities, and prison systems; however, improvements over time are necessary for these programs to be cost-effective in mainstream medical settings in the future. Keywords: telemedicine, diabetes, retinopathy, retinal imaging
ISSN:2253-1564
2253-1564
DOI:10.2147/SHTT.S64448