Kotecha, A; Brookes, J; Foster, PJ; (2017) A technician-delivered 'virtual clinic' for triaging low-risk glaucoma referrals. Eye , 31 (6) pp. 899-905. 10.1038/eye.2017.9.

Preview

Text Foster_2016 10 Oct 18 - Revised pre publication Kotecha et al Triaging low risk in glaucoma virtual clinic.pdf - Accepted Version Download (389kB) | Preview

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe the outcomes of a technician-delivered glaucoma referral triaging service with ‘virtual review’ of resultant data by a consultant ophthalmologist. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Glaucoma Screening Clinic reviewed new optometrist or GP-initiated glaucoma suspect referrals into a specialist ophthalmic hospital. Patients underwent testing by three ophthalmic technicians in a dedicated clinical facility. Data were reviewed at a different time and date by a consultant glaucoma ophthalmologist. Approximately 10% of discharged patients were reviewed in a face-to-face consultant-led clinic to examine the false-negative rate of the service. RESULTS: Results Between 1 March 2014 and 31 March 2016, 1380 patients were seen in the clinic. The number of patients discharged following consultant virtual review was 855 (62%). The positive predictive value of onward referrals was 84%. Three of the 82 patients brought back for face-to-face review were deemed to require treatment, equating to negative predictive value of 96%. CONCLUSIONS: Our technician-delivered glaucoma referral triaging clinic incorporates consultant ‘virtual review’ to provide a service model that significantly reduces the number of onward referrals into the glaucoma outpatient department. This model may be an alternative to departments where there are difficulties in implementing optometrist-led community-based referral refinement schemes

Download activity - last month

Export as JSONCSVXML

Download activity - last 12 months

Export as JSONCSVXML

Downloads by country - last 12 months

Export as JSONCSVXML

Archive Staff Only

View Item