AIMS: To report on results of an innovative glaucoma shared-care scheme based in Peterborough, UK. METHODS: A retrospective review of all new appointments with 11 community-based specialist optometrists in glaucoma (SOG) was conducted. There are two tiers of SOG, whereby tier 2 SOGs have increased levels of autonomy. All optometrist assessments were reviewed by a consultant ophthalmologist, and levels of agreement were calculated for assessment of optic nerve head appearance, Humphrey visual field test interpretation, diagnosis and outcome. RESULTS: 1639 new patients were assessed by SOGs over a 4-year period. The median waiting time for patients from referral to SOG assessment was 0 days (IQR 0-56), and from SOG assessment to consultant review in a virtual clinic was 12 days (IQR 8-18days). After first appointment, over 60% of patients were classified as low-risk and remained within the SOG scheme. Rates of frank disagreement between SOG and consultant regarding diagnosis and proposed outcome were 5.6 and 10.4%, respectively, for tier 2 SOGs and 15.3 and 28.6%, respectively, for tier 1 SOGs. CONCLUSIONS: The SOG scheme demonstrates acceptable levels of accuracy between SOG and glaucoma consultant. This scheme allows many stable low-risk patients to remain out of hospital eye department outpatient clinics.
AIMS: To report on results of an innovative glaucoma shared-care scheme based in Peterborough, UK. METHODS: A retrospective review of all new appointments with 11 community-based specialist optometrists in glaucoma (SOG) was conducted. There are two tiers of SOG, whereby tier 2 SOGs have increased levels of autonomy. All optometrist assessments were reviewed by a consultant ophthalmologist, and levels of agreement were calculated for assessment of optic nerve head appearance, Humphrey visual field test interpretation, diagnosis and outcome. RESULTS: 1639 new patients were assessed by SOGs over a 4-year period. The median waiting time for patients from referral to SOG assessment was 0 days (IQR 0-56), and from SOG assessment to consultant review in a virtual clinic was 12 days (IQR 8-18days). After first appointment, over 60% of patients were classified as low-risk and remained within the SOG scheme. Rates of frank disagreement between SOG and consultant regarding diagnosis and proposed outcome were 5.6 and 10.4%, respectively, for tier 2 SOGs and 15.3 and 28.6%, respectively, for tier 1 SOGs. CONCLUSIONS: The SOG scheme demonstrates acceptable levels of accuracy between SOG and glaucoma consultant. This scheme allows many stable low-risk patients to remain out of hospital eye department outpatient clinics.
Entities:
Keywords:
Community; glaucoma; optometrist; shared care
Authors: Dawn A Sim; Danny Mitry; Philip Alexander; Adam Mapani; Srini Goverdhan; Tariq Aslam; Adnan Tufail; Catherine A Egan; Pearse A Keane Journal: J Diabetes Sci Technol Date: 2016-02-01