Digital Eye Care and Teleophthalmology


Book Description

This book describes digital ophthalmology and telemedicine applications for both front of the eye and retina. It includes technical issues, digital imaging, what clinical parameters to use, which technologies are suitable, and collective experiences of practitioners in different parts of the world practicing a wide range of digital eye care delivery. The main purpose of this book is to provide adequate information to clinicians and other health professionals who are involved in eye care delivery to assess how digital health in ophthalmology might be applied to their working practice, how digital screenings are performed, and to learn about virtual image reading. Many of the chapters are also helpful to health service managers, imaging specialists, and information technology staff. Digital Eye Care and Teleophthalmology: A Practical Guide to Applications examines digital eye care to provide state of art ophthalmic services. It is an essential resource for professionals involved in eye care seeking to develop or improve their digital applications in daily practice.




Teleophthalmology


Book Description

This book explains technical issues, digital imaging, and offers collective experiences of practitioners in different parts of the world practicing a wide range of teleophthalmology applications. It is the first book in ophthalmology covering this hot topic. The book encompasses access to specialist eye care for remote patients. It also covers ophthalmic disease screening, monitoring, diagnosing and management, and sharing of medical resources. The book is highly structured and concise. Ophthalmologists, optometrists, nurses, and primary care providers will find valuable and up-to-date information on how to successfully establish programs in this field.




Digital Teleretinal Screening


Book Description

Digital retinal imaging performed by primary care providers and nurses, followed by remote image interpretation (teleretinal imaging), is rapidly acquiring a crucial role in many parts of the world as it permits the detection of major diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, in patients who would otherwise be beyond the reach of a trained ophthalmologist. In this book, experts from around the world describe how digital teleretinal screening can be set up and optimally utilized. Technical issues are discussed, and the appropriate use of screening for different diseases and in different age groups is explained. The major part of the book draws upon the clinical experience of leading practitioners in a wide range of teleretinal applications. The result is a comprehensive source of high-quality information for clinicians and other health professionals who are involved in eye care delivery, so that they can assess how teleretinal screening might be applied to their working practice.




Innovative Approaches in the Delivery of Primary and Secondary Eye Care


Book Description

This unique book will provide readers with an understanding of innovative models of delivering both primary and secondary eye care, focusing not just on providing quality care itself, but on best practices to provide and strengthen comprehensive eye care services. A wide variety of conditions will be addressed in Innovative Approaches in the Delivery of Primary and Secondary Eye Care, including childhood blindness, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, age related macular degeneration, and refractive errors. Detailed descriptions of various models are presented for each condition, which are then followed by a discussion for incorporating integrated eye care services; highlighting the importance of health system approach in comprehensive eye care. Finally, this book provides detailed strategies to address the current practical challenges related to human resources in eye care, and methods to ensure financial sustainability in the delivery of comprehensive care. Each chapter is illustrated for understanding and clarity, and provides easy-to-read tables to further enrich the text. Covering existing models of delivering care, with a look to the future, Innovative Approaches in the Delivery of Primary and Secondary Eye Care is designed for practicing ophthalmologists, residents, public health specialists and all other affiliated professionals dedicated to strengthening avenues of integrated, comprehensive eye care.




Teleophthalmology in Preventive Medicine


Book Description

This book provides an up-to-date overview of the clinical applications, methods, and technologies of teleophthalmology within the field of preventive medicine. The ability of novel methods to detect the initial signs of neurodegenerative diseases on the basis of alterations in the retina is reviewed, and detailed attention is paid to the role of teleophthalmology in screening for vision-threatening diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. A major part of the book is devoted to novel imaging methods and the latest information technologies, including advanced mobile communication and Web 2.0 applications in teleophthalmology. In addition, the initial projects of an interdisciplinary cooperation in preventive medicine are described. All of the authors are experienced in the scientific and practical aspects of teleophthalmology, including e-learning, and have produced a book that will meet the needs of all medical care providers interested in using teleophthalmology.







Making Eye Health a Population Health Imperative


Book Description

The ability to see deeply affects how human beings perceive and interpret the world around them. For most people, eyesight is part of everyday communication, social activities, educational and professional pursuits, the care of others, and the maintenance of personal health, independence, and mobility. Functioning eyes and vision system can reduce an adult's risk of chronic health conditions, death, falls and injuries, social isolation, depression, and other psychological problems. In children, properly maintained eye and vision health contributes to a child's social development, academic achievement, and better health across the lifespan. The public generally recognizes its reliance on sight and fears its loss, but emphasis on eye and vision health, in general, has not been integrated into daily life to the same extent as other health promotion activities, such as teeth brushing; hand washing; physical and mental exercise; and various injury prevention behaviors. A larger population health approach is needed to engage a wide range of stakeholders in coordinated efforts that can sustain the scope of behavior change. The shaping of socioeconomic environments can eventually lead to new social norms that promote eye and vision health. Making Eye Health a Population Health Imperative: Vision for Tomorrow proposes a new population-centered framework to guide action and coordination among various, and sometimes competing, stakeholders in pursuit of improved eye and vision health and health equity in the United States. Building on the momentum of previous public health efforts, this report also introduces a model for action that highlights different levels of prevention activities across a range of stakeholders and provides specific examples of how population health strategies can be translated into cohesive areas for action at federal, state, and local levels.




Textbook of Community Ophthalmology


Book Description

This book presents a comprehensive treatise on community ophthalmology principles and practices for countries with developing and emerging economies. It is replete with chapters on basic epidemiology, health economics, basic statistics and lays the foundation of the global eye health-care programs with skills for community-based epidemiological projects in eye care. With extensive experience in conducting various epidemiological surveys funded by the Ministry of Health, WHO, Indian Council of Medical Research, etc., the editors provide practical knowledge to ophthalmologists, public health specialists, physician-scientists, researchers, eye care program managers, optometrists, and academicians involved in community ophthalmology operational studies. Key Features: • Presents a single platform for knowing everything about community ophthalmology from statistics and epidemiology to financing in an easy and succinct manner. • Serves as a robust resource and an advanced teaching tool for medical professionals. • Includes well-illustrated, succinct chapters for better understanding of various aspects of public health in eye care. • Provides tips and tricks for dealing with both expected and unexpected situations while conducting epidemiological research and data collection in the field.




The Role of Telehealth in an Evolving Health Care Environment


Book Description

In 1996, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released its report Telemedicine: A Guide to Assessing Telecommunications for Health Care. In that report, the IOM Committee on Evaluating Clinical Applications of Telemedicine found telemedicine is similar in most respects to other technologies for which better evidence of effectiveness is also being demanded. Telemedicine, however, has some special characteristics-shared with information technologies generally-that warrant particular notice from evaluators and decision makers. Since that time, attention to telehealth has continued to grow in both the public and private sectors. Peer-reviewed journals and professional societies are devoted to telehealth, the federal government provides grant funding to promote the use of telehealth, and the private technology industry continues to develop new applications for telehealth. However, barriers remain to the use of telehealth modalities, including issues related to reimbursement, licensure, workforce, and costs. Also, some areas of telehealth have developed a stronger evidence base than others. The Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) sponsored the IOM in holding a workshop in Washington, DC, on August 8-9 2012, to examine how the use of telehealth technology can fit into the U.S. health care system. HRSA asked the IOM to focus on the potential for telehealth to serve geographically isolated individuals and extend the reach of scarce resources while also emphasizing the quality and value in the delivery of health care services. This workshop summary discusses the evolution of telehealth since 1996, including the increasing role of the private sector, policies that have promoted or delayed the use of telehealth, and consumer acceptance of telehealth. The Role of Telehealth in an Evolving Health Care Environment: Workshop Summary discusses the current evidence base for telehealth, including available data and gaps in data; discuss how technological developments, including mobile telehealth, electronic intensive care units, remote monitoring, social networking, and wearable devices, in conjunction with the push for electronic health records, is changing the delivery of health care in rural and urban environments. This report also summarizes actions that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) can undertake to further the use of telehealth to improve health care outcomes while controlling costs in the current health care environment.