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- Title
Improved Access and Cycle Time with an 'In-House' Patient-Centered Teleglaucoma Program Versus Traditional In-Person Assessment.
- Authors
Arora, Sourabh; Rudnisky, Chris J.; Damji, Karim F.
- Abstract
Background: To compare access time and cycle time between an 'in-house' teleglaucoma program and in-person glaucoma consultation. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective comparative study of 71 patients seen through the teleglaucoma program (eligible patients were glaucoma suspects or early-stage open-angle glaucoma) and 63 patients seen via a traditional in-person exam with a physician present. Access time was calculated as the time from the patient being referred to the date of a booked visit for either a teleglaucoma or in-person exam. Cycle time was defined as the time from registration until departure during the visit to the hospital; it was calculated for the subset of patients from each study group who completed activity logs on the day of their visit. Results: The mean access time was significantly shorter for patients seen through teleglaucoma compared with in-person exam: 45±22 days (range, 13-121 days) (n =68) versus 88±47 days (range, 27-214 days) (n =63), respectively (p <0.0001). The cycle time was also reduced for patients seen through teleglaucoma, compared with in-person assessment: 78±20 min (range, 40-130 min) (n =39) versus 115±44 min (range, 51-216 min) (n =39), respectively (p <0.001). The mean percentage time spent in the waiting room was also significantly reduced for patients seen through teleglaucoma versus in-person assessments: 19±13% versus 41±24% (n =39), respectively (p <0.01). Conclusions: Teleglaucoma improves access to care and is a more efficient way of managing glaucoma suspects and patients with early-stage glaucoma compared with in-person assessment.
- Subjects
GLAUCOMA treatment; TELEMEDICINE; OPHTHALMOLOGY; PATIENT-centered care; MEDICAL care; COMPARATIVE studies
- Publication
Telemedicine & e-Health, 2014, Vol 20, Issue 5, p439
- ISSN
1530-5627
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1089/tmj.2013.0241