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Panel: PanoCam Imaging System furthers telemedicine, introduces universal screening concept
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LAS VEGAS — Visunex Medical Systems has launched the PanoCam LT Wide-field Digital Imaging System and PanoCam Review Software to help further telemedicine and introduce universal screening of all newborns, according to a presentation here.
In a company media briefing preceding the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting, Darius M. Moshfeghi, MD, and a panel comprised of Audina M. Berrocal, MD, R.V. Paul Chan, MD, and Andrew A. Moshfeghi, MD, discussed trends and advances in pediatric ophthalmic imaging, as well as the concept of universal vision screening for all newborns.
Darius M. Moshfeghi
“I am one of those people who believes we should definitely do it,” Barrocal said.
Compared with universal hearing test requirements, she said, “we can actually take a photograph of the fundus and have so much more data.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all babies and children at all well-baby exams until the age of maturity have a red reflex exam, Darius Moshfeghi said, “which means approximately six exams in year 1, and one in every year after that, which is approximately 23 in every child.”
“What we learned from all of the data and why people were doing universal screening, is the old saying ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,’” Darius Moshfeghi said. ”The fundamental question is, can we identify disease early and possibly prevent amblyopia and subsequent refractive error?”
Regarding the potential of telemedicine for use in pediatric retinal disease worldwide, Chan said, “It’s very easy now. When you look at Internet capacity in the developing world, it’s booming. Internet is everywhere. So, the ability to actually upload images, sending them to a remote user in the US or anywhere else, or just to a skilled person, is relatively easy. It’s not impossible anymore.”
One of the biggest benefits of telemedicine is the idea of “telementoring,” according to Chan.
According to Andrew Moshfeghi, there are few barriers to limited telemedicine other than secure transmission.
“However, if you’re going to use a more complex system, monitoring multiple cases across many different hospitals in a larger geographic area, then you have to start looking at different medical-legal implications ,such as not only having the proper infrastructure with your computing software, but you also have to make sure that you are credentialed appropriately,” Andrew Moshfeghi said. – by Kristie L. Kahl
Disclosure: Darius Moshfeghi reports that he receives travel support from Clarity Medical Systems, and has equity in and is a consultant for Visunex Medical Systems.