Innovative drive-through clinic offers flexibility for patients with glaucoma
A novel drive-through IOP monitoring clinic in Raleigh, North Carolina, allows patients with moderate to severe glaucoma to be examined by an ophthalmologist so their disease can be monitored with minimal exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Patients can drive or be driven to the innovative clinic and never have to leave their cars to undergo a limited eye examination and have their IOP measured, Evelyn M. Kelly, practice administrator for Raleigh Ophthalmology, told Healio/OSN.
“Our patients may not want to come back to the waiting room. It’s been great, and everyone is very happy about this new idea,” Kelly said.
Raleigh Ophthalmology staff, wearing gloves and N95 masks, verify patient names and birth dates before each examination, which takes place in the clinic’s parking garage. The patient drives to a parking spot, and their vision is evaluated by viewing a vision chart on the garage wall, clinic manager Shelley Averette, COT, said. IOP is recorded using a hand-held Tono-Pen Avia (Reichert). After the patient undergoes an examination with a portable slit lamp and a crude visual field test, the clinician consults with the patient to determine a course of action.
“After the evaluation, the physician goes over their next step — if they need a visual field test or a dilated exam, if they need to change their eye drops, whatever their follow-up appointment will be. Our clinic’s scheduling hub calls them later in the day and schedules their follow-up appointment,” Averette said. “We are also ensuring patients have adequate refills on their medications.”
Since the drive-through clinic’s opening on March 30, between 40 and 50 patients have been examined. The clinic is open for 2 hours in the mornings and can fully examine about six patients per hour, Kelly said.
About 10% of patients who are offered the examination schedule an appointment, Kelly said.
The patients who take advantage of the drive-through clinic are usually pleased with their experience, M. Alan Dickens, MD, a glaucoma and cataract surgery specialist, told Healio/OSN.
“I think it gives them a feeling of calm to know that they’re being checked, that they’re maintaining their vision. It’s a good thing. Obviously, there is a risk that anytime you have a patient leave their home there’s potential for them, or for us, to be exposed, so we take all the necessary precautions to limit exposure,” he said.
The drive-through clinic will continue to be offered to Raleigh Ophthalmology patients as long as space in the parking garage is available and there is need. – by Robert Linnehan
Disclosures: The sources report no relevant financial disclosures.