Clinicians educate, communicate with patients through new technology

Practitioners can use a new Internet-based service to contact patients, send appointment reminders and educate them on relevant ocular conditions prior to and after the office visit.

Cheryl Barton

The 3D-Eye Home from Eyemaginations is an animated program that uses detailed images in a comprehensive video format to explain various eye conditions and available treatment options to patients. For an annual fee, practitioners can send this program through e-mail or distribute CDs to cut down on chair time with patients and promote their practice.

“A practice with technology at the forefront is definitely what patients want these days,” Cheryl Barton, OD, said in an interview with Primary Care Optometry News. “So, any way that you’re communicating via technology — like sending an e-mail, which goes directly to their iPhone or BlackBerry — will give you an edge.

“We are using the program as a way to remind patients about their appointment time and to direct them to any conditions we feel may be relevant,” Dr. Barton continued. “In the e-mail we send, we direct them to the 3D-Eye Home as well as to our Web site if they want to send us an e-mail, look on our Web site for any additional information or download their forms before coming into the office.”

Features of the 3D-Eye Home

The 3D-Eye Home is divided into four general areas: condition overviews, surgical treatments, optical solutions and contact lenses. Within each area are several animated segments explaining specific conditions, surgical options, information on available frames, as well as instructional videos on caring for and wearing contact lenses.

The program features a customizable physician homepage, which states the practitioner’s name and contact information, as well as the option of including a Web site address for the practice. Because the 3D-Eye Home uses the Internet to share Eyemaginations’ educational tools, patients can forward the 3D-Eye Home Web site address to friends and family, increasing exposure for the practice and fostering patient referrals.

“I’ve had patients tell me they are e-mailing it to other people,” Jeanette Lee, OD, said in an interview with PCON. “Our highest referral is from patients, and this just adds to it.”

According to Charles R. Mead, OD, the best feature of the 3D-Eye Home is the animated modules that are more informative and educational than a brochure.

Dr. Lee agrees, stating that surgical procedures such as LASIK seem less intimidating to patients after they watch the animated module.

“People really like LASIK but they’re almost afraid to ask about it,” she said. “The way that 3D-Eye Home shows the LASIK procedure makes it look very high-tech, but the cartoon animation places a positive spin on it and makes patients feel detached; they get the understanding without the fear. By pulling away the fear from surgical options, patients feel a lot better and will consider getting the treatment.”

More efficient visits

An advantage of sending the 3D-Eye Home to patients when they first schedule an appointment is the opportunity for them to look through the information and think about the different treatment options before they come in, Dr. Barton said. This saves time for the staff as well as chair time, leading to an overall more efficient visit.

“It’s a great product because it allows us to put together templates that we can send out in group e-mails to patients,” Dr. Barton said. “The 3D-Eye Home directs the patient to a Web site that is filled with information about different eye conditions and how we treat those conditions, so that they can educate themselves before they even come in for their eye exam and know the right questions to ask,” Dr. Barton said.

“We also have them review the Optos information before they come in, which helps them understand what an Optomap exam is and why we recommend it,” she continued.

Offering information for compliance

According to Dr. Lee, the 3D-Eye Home helps patients better understand the diagnosis given after an eye exam, which ensures better treatment compliance.

“Compliance is much higher, altogether, with better communication, and optometrists need to learn better ways to communicate and share their treatment plan,” Dr. Lee said. “Most patients who don’t follow the plan do so just because they misunderstand it. Sometimes it’s too much information. So when I send my eye report after their exam, it reinforces what I told them in the office.”

Dr. Lee added that the program is especially helpful for conditions such as glaucoma.

Dr. Barton agrees, saying that often when patients have an initial diagnosis of glaucoma, it helps them understand the necessary testing better.

For more information:

• Cheryl Barton, OD, can be reached at Woodbine Eye Care, 5389 Woodbine Rd., Pace, FL 32571; (850) 995-3232, fax: (850) 995-2606; e-mail: wbicare@bellsouth.net. Dr. Barton has no direct financial interest in the products mentioned in this article, nor is she a paid consultant for any companies mentioned.
• Jeanette Lee, OD, can be reached at 20/20 Optometry of Silicon Valley, 2555 North First Street, San Jose, CA 9513; (408) 433-0800, fax: (408) 577-0849; e-mail: lee@2020eyesonline.com. Dr. Lee has no direct financial interest in the products mentioned in this article, nor is she a paid consultant for any companies mentioned.
• Charles R. Mead, OD, can be reached at Mead EyeCare and EyeWear, 1502 Woodlane Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125; (651) 735-9550, fax: (651) 735-9322; e-mail: 4U2C@meadeyecare.com. Dr. Mead has no direct financial interest in the products mentioned in this article, nor is he a paid consultant for any companies mentioned.

The 3-D Eye Home is available from EyeMaginations, 600 Washington Ave., Suite 100, Towson, MD 21204; (877) 321-5481; (410) 321-5481; fax: (410) 616-8657; e-mail: info@eyemaginations.com; Web site: www.eyemaginations.com.