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Electronic referrals hasten, improve rate of diabetic eye exams
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A pilot program involving electronic data exchange between Vision Source optometric practices and a large Midwest health system resulted in eye exams being performed in every patient with diabetes.
Vision Source announced in a press release that prior to implementing the Vision Source-Kno2 interoperability solution, the health system documented eye exam findings for only 35% of the referrals. The referrals were primarily provided on paper, and it was the patient’s responsibility to schedule the exam.
“Now post-examination results are received on every referral within 48 hours after the encounter with the optometrist, and the data flows right into the patient’s electronic health record regardless of variation in the electronic health record used on either end of the care continuum,” Vision Source stated in the release. “What was once an open-ended process that took 4 to 12 weeks is now secure and expedited, closing the loop on those referrals to 7 to 10 days.”
Vision Source chief medical officer Paul Williams, OD, said in the press release that the network’s adoption of interoperability widens the already-existing differential Vision Source provides in its relationships with health systems, accountable care organizations, health plans and leading medical groups across the country.
Kno2 CEO Jon Elwell said in the release: “Our company purpose is to eliminate fax from health care. This is a great example of how the Kno2 technology, combined with the influence of a care network and a community outreach program, accomplishes that goal.”