As the COVID-19 pandemic prompted new concerns for doctors and their patients, Moran’s ophthalmologists found ways to adapt.
Few medical exams require patients and doctors to sit face-to-face, 英寸的间距, 有一段时间了. But it’s an everyday scenario when it comes to ophthalmology.
The COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating physical distancing and personal protective equipment, required 约翰一. 莫兰眼科中心 physicians and their colleagues across the country to innovate and accelerate the use of 远程医疗.
在2020年之前, teleophthalmology visits were mainly used for connecting eye centers with rural communities or in areas around the world, allowing specialists to help local physicians assess a patient’s condition.
While the technology doesn’t lend itself to such things as examining peripheral 愿景 or checking eye pressure, it has proven effective for specialties diagnosing apparent conditions such as droopy eyelids.
At Moran, 远程医疗 efforts have taken various forms depending on circumstance.
Adapting to Teleophthalmology
凯萨琳B. 马里兰州Digre, is a nationally renowned specialist in neuro-ophthalmology. In her words, she’s also “of a certain age.” So when COVID-19 changed the landscape of health care in
2020年3月, 她必须转向, 几乎一夜之间, to keep up with patients’ needs while keeping herself and her patients safe.
“My family was worried about exposure—to the point where they suggested I retire rather than keep working. I got it, but I have too much more to do,” she said. “我适应.”
From her office at Moran, she monitors an iPad while fellows and residents mask up and evaluate patients in the clinic. They then present their findings to Digre—often accompanied by visual test results—via a secured video call. If she needs to examine eye movements or pupils or evaluate visual field tests or photos, she can do so virtually.
As much as the system is working, Digre admits she would much rather be in the room with her patients.
“There have been and will be times when I do absolutely need to see a patient in person,” she said. “In that case, I put on full protective gear with a mask and face shield.”
The Patient Experience
Linda Bliss is retired and divides her time between Arizona and Wisconsin. For the past five years, she has experienced periodic episodes of light sensitivity and the sensation of “seeing a square box” in the middle of her 愿景. She consulted with several clinics in both of her home states but couldn’t find a doctor who understood her symptoms. Taking her search online, she found a video of Digre describing her exact symptoms and called Moran right away.
Bliss said she felt “completely comfortable” with a virtual visit.
“She sent me an eye exam sheet in advance,” explained Bliss. “那, 当大发娱乐在网上时, she had me do some eye movements, asked some questions, and told me exactly what was going on. It turns out what I was experiencing was an aura called a ‘cortical spreading depression,’ sort of like having a migraine, but without the headache. My experience with Dr. Digre was every bit as good as meeting her in person.”
Oculoplastic Consults Thriving
Although virtual consultations were new for 道格拉斯P. 马克思,医学博士, Moran’s di愿景 chief of oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery quickly embraced them.
“As soon as things shut down in March, I felt vulnerable because I knew so many of my patients were vulnerable,马克思说。. “The need was huge, and I didn’t want to leave anyone without help.”
Because almost everything Marx treats—from tear duct infections to orbital fractures and other traumas—starts with an external, 视觉评估, he used virtual visits with ease, relying on them as an excellent screening tool. Marx was then able to view scans remotely to form treatment plans.
“We kept a lot of people from coming to a place where they could possibly be exposed to other people and found that most of the time they didn’t need an in-person visit,马克思说。. “The patient satisfaction level for these visits ranks consistently high. I think it’s the future of medicine. I’m still doing a couple of 远程医疗 visits a day.”