Telemonitoring of Diabetic Retinopathy in Rural Areas in Lithuania : [elektroninis išteklius]

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to show the advantage of telemedicine and new diagnostic equipment and technologies in monitoring diabetic retinopathy in rural areas. This is an effective method and can help in early diagnosis of possible complications of diabetic retinopathy. Introduction Diabetic retinopathy is the second most prevalent cause of blindness in Lithuania. Its diagnostics and treatment is concentrated at 5 largest cities of Lithuania. However, rural population’s access to tertiary level specialists is limited by travel to the main centers (factors are patient mobility and accessibility to public transportation) and by long wait times. There is a lack of ophthalmologists in rural areas in Lithuania and main healthcare service provider is usually a general practitioner. Telemonitoring, homecare could help avert this trend and improve clinical outcomes. The aim of the project is to develop and implement a protocol for delivering diabetes screening at primary care level using advanced ophthalmic diagnostics with the purpose of bringing services and diagnostics closer and faster to the patients in rural areas. Objectives Objective 1: To develop the protocol and training program using mobile digital medical diagnostic systems – fundus camera and camera for anterior part of the eye; Objective 2: To train the primary care medical personnel on early diagnostics of diabetes using new telemedicine diagnostic equipment and technologies;...[...].