Meet Alisa Lord: Transforming In-Home Member Experiences with a Passion for Eye Care

At Retina Labs, our team of field technologists play a pivotal role in helping health plans close critical HEDIS gaps in care measures by delivering timely in-home preventive screening services for their members. This month, we’re excited to highlight Alisa Lord, one of our dedicated Retinal Imaging Technologists whose passion for home-based care and deep expertise in teleophthalmology make a lasting impact on the lives of the health plan members we serve.

Alisa’s Journey into Preventive Eye Care

Before joining Retina Labs, Alisa had spent over 12 years specializing in retinal disease detection as the head retinal imaging photographer and clinical supervisor for an ophthalmology practice in Florida. Knowing that she wanted to continue her career path in vision care, she jumped at the chance to join Retina Labs when the opportunity presented itself.

“As soon as I looked into Retina Labs and saw that my career plan goals aligned with their mission, I knew I wanted to be part of the company and help end preventable blindness caused by diabetic eye disease,” Alisa recalls.

With an extensive background in ophthalmology combined with her passion for helping patients and members protect their long-term vision, Alisa brings a wealth of knowledge and compassion to the table of every in-home visit she makes with health plan members.

Bringing Preventive Screenings Directly into Members’ Homes

As a Retinal Imaging Technologist, Alisa spends most days visiting with health plan members in their homes, conducting teleretinal screenings and bone density scans while providing educational opportunities about the importance of annual eye exams and diabetic eye health.

“A typical day starts by calling each member I’ve been scheduled to visit with in-home before I arrive to make sure they’re prepared and comfortable,” Alisa explains. “Since I’m in their home, I want them to feel at ease by walking them through every step of the process, answering their questions, and ensure that they understand their results before I leave.”

This personal, one-on-one approach helps overcome access to care barriers which can include transportation/mobility limitations, scheduling challenges, or simply not understanding the risks often associated with conditions like diabetic eye disease. By closing these gaps in care, Alisa not only improves individual health outcomes but also supports Retina Labs’ health plan client partners by meeting their quality improvement goals on a member-by-member basis.

Making an Impact, One In-Home Member Visit at a Time

For Alisa, the most rewarding part of her role is seeing firsthand how education helps empower members to take control of their health.

“During one memorable in-home visit, I sat with a member who didn’t fully understand diabetes and the negative downstream effects it could have on their vision and overall health. After explaining everything in simple terms, this member had a lightbulb moment where they realized it was time to start taking proactive measures to better control their diabetes. Knowing that our conversation helped them change their overall outlook on ways they can participate in their own care journey was incredibly rewarding.”

This personal connection and story further underscore why Retina Labs’ proven approach to delivering in-home preventive screenings are so invaluable, given that our team’s daily interactions with members provide the opportunity to educate them on properly addressing their chronic conditions early - before irreversible damage can occur.

Retina Labs Culture: Teamwork, Training, & Growth

Alisa credits Retina Labs’ supportive culture and ongoing training for establishing success in her role.

“The workplace culture here at Retina Labs is wonderful. We support each other as a team, knowing there’s always someone willing to help whenever you have any questions or challenges. Retina Labs also ensures that our Field Technologist team is provided with continuous learning opportunities through team meetings and round table discussions, helping us maintain and deliver the highest quality standards in home-based preventive care.”

Her advice for anyone considering joining the team?

“DO IT! If helping patients/members with both long-term vision and diabetic care coordination is your calling, becoming a field technologist at Retina Labs gives you the chance to truly make a tangible difference on a daily basis.”

A Shared Mission: Preserving Vision & Improving Health Outcomes

Since the beginning of her healthcare journey over 15 years ago, Alisa’s mission to help people protect their eyesight has remained the focal point of her career path goals.

“Eye health is so important, and vision is the number one sense people fear losing the most. Being part of a team that helps preserve that gift is incredibly meaningful to me.”

Through her work, Alisa embodies the heart of Retina Labs’ own company mission, which is to deliver preventive care where it’s needed most, improve health outcomes, and empower health plans to close critical gaps in care for their members.

Alisa’s dedication, compassion, and expertise reflect what makes Retina Labs truly unique. By bringing preventive screenings directly into each member’s home, she helps patients stay ahead of vision-threatening diabetic eye disease while supporting our health plan client partners on their quality improvement goals to deliver high-quality accessible care.