Technology

SAVING PATIENTS’ SIGHT REMOTELY

May 23, 2024

Saving Patients’ Sight Remotely

Dr. Marie Carole Boucher is a Montreal-based ophthalmologist and retina specialist. She had had enough with seeing patients lose their sight because of a disease that was easily preventable. To prevent any more of these patients from falling through the cracks, she implemented a telemedicine program to have work previously performed by doctors performed by cameras and nurses. Her goal today is to implement this program throughout the province of Quebec.

In her office at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Dr. Marie Carole Boucher opens a file with a click of the mouse. A large orange ball with red stripes appears on the screen. The photo does not depict a planet contrary to what one could initially believe but the interior of a patient’s eye.

Diabetic Eye Exam Imaging
Diabetic Eye Exam Imaging

This photo was taken using an ophthalmic device called a non-mydriatic fundus camera installed in Chisasibi, a Cree community located more than 1,000 kilometres away in the James Bay region. Dr. Boucher zooms in on a specific zone on her screen.

“Look here,” she says, pointing to a reddish spot. “It’s a hemorrhage. The patient does not know it, but if it is not treated within the next month, his sight will be irreversibly affected.” The specialist consults the patient’s information on the screen and then types in a few instructions.

“This will provide him with the treatment he needs. That’s what an efficient service corridor looks like,” she states with obvious satisfaction. All in all, Dr. Boucher’s intervention took less than two minutes. Another click of the mouse, another orange ball displayed on the screen.

That’s how it works: screening, triage and treatment of diabetic retinopathy using modern technology. Dr. Boucher indicates that the field is “booming” and that a few programs and pilot projects are underway in Quebec.

An Insidious Scourge

Diabetic retinopathy is the main cause of blindness among people under the age of 60. It results from diabetes attacking the blood vessels that irrigate the eye. The damaged vessels release blood that accumulates on the retina. To compensate for the lack of blood circulation, the eye can also react by increasing the growth of abnormal blood vessels which end up bleeding and further hinder the person’s sight.

The disease can be effectively treated using laser technology or medication. However, diabetes is taking on epidemic proportions and the system is having trouble keeping up with all of the patients who require treatment.

The problem with this disease is that there are no warning signs. People experience absolutely no symptoms because the disease has already reached an advanced stage once they start losing their sight.

The Right Patient At The Right Time

Her solution consists of deploying fundus cameras in clinics, community healthcare centres (CLSCs) and pharmacies. Each camera costs about $35,000, can be operated by a technician or a nurse and is capable of photographing patients’ retinas in less than ten minutes.

“The idea is to install the cameras where they are accessible to patients,” she says. Eye photos are automatically sent to healthcare specialists. Duly trained nurses have the ability to analyze the photos and they only send those involving problem cases to physicians. “The physician ends up examining only 10 out of every 100 screening images. And when he sees the patients, he sees them at the right time,” she explains. She hammers out her mantra like a slogan: “The right patient at the right place and at the right time.”

She also insists that the system’s purpose is not limited to detecting the disease. It also automatically ensures the follow-up of patients. The gains are particularly notable in the case of patients who live in remote areas, including Aboriginals among whom diabetes is a rampant health issue.

Given the reliability of the diagnoses as well as the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the treatments, Dr. Boucher estimates that diabetic retinopathy is the “ideal disease for telemedicine.” A revolutionary way of doing things? Dr. Boucher does not think so. To the contrary, she believes that this ‘revolution’ has been a long way in the making.

“Look around you. Everyone has been exchanging photos and images for years,” she points out. “It’s so easy! How is it that our healthcare system never thought of doing so? It makes absolutely no sense.”

Existing Programs

The Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital University Centre for Ophthalmology was the first in Quebec to deploy a camera-based retinopathy detection and monitoring program. A camera was installed at the hospital and the program covers the entire east end of the Island of Montreal. The program was funded by philanthropic donations (the president of Perseus Capital, Jean Turmel, and the Fondation J.-Louis Lévesque each donated $120,000 to the program).

A second official program, for which the McGill Integrated University Health Network (known as RIUS McGill) and the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) are responsible, covers the James Bay region with nine fundus cameras deployed in nine communities.

Two pilot projects headed by the RUIS McGill and RUIS University of Montreal with the support of the MSSS have led to the installation of a fundus camera at community health centres including de la Montagne, in the Côte-des-Neiges district, and another one in Pointe-de-l’Île, in Montreal’s east end.

Health

Retina Labs Sponsors 14th Annual HEDIS® & Quality Improvement Summit

Retina Labs will be sponsoring and exhibiting at the upcoming 14th Annual HEDIS® & Quality Improvement Summit in Las Vegas.

Read More
September 2, 2024
Medicine

RETINA LABS SELECTED FOR ONTARIO PROVINCIAL TELEOPHTHALMOLOGY PROGRAM

Retina Labs is pleased to announce that it has been selected by the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) as the solution for its provincial Teleophthalmology Program.

Read More
February 8, 2017
Health

RICHARD PRIDHAM JOINS TELEHEALTH SOLUTIONS PROVIDER RETINA LABS

Retina Labs, a market innovator in teleophthalmology and virtual eye care solutions, has brought on Richard Pridham as its President and CEO and as an investor in the company.

Read More
June 3, 2016
Technology

Retina Labs + Secure Exchange: Delivering Secure, Electronic Test Results to Providers

SES Notify Fast-Tracks Delivery of Retina Labs’ Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis to Close Care Gaps and Reduce the $500M in Healthcare Spend

Read More
March 8, 2024
Technology

SAVING PATIENTS’ SIGHT REMOTELY

Dr. Marie Carole Boucher had had enough. Enough of seeing patients lose their sight because of a disease that was easily curable.

Read More
February 7, 2017
Technology

MAISONNEUVE ROSEMOUNT HOSPITAL SELECTS RETINA LABS IVISION PLATFORM FOR DIABETIC RETINOPATHY SCREENING PROGRAM

Maisonneuve Rosemont, one of Montreal’s largest hospitals centres, has chosen iVision®, Retina Labs industry leading teleophthalmology and virtual care platform.

Read More
December 1, 2015
Health

RUIS MCGILL CHOOSES RETINA LABS FOR TELEOPHTHALMOLOGY PROGRAM

The McGill Integrated University Health Network or Réseau Universitaire Intégré de Santé (known as “RUIS”), has chosen Retina Labs iVision Solution for its teleophthalmology program.

Read More
November 20, 2013
Technology

THE FIRST NATIONS OF QUEBEC AND LABRADOR PARTNERS WITH RETINA LABS FOR DIABETIC RETINOPATHY SCREENING PROGRAM

The First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission have partnered with Retina Labs to provide screening for diabetic retinopathy.

Read More
September 16, 2009
Health

ONE VISION FOR TELEMEDICINE’S FUTURE

Diabetic retinopathy is on the rise in Ontario. It is estimated that there are 1.2 million people with diabetes in Ontario, with 20% of those expected to experience vision loss.

Read More
May 15, 2017
Technology

RETINA LABS LAUNCHES PIONEERING TELECONSULTATION PLATFORM TO OFFER VIRTUAL EYE CARE DURING COVID-19 CRISIS

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Retina Labs has announced its latest in teleophthalmology innovation with the introduction of a telemedicine-based e-consultation platform specially designed for eye health.

Read More
April 13, 2020
Technology

RETINA LABS LAUNCHES COMPLYHUB

End-to-end solution enables health plans to improve Star ratings though better member compliance on diabetic eye exams and other preventive screenings.

Read More
October 28, 2020
Health

RETINA LABS TO SPONSOR & EXHIBIT AT AHIP 2019

Retina Labs is pleased to announce that it will sponsor exhibit at the upcoming America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) Institute and Expo to be held in Nashville, TN June 19th to 21st, 2019. Known as the Essential Event for the Health Care Industry, AHIP’s Institute & Expo consistently delivers results for hundreds of solutions providers.

Read More
May 14, 2019
Health

RETINA LABS RECOGNIZED AS INNOVATOR AND DISRUPTOR IN EYE HEALTHCARE

Retina Labs is excited to be one of a select group of companies mentioned in this report. Appearing in the category of Telemedicine / Telerefraction, Retina Labs has emerged a leader in the area of ocular telehealth.

Read More
October 15, 2018
Health

NOVEMBER IS DIABETIC EYE DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH

November is officially Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month. Diabetic eye disease represents a group of eye conditions that affects those with diabetes.

Read More
November 1, 2017
Technology

RETINA LABS EXPANDS IN-HOME PREVENTIVE SCREENING SERVICE TO BETTER SERVICE HEALTH PLANS ACROSS THE U.S.

End-to-end solution enables health plans to improve Star ratings though better member compliance on diabetic eye exams and other preventive screenings.

Read More
April 7, 2021
Health

RETINA LABS SPONSORS 2023 RISE NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Retina Labs will be sponsoring and exhibiting at the upcoming Rise National conference in Colorado Springs, March 6-8, 2023.

Read More
February 1, 2023
Health

RETINA LABS SPONSORS 2022 RISE STAR RATINGS MASTER CLASS CONFERENCE

Retina Labs will be sponsoring and exhibiting at the upcoming Rise STAR RATINGS MASTER CLASS conference in San Diego, December 13-15, 2022.

Read More
November 6, 2022
Health

RETINA LABS SPONSORS 2023 QUALIPALOOZA CONFERENCE

Retina Labs will be sponsoring and exhibiting at the upcoming Qualipalooza conference in Miami, June 20-23, 2023.

Read More
May 1, 2023
Health

RETINA LABS RELEASES CASE STUDY ON SENTARA IN-HOME DIABETIC EYE EXAM PROGRAM

In-home program offers Sentara members convenient access to a range of screenings including diabetic eye exams, HbA1c, kidney health assessments, colon cancer testing, and bone mineral density scans.

Read More
May 6, 2024
Medicine

Retina Labs Sponsors 9th Annual Medicare Star Ratings & Quality Assurance Summit

Retina Labs will be sponsoring and exhibiting at the upcoming 9th Annual Medicare Star Ratings & Quality Assurance Summit in Orlando, December December 6-8, 2023.

Read More
October 3, 2023
Health

Retina Labs Sponsors 2024 RISE National Conference

Retina Labs will be sponsoring and exhibiting at the upcoming Rise National conference in Nashville, March 17-19, 2024.

Read More
January 2, 2024
chevron-left
chevron-right

Office Locations

Beautiful landscape picture of Nashville
Mon - Fri: 9am-5pm CST

Head Office

555 Marriott Drive, Suite 315, Nashville, TN 37214

Sales & Corporate Inquiries: (866) 344-2692
Fax: (866) 214-0724

Beautiful landscape picture of Montreal
Mon - Fri: 9am-5pm EST

Canadian Office

6500 Trans-Canada Hwy, Suite 400, Pointe Claire, QC, H9R 0A5

Phone: (514) 344-2692
Fax: (866) 214-0724