The Benefits of the Referral Pathway between Optometrists and Ophthalmologists
Our Device Technologies Ophthalmic Technology team includes a diverse range of highly skilled specialists - many of whom have previously worked in the Ophthalmic field as clinicians, which is why we understand the importance of celebrating the invaluable collaboration between Optometrists and Ophthalmologists. In today’s healthcare environment, communication between health professionals, clinical practices and hospitals all contribute to the outcomes and experiences of patients, making it important to get right.
#1 HOW A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH LEADS TO COMPREHENSIVE CARE
The referral pathway plays a pivotal role in ensuring comprehensive care for patients. Optometrists, serving as the initial point of contact, provide primary care and accurate diagnoses, based on data from a range of sources and measurements from a variety of equipment. The volume of reports and results means more information is being shared than ever before.
Often, perhaps too simplistically, patients look at a referral often as a ticket to entry at a specialist, but health professionals realise it’s much more than that. Referrals are the primary tool that health professionals in all fields use to collaborate on patient care. This collaborative tool allows patients to get the care they need, when they need it, preventing delayed diagnoses.
#2 SPECIALISED EXPERTISE – SUPPORTING PATIENTS AT EVERY STEP OF THEIR MEDICAL JOURNEY
At each step of the journey, referrals allow patients to find the support and specialised expertise they need at their stage in their medical journey. At Device Technologies, we have seen some great examples of where both sides of the referral pathway succeed in achieving a great experience for the patient. Increasingly, particularly in the northern states of Australia, Optometrists and Ophthalmologists can be co-located with great success, with each side seeing the qualities the other brings to help the patient with their eye health.
#3 OPTIMAL OUTCOMES FOR PATIENTS
The basics of success in each case are the quality of communication, the timeliness, accessibility and the use of tools available in the market. For example, clinicians using one of several software offerings in the market today in their practice can not only aid the speed and quality of collaboration but can do so with the embedded requirements of security and confidentiality. Investing in your practice is also an investment in your patients and their ability to get the healthcare they need to aim for optimal outcomes.
One recent example of an area we can improve on as an industry is in the management of diabetic patients and the sharing of retinal images with Diabetologists and Endocrinologists. For these specialists, particularly those working in the public sector, the patient’s retinal health is often part of their consideration. Optometrists and Ophthalmologists all have access to a range of great imaging modalities, so when specialists see that a patient is diabetic, adding additional detail on the retinal health or adding an image to the update for a general practitioner, with or without an OCT scan, may be helpful, as it’s good data for all involved in the care of that patient to see. It is worth mentioning that many hospitals aren’t necessarily set up well to receive images electronically - this is something for the industry to strive for.
#4 PATIENT EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT
The referral pathway between Optometrists and Ophthalmologists presents an opportunity for patients to be educated about the importance of eye care and early detection, and the role of eye specialists in providing specialised care. Empowering patients with knowledge enables them to actively participate in their eye health journey to make informed decisions about their care and to encourage their community to do so too. Together, we can continue to nurture this collaborative spirit, enhancing our collective ability to safeguard and improve the vision health of those we serve.
