ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pursuant Health is ready to roll out new retinal screening capabilities into its self-service kiosks. The goal: prevent 95 percent of avoidable vision loss cases with early detection.
According to the American Diabetes Association, “Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness. Over time, high blood sugar levels from diabetes can lead to damage of the retina, the layer on the back of the eye that captures images and sends them to the brain. Eye damage can be occurring without any initial symptoms! That is why it is so important for people with diabetes to get regular eye examinations and catch problems before serious retinal changes occur.”
“Documented compliance with annual retinal exams is often less than 50 percent,” says Pursuant Health Chief Revenue Officer Ryan Sloan. “Our ability to use a health kiosk to capture retinal images, coordinate with eye specialists for processing, and report results back to primary care physicians in the most convenient way possible changes the game for all concerned, especially health plans.”
The technology was originally developed by Ophthalmologist and Pursuant Medical Officer Dr. Kevin Lavery, MD. It is under patent with Pursuant Health until 2021.
“By getting diabetics and others the necessary eye screening that they are currently not getting, it will save people's eyesight,” says Dr. Lavery. “It has the power to transform how healthcare is delivered.”
Pursuant Health screens more than 30 million Americans every year through its network of more than 3,600 self-service kiosks. Because diabetic retinopathy impacts up to 85% of individuals with diabetes, the ability to increase the total number of screenings can significantly reduce instances of preventable blindness and overall healthcare costs simultaneously.
Pursuant Health is negotiating pilot locations in retail pharmacy and healthcare provider settings for installation of the first 10-20 systems.
Following the individual’s completion of the non-mydriatic exam (dilation not required), the retinal images are evaluated by a licensed ophthalmologist. The results are then shared back with the primary care physician for treatment and follow up. Individuals may also receive an instant financial incentive on a gift card upon completion of the exam.
“For individuals we seek to both incentivize them to engage in their health and prevent cases of avoidable blindness at the same time,” says Sloan. “In short, we are preventing blindness and rewarding individuals to proactively manage their health.
“For health plans, we seek to improve quality metrics and revenue as compliance with annual retinal examinations is one of the most difficult HEDIS and Star Rating quality measures to impact.”
Pursuant Health is seeking additional healthcare providers and plans to participate in the retinal screening kiosk pilot program. Interested parties should contact Pursuant Health at info@pursuanthealth.com.
