Rural Americans with retinal conditions lack access to eye care due to provider shortages, posing a threat to health equity, especially for veterans. To address this issue, Dr. Akshar Abbott and his team established the Virtual Medical Retina Clinic (VMRC), providing telemedicine consultations to support rural optometrists. Patients monitor their eye health from home using digital retinal imaging, which is then shared with a team of specialists for interpretation. VMRC reduces referral times, improves diagnostic accuracy, and empowers optometrists with retinal image interpretation skills.

 

VMRC has shown promising results in improving care quality and access. By expanding collaboration between optometrists and ophthalmologists, faster diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases are achieved. The program is expanding through phased pilots in targeted VA patient regions, with plans for national diffusion.

 

Dr. Abbott's dedication to veterans' healthcare and extensive network uniquely position him to disseminate the lessons learned from VMRC across the federal healthcare ecosystem. Through VMRC, more veterans can receive timely and accurate retinal care, improving their quality of life. The comprehensive and data-driven approach of VMRC demonstrates the potential of telemedicine and interprofessional collaboration to transform healthcare delivery in underserved rural areas, aligning with the VA's mission to ensure equitable access to care for all veterans.