Telemedicine eye care program reveals significant time investment for comprehensive services
Integrating optical care and care navigation into free eye disease screening programs is time-intensive but essential for providing comprehensive eye care to underserved populations, according to a study.
A recent study examined the time required for eye disease screening, optical care, and care navigation in the Michigan Screening and Intervention for Glaucoma and Eye Health through Telemedicine (MI-SIGHT) program at a federally qualified health center (FQHC). The findings aim to inform workforce planning for scaling similar initiatives in low-resource settings.
Over 2 separate 22-day periods, ophthalmic technicians tracked their time spent on various tasks. Screening activities, including health history assessments, vision tests, and imaging, accounted for 21.4% of a full-time equivalent. Optical care, such as refraction and dispensing glasses, took 23.6%, while care navigation, including scheduling and insurance assistance, required 12.1%. The remaining 42.9% of time was allocated to outreach, research, and study coordination.
The results highlight the intensive nature of integrating optical care and navigation services into free screening programs.
Reference
Weber MK, Woodward MA, Lu MC, et al. Time spent on eye disease screening, optical care, and care navigation within a federally qualified health center. AJO Int. 2025;2(1). doi: 10.1016/j.ajoint.2024.100097. PMID: 40182017; PMCID: PMC11963230.
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