Posters

The impact of glaucoma virtual clinics on outpatient services

Poster Details

First Author: A.Ali UK

Co Author(s):    I. Rahman              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Currently huge pressures exist on General ophthalmic clinics for the review of patients with a wide variety of conditions. Throughout the UK glaucoma virtual clinics are being established with the intention of reducing the strain on resources in outpatient ophthalmic departments. This retrospective study aims to quantify the present consumption resources by stable glaucoma patients in outpatient clinics and thereby assess whether the future implementation of a glaucoma virtual service would have a significant impact in freeing resources.

Setting:

Blackpool Victoria Hospital general ophthalmolgy outpatient clinics.

Methods:

Data was gathered retrospectively on 2206 patients presenting to general clinics run by all consultants at Blackpool Victoria Hospital during July 2013. Data collected included the number of clinics, number of doctors, number of patients, number of patients' not attending clinics, number of visual fields undertaken, the number of suspect glaucoma, ocular hypertensive, suspicious discs and number of 6, 9 and 12 month glaucoma follow-ups.

Results:

For the entire month: 2206 patient booked 78 general clinics 172 doctor sessions 388 visual fields 21% of all patients presented with glaucoma/ glaucoma related conditions. 11.4% of all patients were for 6-12 month glaucoma follow-ups. An average of 13 patients were booked per doctor session 228 patient did not attend.

Conclusions:

A significant percentage of patients reviewed in general clinics are stable glaucoma patients. A large amount of resources are dedicated to such patients. Transfer of such patients to virtual clinics can increase clinic capacity, decrease new patient waiting times and allow resources to be transferred to other pressurised clinics. Further work should be undertaken to review whether or not other stable conditions could be better managed in a similar fashion. FINANCIAL INTEREST: NONE