News - Centre For Eye Health

Australian Optometry First: CFEH Launches Electronic Reports

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -1000

As of April 2013 the Centre for Eye Health, which provide free advanced imaging and diagnostic services to patients of NSW/ACT optometrists, will be the first organisation in the Australian optometry industry to issue patient reports including images electronically.

The Centre had been looking for a way to provide reports to optometrists electronically after many of their referrers requested electronic copies be sent of their patient’s report.

“Current legislation with respect to patient confidentiality and medical records mean that it is not legal to send a patient report via e-mail without de-identifying their details, even between an optometrist and a local ophthalmologist. As a result, it is not possible to email our reports as it is critical that the images are assigned to the correct patients.” said Michal Yapp, Chief staff optometrist and head of the electronic reporting project. “We have worked with Healthlink, Houston and Medinexus to customise an online infrastructure so that we can now send patient reports and images without the need to de-identify patient information. It also means reports are in a format that can work with both a hard copy and soft copy filing system at the optometrists end. What’s more, we send the reports instantaneously to speed up turnaround times by not relying on ‘snail mail’ as well as increasing the quality of the images received by the referrers by not relying on print media.” The Centre, which previously provided reports in a hard-copy format, will be transferring all reports to the electronic format.

The Centre will also be offering members of their LearningforVision CPD program an exclusive opportunity to partake in ‘virtual consults’, as of early May, 2013.

Virtual consults allow optometrists who have access to imaging equipment to send their patient’s images and clinical data to the Centre for interpretation. The details are sent via the same secure online set-up, again meaning there is no need to de-identify patient details. The case will then be interpreted by the Centre’s optometrists and when needed, ophthalmologists, before being sent back to the referring optometrist as an online report.

The virtual consult service comes as part of the online education website LearningforVision that was recently launched by CFEH to help spread their advanced imaging knowledge to optometrists Australia wide (their imaging and electronic reporting services are only available to those optometrists in NSW/ACT). The program features over 40 CPD points worth of education focusing on advanced imaging and early diagnosis of eye disease.

“Optometrist, who are the forefront of the early detection of eye disease, have the power to directly impact patient’s lives by accurately and prematurely detecting eye disease. They are the ones on the doorstop who can prevent vision loss. It’s our responsibility to share with them the knowledge we have so that they can better do their job” - Michael Kalloniatis, Centre Director.

New CPD Program: LearningforVision

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -1000

In early March, 2013 Centre for Eye Health in NSW launched a new online Continuing Professional Development program for optometrists.

LearningforVision features a range of online CPD activities and modules to help optometrists undertake their continuing education requirements. The program focuses on eye disease diagnosis through the accurate interpretation of advanced imaging.

“Interpretation of imaging is critical to its successful implementation and ultimately the prevention of vision loss through appropriate management. As a result, it makes sense that we share our knowledge and experience with as many optometrists as possible via education” said Michal Yapp, Chief Staff Optometrist.

The site can be accessed by paying to become a member and contains a number of activities including; case studies, review articles, podcasts, quizzes, a resources library as well as live webinars.

Those who sign up to the program will also be offered exclusive access to ‘virtual consults’ which allow optometrists to send their patient images to CFEH for assistance in interpretation via a secure online website. Virtual consults are perfect for optometrists with their own imaging equipment, access to imaging equipment, or to demonstrate how to apply the interpretation skills learnt in the LearningforVision CPD activities.

The program was developed off the back of a brainstorming session, looking at how Centre for Eye Health could extend their reach and have greater impact in the community. Simultaneously, the staff at CFEH were developing ideas to provide better services to those who live rurally; an online website was the perfect fit.

“Providing education to optometrists is more than CPD for us, it’s about creating education that will give optometrists the tools they need to potentially make a difference to their patients’ life. It’s about optometrist getting patient-focused education, the information they need to see the patient’s whole story, the ability they need to make the right diagnosis and most importantly, making that knowledge accessible, hence the online nature. Learning for Vision isn’t just a website; it’s an attitude to education”. – Michael Kalloniatis, Centre Director

For more information on the LearningforVision site, including membership details click here

CFEH raises 1011 signatures for low vision services on the NDIS

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -1000

On Wednesday 19^th September staff members of the Centre for Eye Health, along with fellow volunteers stationed themselves at the University of New South Wales International Square.

The goal was to help their benefactor, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, raise 10,000 signatures in support of low vision services on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Armed with 4.3m high, 690kg model Guide Dog ‘Gulliver’, fellow guide dogs, Guide Dogs clients and puppy raisers, the group encouraged students at the university to show their support by signing the petition. The enthusiastic students took hard to social media, ‘tweeting’ and updating their photos with the giant dog to various social media sites.

The hard work of the team raised a whopping 1011 signatures to go towards the petition. An amazing effort!

CFEH would like to thank the staff volunteers, as well as external volunteers for making the day such a success.

To find out more about the petition, or to help ensure the independence of all vision impaired people, visit www.visionloss.org.au. Let’s not leave people with impaired vision in the dark!

CFEH seeks partners to expand successful blindness prevention initiative

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -1000

Since opening its doors to the public in late 2009, the Centre for Eye Health (CFEH) has assessed more than 10,000 people in NSW and the ACT identified by their optometrist or ophthalmologist as being at-risk of losing vision. The unmitigated success of this new collaborative model of healthcare delivery has exceeeded the expectations of founding partners, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and The University of New South Wales (UNSW).

CFEH and its founding partners now seek to expand the Centre’s reach into areas of high demand, and invite organisations with similar goals to consider participating in the unique collaborative initiative.

“10,000 people who might still be on a public hospital waiting list, or who may have ignored a private referral due to the cost, have now been comprehensively assessed and triaged“ says President of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and CFEH Chair Barry Stephen. “With the prevalence of eye disease increasing, and an ageing population, our challenge now is to ensure a sustainable financial foundation for the Centre, so it can continue to address unmet eye health needs in the wider community”.

To underpin expected continued growth in referrals, Mr Stephen today announced that a CFEH Board sub-committee will be formed to investigate new partnership opportunities that will help the centre meet its long-term public health objectives. At the same time, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT has announced that the date of its first funding review of the UNSW partnership will coincide with the preparation of the Centre’s second five –year strategic plan in June 2014.

“Early detection of eye disease is the single most important thing we can do to save sight” says Centre Director Professor Michael Kalloniatis. “The commitment and foresight of our founding partners has allowed us to establish a state-of-the art diagnostic facility that is staffed by optometric experts and consulting ophthalmologists from the local health district”.

With more than 1,000 eye-care practitioners registered to use the Centre, it is increasingly seen as an extension to smaller optometric and ophthalmic practices, allowing providers to access additional technology and expertise to provide more tailored patient care at no extra charge. CFEH also supports optometrists by delivering continuing professional development (CPD) events and resources.

“The commitment of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT to save sight through early detection continues to drive referrals to the busy CFEH clinic” says Professor Kalloniatis. “The awarding of a $1.1m grant by the National Health and Medical Research Council to fund glaucoma research at CFEH, further illustrates the value of our collaboration with UNSW. However, the scale of critical public health issues in NSW and the ACT means that we must broaden our scope, so it is timely to look for ways of engaging with additional partners who can support even more growth.”

Organisations with an interest in contributing to the future growth and direction of Centre for Eye Health (CFEH) are invited to contact Centre Director, Professor Michael Kalloniatis on 02 8115 0700.

CFEH helps 10,000 people “between a rock and a hard place”

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 -1000

The Centre for Eye Health (CFEH) has received over 10,000 referrals for advanced imaging and assessment of people at-risk of losing vision in NSW and the ACT.

“Early detection of eye disease is the single most important thing we can do to save sight” says centre director Professor Michael Kalloniatis. “We are here to help those who can’t afford to wait in the public system, but who also can’t pay through the private system.”

Opening its doors in 2009, the Centre for Eye Health is an innovative approach to improving public access to crucial diagnostic expertise and technology. The free service is an extra safety-net for people disadvantaged by having to choose between the overburdened public system and the fee-paying private system.

A joint initiative by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and The University of New South Wales, there is no cost to attend the Centre and people are usually seen within three weeks of being referred.

“Because of the commitment and foresight of Guide Dogs and UNSW, the stretched public health sector is better able to direct its valuable resources and ophthalmic expertise towards patients with a confirmed diagnosis and urgent treatment needs” says Professor Kalloniatis. “Equally important, 10,000 people who might still be sitting on a waiting list, or who may have ignored a private referral because they can’t afford the fees, have now been comprehensively assessed and triaged.”

With more than 1,000 eye-care practitioners registered to use the Centre, it is increasingly seen as an extension to smaller practices, allowing providers to utilise additional technology and expertise and to provide more tailored patient care. CFEH also supports optometrists by delivering continuing professional development (CPD) events and resources.

“Primary eye- care, delivered locally by well-trained and sufficiently resourced optometrists, is the future” says Professor Kalloniatis. “Optometrists are ideally placed to educate and triage patients in their own community, managing conditions within the scope of practice, utilising expertise from providers such as CFEH, and refering only those needing treatment and surgical intervention.

“With a growing and ageing Australian population, the sustainability of our health system depends on providing better quality specialist referrals and more appropriate locally-based care. In conjunction with Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and UNSW, and alongside the optometrists and ophthalmologists who refer disadvantaged and at-risk patients to us, we are working hard to make this happen”.

CFEH encourages all NSW/ACT ophthalmic professionals to register and refer appropriate patients for advanced imaging and assessment.

Guidelines for Assessing the ONH and RNFL

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -1000

The gold standard for diagnosing glaucoma continues to be a detailed examination of the optic nerve head (ONH) and the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL), as changes in these areas are usually followed by visual field loss.

The National Health and Medical Research Centre (NHMRC) has issued guidelines stating that health care providers involved in the screening and diagnosis of glaucoma should have the skills and equipment to examine the optic disc for typical glaucoma signs and optic disc rim haemorrhages.

In an effort to help optometrists comply with these guidelines, CFEH has prepared clinical guidelines for Assessing the Optic Nerve Head and Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer.

To download the summary document please click above, and to request copies be sent via post please contact marketing@cfeh.com.au

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT initiative boosts support for Prince of Wales Hospital’s Eye Clinic

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -1000

With the generous financial support of its benefactor, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, the Centre for Eye Health at University of New South Wales has presented a suite of general and advanced equipment to the Eye Clinic at the Prince of Wales Hospital - as part of a partnership agreement between Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, the Centre for Eye Health and South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) for Prince of Wales Hospital.

Valued at $300,000, the resources include sophisticated non-invasive diagnostic instruments, as well as lasers for diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

As part of the partnership agreement, SESLHD has appointed consultant ophthalmologists to provide services to the Centre for Eye Health, providing ongoing specialist ophthalmic care as required.

In Australia, it is estimated that at least one in four people are at risk of developing an eye disease, and many of these patients remain undiagnosed.

With over 75% of vision loss being preventable or treatable, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is focusing efforts on avoiding preventable vision loss.

President of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, Mr Barry Stephen said that his Board was proud to be involved in helping people at the beginning of their battle with eye disease.

“Our hope is that by improving access to sophisticated ophthalmic equipment both at Prince of Wales Hospital and at the Centre for Eye Health, people will be in a better position to obtain timely and efficient treatment to avoid losing sight where possible,” Mr Stephen said.

For over a hundred years, Prince of Wales Hospital’s Eye Clinic with origins at Prince Henry Hospital, has been providing excellence in ophthalmic care to patients from local communities, throughout NSW and, on occasion, from across Australia.

The Prince of Wales Hospital Eye Clinic was the home base for the late Professor Fred Hollows AO and has also provided outreach programs across Australia, particularly to Indigenous and remote communities and internationally.

Chief Executive, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Terry Clout said the contribution from Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and the Centre for Eye Health is testament of its commitment in assisting the Hospital’s provision of patient care and research into eye disease.

“Establishing this partnership with the community sector and teaching institutions as the University of New South Wales - with which South Eastern Sydney Local Health District has a long and established relationship – is significant for our patients and our staff.

”Eye disease is often a manifestation of systemic disease and the location of the Eye Clinic a Prince of Wales Hospital with access to the on-site facilities of the Randwick Hospitals Campus and neighbouring University of New South Wales is ideal,” Mr Clout said.

“The partnership and contributions by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and Centre for Eye Health to Prince of Wales Hospital’s Eye Clinic, under the leadership of Professor Minas Coroneo, Director of Eye Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital, will help facilitate the timely management of patients who are diagnosed with conditions that require specialist medical attention.

”In addition to improving patient care, this equipment is also essential to teaching and will also enhance teaching of optometrists, medical students and registrars at Prince of Wales Hospital’s Eye Clinic,” Mr Clout said.

Professor Michael Kalloniatis, inaugural Centre Director, Centre for Eye Health is passionate about the opportunity this partnership represents.

“When it comes to saving sight, early detection and timely treatment go hand in hand.

”The Centre for Eye Health was launched in 2009 to improve early detection. Today’s presentation of equipment and technology will go a long way in assisting the Hospital’s Eye Clinic to effectively and efficiently treat patients,” Professor Kalloniatis said.

State Member for Coogee, Mr Bruce Notley-Smith MP, praised the unique partnership between the locally-based not-for-profit organisation – Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, the University of New South Wales and Prince of Wales Hospital – part of the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District.

“Investing in these unique initiatives shows that they are truly leading the way in finding clever solutions to overcome public health challenges.

”I look forward to learning of the outcomes and benefits this partnership of locally-based organisations will bring to our community,” Mr Notley-Smith said.

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT has been helping people for more than 50 years. Funded entirely by public donations, and best known for the legendary Guide Dogs that help blind and vision impaired people to maintain their independence, the organisation also offers a range of other services and mobility aids for people regardless of their level of vision loss.

Responding to community need for more accessible early detection services, and acknowledging its importance in saving sight, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT partnered with the University of New South Wales in 2009 to launch the Centre for Eye Health.

Located on the university campus at Kensington, the Centre for Eye Health provides free advanced assessments for at-risk patients who are referred by optometrists and ophthalmologists.

With over 10,000 referrals so far, the Centre for Eye Health boasts state-of-the-art technology, 20 consulting rooms and a team of almost 30 clinical and operational staff.

New Executive Officer for CFEH

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -1000

CFEH is pleased to announce the appointment of new Executive Officer, David Murray.

David brings with him a wealth of healthcare and senior management experience.

With seven years experience across a range of operational and business development roles, David will help lead CFEH through its next phase of development, leveraging the strong relationships with optometrists and focusing on broadening reach into other referral pathways.

Working closely with Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and UNSW, David looks forward to contributing to more success at the Centre and to working with the passionate team to save sight for more people through early detection.

NHMRC Guidelines for Optometrists

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -1000

The National Health and Medical Research Centre (NHMRC) released guidelines for the screening, prognosis, diagnosis, management and prevention of glaucoma in 2010.

In an effort to help support optometrists to comply fully with these guidelines, CFEH has prepared a summary of recommendations for clinical reference.

To download the summary document please click here, and to request copies be sent via post please contact marketing@cfeh.com.au

Diabetics, in our sight

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:57:40 -1000

Diabetes is the fastest growing chronic disease in Australia. Around 275 people develop the disease every day. Whilst nearly one million Australians are currently diagnosed, it is estimated that another 1.2 million are living with the disease but don’t know it yet.

All of these people are at-risk of vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy (DR), a serious ocular condition which can occur regardless of the type of diabetes, age or blood glucose levels.

Optometrists are now expected to identify and manage patients with early DR, although this can be challenging because patients can be asymptomatic, with good visual acuity.

Advanced imaging techniques, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), are increasingly being utilised to ensure the earliest possible detection and to monitor changes over time.

Unfortunately, however, such state-of-the-art instrumentation is not accessible for many people in our community, who can suffer irreversible vision loss because of delays in diagnosis and intervention.

CFEH is here to assist in such cases, providing advanced imaging and assessment, at no-charge. The additional information helps to appropriately triage patients, and establishes a baseline to monitor changes over time. The patient does not incur unnecessary fees, but can be referred to a specialist if and when it is required.

We encourage all optometrists to offer appropriate patients a referral to CFEH.