All OD’s have worked with those specialists in eye care that you know will have your back. The ones that you can ask stupid questions and they won’t treat you like it was stupid. These are the same ones that tell your patients that you are the best eye doctor they have ever met. If you aren’t working with a tertiary care specialists like this, keep looking.

These doctors give a level of expertise that bring the patients (and us) comfort and ensure we are giving them the best care. Through the American Telemedicine Association’s Ocular SIG, these specialist often collaborate on finding ways to reach more patients. Often concentrated in cities with jam-packed schedules, it is a barrier for many patients who need them.

Telestroke care is one of the big success stories in telemedicine. We all know that quick diagnosis and initiation of treatment is essential to quality outcomes. Hospitals across the world are incorporating “stroke robots” that connect patients with stroke symptoms to specialist around the world. This technique has saved countless lives and the approval rating is through the roof.

While glaucoma loss is much more ominous and slower than dangers from a stroke, glaucoma specialists are in high demand. Sometimes, OD’s just need another set of eyes on an OCT, a visual field, a pressure history and the current treatment plan. Without telehealth, a family member often needs to take a day to take a patient into the city to see the specialist who takes the same tests that were taken by the optometrists.

With telemedicine, the specialist can come right into the exam room, with the OD and the patient, look at the entire record, talk to the patient to determine if a trip to the big city is even necessary.

There are codes available for the specialist to use to rightfully allow them to be compensated for this care. Many healthcare specialists enjoy this type of patient connection and comment that it is a great way to get to know referring doctors.