Nonmydriatic Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in the Federally Qualified Health Center Primary Care Setting: Comparison of Active Outreach Versus Point-of-Care Testing.

Abstract

Purpose: This study evaluates the efficacy of a diabetic eye care coordinator (DECC) conducting non-mydriatic diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) compared with primary care team screenings at the point-of-care (POC).

Methods: The DECC model involved one person scheduling stand-alone, non-mydriatic diabetic eye-screening appointments, while the POC model incorporated these screenings into primary care visits. Metrics analyzed included average weekly screening (AWS), rate of DR, and percentage of gradable images (%GI).

Results: The DECC model significantly increased AWS (from 7.3 to 15.8, p=.0005) and %GI (from 70.90% to 83.5%, p=.002). The rate of DR was similar across both models (32.77% POC vs. 34.18% DECC, p=.89).

Conclusion: Implementing a DECC model significantly boosts the efficiency of diabetic retinopathy screening processes in FQHCs, potentially enhancing vision preservation efforts.