Retina Labs Selected for Ontario Provincial Teleophthalmology Program
February 8th, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – Retina Labs is pleased to announce that it has been selected by the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) as the solution for its provincial Teleophthalmology Program.
The multi-year contract will see Retina Labs’ teleophthalmology platform deployed provincially with the goal to improve access to retinal screening across the province. Retina Labs, the leading provider of cloud-based teleophthalmology solutions, was awarded this contract following a competitive RFP process.
Diabetic retinopathy is on the rise in Ontario. Currently, there are 1.2 million people with diabetes in Ontario. Around 20% of people with diabetes are expected to experience vision loss and an estimated 35% are not getting screened annually.
The goal of OTN’s Teleophthalmology Program is to improve access to retinal screening across the province. Through the existing program, patients are screened in their community and retinal images are then sent electronically to ophthalmologists with a retinal specialty for reading and consultation. Ophthalmologists then advise primary care providers in terms of continued screening or need for treatment or referral to other health care providers.
“We are incredibly excited to partner with OTN,” says Richard Pridham, President and CEO of Retina Labs. “OTN is recognized as one of the most important telehealth organizations in the world. Their approach towards telehealth innovation, combined with Retina Labs’ teleophthalmology solutions, will no doubt lead to a world-class model for systematic retinal screening programs.”
By incorporating retinal screening into routine care for patients where they typically receive their diabetes care, early detection and timely treatment will serve to reduce preventable vision loss.
“There are some 400,000 Ontarians with diabetes not getting screened and at risk for eye disease and even blindness,” says OTN CEO Dr. Ed Brown. “The Retina Labs solution will give us the tool we need to scale our program across the province, helping to provide better access to screening through primary care and care closer to home.”
About OTN
OTN brings virtual care innovation to the healthcare system so that the people of Ontario can get the care they need when and where they need it most: at home, in their community or in hospital. For more than a decade, OTN has increased access to health care and education across the province with one of the world’s most extensive telemedicine networks. Working with its many partners and leveraging its unique knowledge of health care and digital technology, OTN addresses challenges by introducing and spreading new ways of delivering care that benefit patients, care providers and the healthcare system. An independent, not-for-profit organization, OTN is funded by the Government of Ontario. For more information, visit www.otn.ca.
About Retina Labs
For over a decade, Retina Labs has been on the leading edge of telehealth and virtual care innovation. Its cloud-based iVision® teleophthalmology platform offers eye care professionals an integrated solution that combines advanced ocular imaging, clinical interpretation and reporting tools with integrated Electronic Medical Records, Practice Management and electronic referrals. The company’s solutions allow healthcare providers to improve access to quality eye care while streamlining the processes related to the management of chronic eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, age related macular degeneration and retinopathy of prematurity. iVision is the teleophthalmology platform of choice for hospitals, government health agencies and eye care professionals, and is recognized by the World Health Organization for its breakthrough advancements in telehealth technology. For more information on Retina Labs visit www.retina-labs.com.
