North East LHIN Provides More Support to Manitoulin Mobile Teleophthalmology Program

North East LHIN Provides More Support to Manitoulin Mobile Teleophthalmology Program

November 4, 2016 – Darren Shawanda, from Sheguiandah First Nation, has diabetes which means he should get his eyes screened for changes on a regular basis. Usually that would involve a more than five-hour round-trip drive to Sudbury.

But thanks to the Manitoulin Central Family Health Team’s (MCFHT) Mobile Teleophthalmology Screening Program, started with technology provided by the Ontario Telemedicine Network and support from the North East Local Health Integration Network (NE LHIN), Darren is able to get his eyes screened in his home community.

“It was very useful,” said Shawanda, who will be receiving some follow-up surgery in Sudbury shortly.

Recently, MCFHT won a provincial 2016 Bright Lights Award from the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario for this innovative program that brings eye screening services to 11 Manitoulin Island communities and one on nearby Birch Island.

The North East LHIN has provided $243,000 in funding since its start in 2014 to support the innovative program, including an additional $85,000 boost this year.

“This is about bringing an essential screening tool to people in their home communities so that they don’t lose their eyesight,” said North East LHIN CEO, Louise Paquette. “Congratulations to the dedicated team at Manitoulin Centre Family Health Team and other partners on this program including Manitoulin Health Centre, Noojmowin Teg Health Centre, and the Ontario Telemedicine Network.”

Lori Oswald, the Executive Director of MCFHT, said tears came to her eyes when her team won the award.

“The staff work so hard to make sure people can get screening in their home communities,” she said. “There’s no public transportation on the Island, high rates of diabetes, and high unemployment. This program is about health equity and about putting patients first.”

With the program, nurses take digital images of a person’s retina that allows ophthalmologists, such as Dr. Stephen Kosar in Sudbury, to interpret the images and provide timely feedback to primary care providers on Manitoulin Island. Those who need treatment or referrals are able to obtain them promptly. Many patients who have never been screened for diabetes, are now able to take advantage of the program and access care. In three communities, team members have been able to screen everyone diagnosed with diabetes – a rare achievement.

Depending on the size of the community, they will visit a couple times a month to multiple times a year. MCFHT collaborates with other partners such as Manitoulin Health Centre’s and Noojmowin Teg Health Centre’s diabetes education programs to pair up the eye screenings with other information on how people can better manage the disease. The MCFHT has shared its information with others in remote communities. Staff have mentored primary care teams in places such as Moose Factory, Kapuskasing and Smith Falls as they set up their own Teleophthalmology programs, and, in 2015, they also offered a program orientation to OTN’s new program directors. They have also presented at various conferences to discuss their success in screening Indigenous populations.

The program has been so successful that it is recognized by the Ontario Telemedicine Network as a leader in its provincial program and as “the model for all other diabetic retinal screening programs in the province.” It has also provided MCFHT with a new screening tool for other non-diabetic related eye changes.

“Sometimes it takes a while to get a patient to come for screening, but then they become our biggest ambassadors,” Oswald said.

Patients provide feedback to the staff and have been instrumental, using word of mouth, in encouraging participation. Youth in the communities have learned about diabetes through local health fair exhibits and have helped to spread the word about the importance of screening and treatment.

“We are delighted to be involved and partnering within this excellent care initiative, which is bringing an enhanced level of service to the at-risk diabetic population of the Manitoulin region. Working with other agencies in a collaborative manner such as this is so important in providing patient-centered care, especially across rural geographies,” said Derek Graham, President and CEO of Manitoulin Health Centre.

Key Facts:
• Program addresses the vision needs of rural populations, whether patients are rostered or not
• More than 2,250 screens conducted to date
• Increased annual diabetic screening rate to 82.3 per cent from 50 per cent –15 per cent higher than the provincial average
• 80 per cent of Indigenous patients with diabetes on Manitoulin Island have been screened
• 10 per cent average annual increase in screening rates
• Mentored teams in other remote communities seeking to establish a similar program

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