Did you miss last month’s Ophthalmology Technology Forum (OTF)? No need to worry, we’ve got you covered.
Our latest recap includes the meeting’s keynote session, led by Euan S. Thomson, PhD, Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc.’s president of Ophthalmic Devices and head of Digital Business Unit, as he spoke with Octane co-founder Jim Mazzo (also executive chairman of Neurotech).
First: What was the major topic of interest?
Patient data access in ophthalmology.
Now let’s dive in.
Dr. Thomson discussed constant usage and interaction with such technology as imaging devices and microscopes that generate large amounts of data and create integrated workflows—with a new kind of added value.
“The added value of this ecosystem is what’s convincing (eyecare professionals [ECPs]) to stay” with certain technology brands, argued Dr. Thomson.
Such value is enabling ECPs to see new value propositions like efficiency that lead to better patient outcomes—all in part because of them leveraging this “data architecture,” he added.
In a nutshell: The crossover in technology and education adds something to the healthcare space, according to Dr. Thomson.
So are ECPs utilizing data properly?
Not exactly. In fact, Dr. Thomson noted that ECPs are under-utilizing data.
When it comes to data organization, ophthalmic institutions generally don’t have the same electronic medical records (EMRs) as, say, a hospital or large clinic. “So you’ve already siloed the data,” he stated.
This silo goes even further when accounting for different therapeutic areas and doctors in each clinical setting. “It’s done for good reason because you want access to the patients you’re treating, but it never actually enables you to view the patient as a full system,” Dr. Thomson stated.
And this is a problem?
Indeed, he said.
While the individual components of a patient’s health are viewable, not viewing each of these as one individual system prevents physicians from identifying the root causes of, for example, chronic diseases.
“Most chronic diseases have the same root causes,” Dr. Thomson said, “and those things manifest themselves into different healthcare issues—but we don’t even cross over the health care issues and go back to the root cause.”
And how should this change?
For the future, patient’s data should be aggregated under one model—within a cloud—to create a digital twin with “all of the different silos in all of the same place.”
“And then you can start to see the human body as one integrated system and look for the crossover impact of one disease or one aspect of lifestyle with another disease,” Dr. Thomson said.
An example of this?
Diabetic retinopathy (DR), where an endocrinologist may manage the disease but an ophthalmologist will manage the manifestation within the eye.
“Clearly those two are connected, so they could be managed in a holistic way,” suggested Dr. Thomson. “So as we start to aggregate data in a different format, we have the opportunity to view each individual as an integrated system.”
What would be the benefit of this?
Identifying patterns viewable through this integrated system of data that weren’t visible before.
- The intended result: ECPs and other HCPs may be able to “get ahead of the disease,” leading to earlier diagnoses, treatment, and overall disease management.
How impactful would this be?
Hugely impactful, particular for such procedures like cataract surgery—currently accounting for 14% of ophthalmic procedures within the U.S.—as well as in medical research, where breaking down silos and aggregating cloud-based data would enable such management.
What’s a drawback to this in the US?
The insurance issue: Or, more specifically, “payment,” according to Dr. Thomson.
On an individual level, “payors have a short-term window,” he noted. “It's hard to get them to really focus on the things which are transformative to healthcare in the U.S.”
Plus, at-home patient care isn’t as popular in the U.S. as, for example, in the United Kingdom. “As long as the payment goes with a visit to a doctor or hospital, it’s hard to get an uptake on things that keep a patient at home,” he said.
However, while recent research hasn’t necessarily supported the use of these at-home tests, other treatments and technology show promise—and even further, Dr. Thomson noted that there are examples of U.S.-based companies being successful with this model.
For example?
Take Notal Vision’s ForeseeHome program, a remote-based age-related macular degeneration (AMD) monitoring system.
- In fact: A 10-year study reported favorable data on long-term visual acuity and vision-monitoring strategy performance for detecting wet AMD.
Also: Notal’s newly-FDA-cleared SCANLY Home OCT device (also for wet AMD) is designed as a self-operated, comprehensive remote patient monitoring service.
And what does this mean ECPs should be honing in on for the future?
“You’ve got to really focus on clinical value, like screenings,” he concluded. “If you can focus on something that’s going to change the course of a disease and add clinical value, payors are facing up to that.”
See here and here for additional coverage from the Ophthalmology Technology Forum.