Collaborative glaucoma care

Glaucoma patient follow‐up time at Waikato Hospital, New Zealand

“…We have shown that with small increases in clinic provision and the introduction of CNS, we can make significant reductions in delay to follow up. Our findings support other studies showing that the collaborative care model can reduce follow‐up delays …”

Approach to collaborative glaucoma care in New Zealand: An update

“…Since 2013 there has been a reduction in the number of patients with uncontrolled IOP from 28.8% to 11.8% and the number of patients with definite glaucoma progression has more than halved from 3.1% to 1.45% of all those seen in the SGC. This reduction may in part be attributable to less delays in follow‐up as our initial study showed an increased likelihood of glaucoma progression in those patients with longer follow‐up delays . The improvement in IOP control and decreased progression rates among patients seen in the SGC also suggest patients in this clinic are now more likely be those with stable glaucoma, at low risk of vision loss as recommended by White and Goldberg for collaborative care schemes …”

“…Although additional funding has been raised as a result, the ongoing development of innovative solutions is essential to address the burden of chronic eye diseases such as glaucoma. We have previously reported on the establishment of a collaborative glaucoma clinic in Palmerston North, New Zealand, to meet this increasing demand . The Stable Glaucoma Clinic (SGC) is based in the ophthalmology department and managed by optometrists with oversight provided by consultant ophthalmologists.…”

Collaborative care: the way of the future

“…It is heartening to see published data from New Zealand from Botha et al . on a team care approach to glaucoma management . Their study reports on the outcomes of the management of 383 stable glaucoma patients by trained optometrists co‐located with an ophthalmologist.…”

“…5,6 It is heartening to see published data from New Zealand from Botha et al on a team care approach to glaucoma management. 7 Their study reports on the outcomes of the management of 383 stable glaucoma patients by trained optometrists co-located with an ophthalmologist. This scheme markedly reduced delays for review appointments, identified patients at higher risk and expedited review by an ophthalmologist, with the majority of re-referred patients requiring a change in treatment.…”