A collaborative care pathway for patients with suspected angle closure glaucoma spectrum disease

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Glaucoma Research
• Public Health

Background:

• No established collaborative care pathway exists to differentiate open-angle glaucoma from narrow or angle-closure disease.
• This study introduces and evaluates a novel referral and collaborative care pathway designed for patients within the angle closure spectrum.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a new referral pathway for angle closure spectrum disease.
• To determine if the pathway improves the timeliness of care and reduces incidental diagnoses.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of patient records before and after pathway implementation (Angle Suite).
• Extracted demographic, clinical, referral, and practitioner data.
• Statistical analysis including multinomial logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Patients using the Angle Suite pathway experienced significantly shorter appointment times (p < 0.0001).
• A reduction in incidental angle closure disease diagnoses was observed post-implementation.
• Referral letters including angle descriptions improved the accuracy of angle closure disease detection (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

• The developed clinical pathway can decrease incidental angle closure diagnoses and expedite care for relevant patients.
• This collaborative care model offers a way for community-based clinics to manage patients effectively, easing the burden on tertiary ophthalmic services.