[Management of diabetic retinopathy using telemedicine and network integration]

If we are able to increase the resolution of complex medical problems at primary health care levels, we would improve the efficiency of the health care systems and would reduce the burden of specialists.

To describe the result of a telemedicine and network management of diabetic retinopathy supervised by an ophthalmological service.

Diabetic patients attended in primary health care centers of the East Metropolitan Health Service in Santiago, Chile, derived for 45° digital retinographies were evaluated using telemedicine by the ophthalmologists of the base hospital. These professionals screened for diabetic retinopathy and classified it. Those patients with diabetic retinopathy were derived to the base hospital for specialized management.

Of 2,566 patients evaluated, 22% had signs of diabetic retinopathy, 75% did not have the condition and 2% could not be evaluated with retinography. Seventy percent of patients with retinopathy, equivalent to only fifteen percent of total diabetics, were referred to the specialists for treatment.

This model allowed a reduction of referrals to ophthalmologists, reducing the burden of secondary and tertiary health care systems.