Transformation Support Provided Remotely to a National Cohort of Optometry Practices.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Optometry
• Public Health

Background:

• Optometric care is crucial for managing ocular conditions.
• Emergency department (ED) visits for eye issues are frequent and costly.
• Practice transformation initiatives aim to improve healthcare delivery and reduce costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a practice transformation project in optometry.
• To assess the impact of a multicomponent intervention on optometric care delivery.
• To quantify cost savings associated with reduced ED utilization.

Main Methods:

• A national cohort of 1,706 optometry practices participated.
• Intervention involved curriculum dissemination and a web portal for data collection.
• Outcomes measured included data reporting, urgent optometry visits, and projected cost savings.

Main Results:

• 69.9% of practices reported data; urgent optometry visits increased.
• An estimated $152 million in cost savings was achieved by avoiding 176,703 ED visits.
• Monthly cost savings were significantly higher in rural compared to urban practices.

Conclusions:

• Remote technical assistance can effectively promote practice transformation at scale.
• Optometrists can reduce ED use and costs by providing timely ambulatory care.
• Significant cost-saving opportunities exist by managing ocular conditions in optometry practices instead of EDs.