University Medical Associates Screening Program

Division of General Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care:

Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Program:
A UMA Success Story

By Kristina Holbrook, Project Manager, UVA Ophthamology

In 2011, fewer than half of the over 2,000 unique patients with diabetes seen at University Medical Associates (UMA) were compliant with the American Diabetes Association and American Academy of Ophthalmology recommendation that a dilated eye exam be performed annually to screen for diabetic retinopathy. Fast forward to September 2013 and UMA is proud to report that as a result of collaboration with the Department of Ophthalmology, the number of patients with diabetes who have completed their annual eye exam has increased significantly.

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in adults ages 25 to 74 years in the United States; it is caused by damage to the tiny blood vessels in the retina, due to chronic hyperglycemia. Within 20 years of diagnosis, nearly all individuals with type I diabetes, and over 60% of individuals with type II diabetes, will develop diabetic retinopathy. While vision loss associated with diabetic retinopathy is preventable in most cases, early detection of the disease is critical. Recognizing this, Paul Yates of the UVA Department of Ophthalmology established the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening (DRS) Program in 2010, with funding from the Medical Center’s Buchanan endowment.

The program would not be successful without the leadership of Dr. John Leiner, who championed the project at UMA; Dr. Ira Helenius, UMA’s Medical Director; and Dr. Paul Yates and his team in Ophthalmology. Additionally, thanks go to Samantha Sims, a medical assistant at UMA who also serves as the UMA retinopathy screening photographer, and to the entire UMA team for their continued efforts to integrate the program into the clinic’s workflow, identify patients requiring screening, and prevent UMA patients from developing debilitating diabetes-associated eye disease.