For underserved populations, proximity to specialty medicine can be a big problem. Kellogg’s eHealth program will provide a way for these underserved patients to receive essential care without having to travel to the specialist’s office. The eHealth program focuses on ways to screen and monitor diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, cataracts, corneal infection, retinopathy of prematurity, and macular degeneration.
“All telemedicine and eHealth programs first will be tested to make sure they are safe and effective for patients,” says Mia Woodward, MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Co-Director of the eHealth program. “Telemedicine offers convenient care and better access for Michigan patients, but we must maintain a high quality of care.”
Dr. Woodward works alongside a team of eHealth experts at Kellogg, including Rebecca Wu, MD, Clinical Director for the eHealth Diabetic Eye Program, eHealth program Co-Director Paula Anne Newman-Casey, MD, MS, and Beth Hansemann, BS, COT, continuous improvement specialist. Other Kellogg faculty include Dr. Cagri Besirli, who leads eHealth work on retinopathy of prematurity screening; Dr. Christine Nelson, who is kickstarting an eHealth program in oculoplastics; and Dr. Hakan Demirci, who has been exploring eHealth to provide ocular oncology care to resource-challenged settings. Blair Snyder, COA, provides electronic medical record support to the team. Kellogg residents and alumni have also made significant contributions to the field, including Drs. Crandall Peeler, Tyson Kim and Tapan Patel.