MARCH 2020 | EYEWORLD | 105
Contact
Jacka: msjacka@eyenela.com
4. Invest in the best fundus photography
technology that you can, and share those
photos with the referring provider. You want
the referring internal medicine providers to
know how crisp images are from any technol-
ogy that you have. "New images that are clear
and distinct will reinforce to the primary care
provider that ophthalmology has changed dras-
tically even in the last 2 years due to an expo-
nential clarity in our diagnostic equipment," Ms.
Jacka said. She recommends sending the prima-
ry care physician a copy of the fundus photo of
their patient along with your findings, so he or
she can see that you have invested in a system
that indicates diabetic retinopathy clearly.
5. Stay in touch with family members of
patients with diabetic retinopathy. Remind
those family members of the importance of
annual eye exams.
2. Get to know your local internal med-
icine providers. Those are the providers who
need to refer patients with diabetes somewhere
for an annual eye screening. Even if they have
their own technology to take an image annually,
they still need to refer out for interpretation or
when there are signs of eye damage. Here are a
few ways to expand this network with internal
medicine providers, according to Ms. Jacka:
• Answer their calls promptly so they know you
are available easily and quickly.
• Invite the primary care physician and their
staff to your office for a free eye screening
so they can see what you do and what the
screening technology does.
• Attend networking events with these local
providers.
3. Also get to know other health pro-
viders who work with diabetes patients.
This can include certified diabetes educators,
dietitians, social workers, diabetic nurse practi-
tioners, endocrinologists, and podiatrists. These
could potentially be cross-referral sources, and
building those relationships will once again
show your commitment to screening and serv-
ing those with diabetes, Ms. Jacka said.
I