Dr David Ramsey to Present Research on Telehealth Use, Eye Examination Completions

As the COVID-19 pandemic was the first time we delivered telehealth services, we didn't know what benefit it might have for our patients, said David Ramsey, MD, PhD, MPH, an ophthalmologist and director of ophthalmic research at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center of Beth Israel Lahey Health. Ramsey will present research during an American Academy of Ophthalmology 2021 session called, "Telehealth Encourages More Minority Patients With Diabetes to Return for In-Person Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic." Research coauthors include Karen Latulippe; Jeffrey L. Marx, MD; Shiyoung Roh, MD; Claudia C. Lasalle; Sidrah Anjum; and Ed Momplaisir.

Transcript:

Could you introduce yourself and explain the work you do?

Hi, I'm David Ramsey, MD, PhD, MPH. I'm an ophthalmologist at the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, a part of Beth Israel Lahey Health. I work as a vitreoretinal surgeon. I'm the director of ophthalmic research at the Lahey Hospital and the Harry Lee Chair of Innovation. I work in the area of retina, providing care to patients with diabetes, macular degeneration, retinal detachments, and other surgical diseases as well.

What are you hoping attendees will learn at AAO 2021?

At the American Academy this year, we hope to share with those who attend our presentation, our findings regarding telehealth and the beneficial effect it had on patients, specifically those with diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. The COVID-19 pandemic was the first time we delivered telehealth service on any scale. We didn't know what sort of benefit this might have for our patients. What we're hoping to share is, one of the positive outcomes of this study looking back retrospectively, was that patients who received telehealth services were very much more likely to return for in-person diabetic eye exams in the first year of the pandemic.