Diabetic retinal photographic screening: a model for introducing audit and improving general practitioner care of diabetic patients in a rural setting

Aust J Rural Health. 1999 Nov;7(4):237-9. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-1584.1999.00227.x.

Abstract

This paper describes the addition of diabetic retinal screening using retinal photography to an existing immunisation audit by a General Practitioner (GP) Network in a semi-rural area 60-min drive from central Wellington, New Zealand. The employment of a nurse-facilitator who visited practices to assist the setting up of diabetic registers and the subsequent auditing of patterns of referral for retinal photography was seen as a first step in a process that would lead to audit of the care of diabetic patients by GPs in the Network. This should lead to a measurable improvement in health-care delivery to diabetic patients in this area and is a model that could be adapted by any group of rural or semirural GPs within a defined geographical area.

MeSH terms

  • Diabetic Retinopathy / diagnosis*
  • Family Practice / standards*
  • Humans
  • Medical Audit / organization & administration*
  • New Zealand
  • Nurse Clinicians / organization & administration
  • Photography / methods*
  • Referral and Consultation / organization & administration
  • Registries
  • Rural Health Services / standards*
  • Total Quality Management / organization & administration*
  • Vision Screening / methods*