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USDA and Wellmark Foundation Provide Continued Funding for Retinal Telediagnosis for Rural Iowa

Abramoff, Protextor, and Carter outside the UIHC with 9 digital cameras

Dr. Michael Abramoff is photographed here with Terry Protextor from University of Iowa Community Medical Services, Dr. Keith Carter, chair of the University of Iowa Dept. of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and nine digital retinal cameras that will be placed in rural clinics. Photograph was taken April 4th near the entrance to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Main Entrance.

The Retinal Telediagnosis for Rural Iowa project headed by Dr. Michael Abramoff was one of 79 projects (out of 227 applications) funded by the USDA Rural Development, Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program in late 2005. The University of Iowa was awarded $198,000 from the USDA for this project.

On April 4, 2006, the project celebrated the receipt of nine retinal cameras that will be used by community clinics in rural Iowa for early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy. (see photograph)

The Wellmark Foundation initially granted $31,700 in April of last year to help set up the pilot site in Akron, Iowa. The Wellmark Foundation awarded an additional $29,500 this year.

The goal of the program is to make the diagnosis of retinal disease accessible to rural inhabitants, and prevent needless visual loss and blindness especially from diabetes and age-related macular degeneration by earlier diagnosis and treatment.

The project places a digital retinal camera into the office of primary care physicians in ten rural Iowa communities. Photographs of the retina are transmitted over the internet to be diagnosed by retinal specialists at the University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. The physicians’ diagnoses are transmitted back to the primary care office.

Participating clinics are located in Akron, Centerville, Belle Plaine, Lone Tree, Lowden, Marengo, Perry, Sigourney, Toledo, and Wapello.

Find out more about the project at http://webscreen.ophth.uiowa.edu.