Rise of Diabetes Epidemic Leads to Innovations in Diabetic Patient Care Nationwide

Kingwood, Texas, Nov. 06, 2017 -- The 2017 National Diabetes Statistics Report, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that 30.3 million people are living with diabetes in the United States. Within the U.S. there are 7.2 million people living with undiagnosed diabetes. The rate of diabetes in the U.S. has reached epidemic proportions and is ranked as the seventh leading cause of death. 

Vision Source, North America’s largest independent optometric alliance, has created specialized training to support the rising need for wholistic diabetic patient care. The BrainStream Diabetes Practice Protocol is a continuing education course offered exclusively to Vision Source member optometrists and serves as a guide for detecting and monitoring diabetes. This training program personalizes the patient experience by melding state-of-the-art equipment with leading optometric clinical skills.

Through the application of BrainStream Diabetes Practice Protocol training techniques, Vision Source optometrists use comprehensive medical eye exams to assess the overall health of the internal ocular structures including the retina and optic nerve. For patients living with diabetes, Vision Source clinicians assess ocular findings to detect diabetes, review the advancement of the disease, determine if the disease is being controlled, and how prescribed medications are affecting ocular health. 

“Vision Source is proud to partner with a host of managed care organizations nationwide to ensure that patients have access to an enhanced healthcare experience,” stated Vision Source Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Williams, OD. “Through our partnerships, Vision Source furthers our commitment to fighting the diabetes epidemic by building pipelines of care that improve the way American’s living with diabetes detect and manage the disease over a lifetime.”

By designing an innovative collaborative patient care model for the management of eye health, Vision Source has integrated medical eye care with diabetes management. With a strong commitment to value-based patient care, as of September 2017 over sixty percent of Vision Source clinicians have completed the BrainStream Diabetes Practice Protocol training.  The Vision Source proprietary protocol brings together evidence-based medicine clinical care guidelines, value-based care principals and practice experience to ensure the optimal patient experience. As a result, Vision Source has established dozens of thriving collaborative partnerships with organizations including Privia Health, Minuteman Health, Memorial Hermann Health, UMass Memorial, University of Colorado Healthcare, Aledade and the Joslin Diabetes Centers.

About Vision Source

Founded in 1991, Vision Source is North America’s largest network of independent optometrists consisting of over 4,700 members. The clinicians in the Vision Source network enjoy access to newly evolving patient channels, including an expanding list of leading medical groups and integrated health systems with whom Vision Source optometrists collaborate. Additionally, members benefit from a wide range of innovative technologies, practice management tools, strategic marketing, and purchasing power. Leveraging these tools, the clinicians offer comprehensive eye care to their patients delivering an industry leading patient experience. For more information, call 888-558-2020 or visit www.visionsource.com.

About Vision Source BrainStream Diabetes Practice Protocols

Founded in 2007, the Vision Source BrainStream Diabetes Practice Protocols is an exclusive complimentary course offered to members of Vision Source network.

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Alysia Gradney
Vision Source
1-281-318-7835
[email protected]