Healthcare professionals in northern New York need not wait anymore for the telemedicine program designed to screen patients for diabetic retinopathy.

The Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization will be launching telemedicine technology in 28 positions spanning Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties very soon. A grant from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and state funds assured by a local legislator prompted this action.

The asynchronous telemedicine platform comprises of a RetinaVue 100 Imager camera which allows domestic medical professionals to test patients for the grave eye disease, forward the information to an ophthalmologist or optometrist and obtain a diagnosis in less than 24 hours.

Robert P. Hunt, the Fort Drum RHPO’s Regional TeleHealth Program Manager and Regional Fiber Network Manager, said, the digital-health service helps local primary care providers to synchronize superior care for their patients.

“They go to their physician regularly because they have to get the medication to manage their diabetes, so while we have them there we can now initiate this step and give them some peace of mind as to what shape their eyes are in,” he said.

 “Many of the providers in our region are extremely busy,” he said. “They’re not looking to expand their practices. They’re at capacity,” so they’d be more disposed to implement telehealth programs that relieve their workflows and drive services from the packed office or clinic to the patient.

“We could be several years away from” repayment for a program like this, he added. “So we have to find those partners who are willing to position themselves for the future.”

The passing of a year witnesses the Excellus BCBS funding the program over a three-year, $150,000 Member and Community Health Improvement Grant, while an extra $50,000 was dished out from the state budget the previous fall, thanks to the labor of state Sen. Patricia A. Ritchie, R-Heuvelton.