Ibis Vision

Healthy Vision Month comes around every May and was created to stress the importance of our eyes and keeping them healthy. Back in 2003, the National Eye Institute established this month to spread awareness and educate people on maintaining good eye health. Organisations and individuals spend May spreading the word via social media, hosting events, and promoting via their organisation channels and networks.

Therefore, it’s the perfect month to get the word out there and share how we can all maintain healthy vision. So, what are some of the main things we can do to look after our eyes?

1 – Of course, the top tip is to have regular eye examinations with your optometrist. Often, some conditions can go unnoticed or even have no symptoms at all so it’s vital to get your eyes checked by an eye care professional. An eye exam will pick up any irregularities so make sure an eye exam is top of your priority list once every 2 years!

2 – Smoking is a big no-no when it comes to looking after eye health. This is because as well as influencing your general health, it can double the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration which is the leading cause of sight loss in the UK (RNIB).

3 – Paying attention to your diet and eating healthily is a good way to look after your eyes. According to Healthline, some serious eye conditions can be avoided if you include foods that contain a range of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals known as antioxidants. For a full list, visit the Healthline website, here.

4 – Protect your eyes from the sun; UVA and UVB rays can be harmful to your eyes and could increase the risk of cataracts and AMD. You can avoid this risk by wearing sunglasses that are CE marked and have been made to the standard requirements to allow for maximum protection.

There are various ways we can ensure our eyes stay healthy as you can see from some of the tips above. It’s important that this month we keep sharing what we can do with our networks to ensure we’re spreading the news effectively.

Accessibility is key in providing eye exams and that’s where IbisVision comes in. Our tele-optometry platform ensures optometrists can examine patients anywhere at any time. This supports them in carrying out routine eye examinations, triaging and aiding in the early detection of eye conditions. Find out more about our platform, here.

*Healthy vision tips based on guidance issued by RNIB.

Remote patient monitoring extends the reach of caregivers, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing costs for both the patient and provider. This kind of technology is now often used as a healthcare delivery method to monitor a patient’s health outside of clinical settings while still maintaining a connection with the healthcare provider.

Healthcare organisations are using technology more and more as a method of patient monitoring. It’s a real time-saver for professionals and saves the patient from travelling to and from follow-up appointments. Optometry is one sector that could benefit from this kind of solution and has the potential to follow suit and embrace a new way of delivering care.

How does IbisVision help with remote patient monitoring?  

Our platform has a multitude of uses and with a live connection to the optometrist, IBIS-Connect can facilitate a number of different types of appointments. Of course, one of the main reasons an optometrist uses IBIS-Connect is for remote eye examinations but what else do we support?

• Follow-up appointments required after check-ups
• Check-in appointments with patients after surgery
• Check-in appointments for patients with ongoing eye conditions who require extra care and advice
• Emergency appointments
• Very soon we will also be able to facilitate the update of prescriptions through our online refraction resting

Our technology allows for the relationship between the optometrist and patient to be maintained and remote monitoring capabilities are a key part of our platform. Whether you need a verbal check-in or to complete a few eye exams online, there’s something to suit each type of appointment. And of course, it gives the eye care professional the opportunity to assess whether a patient needs to visit them in-person, saving time and costs to both.

Take a look at our IBIS-Connect platform and see for yourself by booking a demo with our team. You can do this by clicking, here.

You can also see our platform working in real-time if you’re attending 100% Optical in London or Vision Expo East this March – we look forward to seeing you there!

With technology constantly advancing, it’s no surprise that we have some exciting changes coming our way in the sector. Staying ahead of the curve can be good, as well as staying aware of what’s to come too. This knowledge is vital in having an outlook on exactly where the sector is going so, let’s look at some trends to look out for this year.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and it’s growing role in optometry

Technology and its increased levels of adoption have changed many job roles in recent years across multiple sectors. Optometry is no different with refraction and imaging being some of the things that could be impacted by AI. And, with online eye testing having already arrived in the sector, it makes sense that other elements eye care could be next to experience some transformation with AI. The question that many are asking is, will AI replace the optometrist? This is not likely to happen, but it could become an optometrists best friend given how it can complement and aid the work being done in practice. We should not shy away from such advances in technology; AI gives us the opportunity to make eye care more accessible to many more people and help to save sight.

A spotlight on myopia

By 2050, nearly 50% of the world’s population will be diagnosed with myopia. It looks like there is much work to be done in 2023 and beyond to come up with solutions to the condition. Part of the solutions we are already seeing is the encouragement of children to spend more time outdoors and less time doing ‘intense near vision activities.’ Current trends indicate that the severity of myopia is increasing and for many, leading to high myopia. There are more discussions to be had this year on the issue and in the UK, major events such as 100% Optical are featuring educational sessions to drive more awareness. It’s safe to say that in 2023, myopia will be considered in the planning of eye care services, this will likely include refractive services such as spectacles and managing and preventing vision loss.

We’ll see more telemedicine solutions

Telemedicine trends are moving along nicely for 2023. Development is only going to continue this year into telemedicine and with multiple ways in which it can be used, it presents various opportunities to fit into an eye care organisation. Many will use it to replace steps in the patient journey while others will use a hybrid approach to integrate telemedicine solutions alongside current processes. There’s much to look out for in this space and prepare for to keep up with the fast-moving pace of telemedicine and all that comes with it.

Smart eyewear is here

2023 is said to be the year that smart eyewear begins to make its mark. It may not have taken over yet, but its time is still to come. Meta recently announced that they are purchasing smart eyewear company, Luxexcel which has the capability to produce 3D printed lenses. With this announcement along with the rise of other smart eyewear technology, we will likely see more and more smart glasses coming to market. Smart glasses are set to transform the user experience and companies are now working to see how AR glasses can fit into our daily lives. Watch this space.

Sustainable eyewear

The impact on the environment is a continuous and important topic of conversation. The eye care community is attempting to help in its own way by looking at producing more sustainable eyewear. Consumers can also help to push for sustainable alternatives too. Companies such as Couco Eyewear are encouraging customers to turn their old glasses into sunglasses and others in the industry are following suit with similar initiatives. If consumers opt to utilise these then we are well on our way to making a difference.

The above trends are all equally important to be aware of in 2023. They will each play an integral part in progressing the industry throughout this year and beyond. As technology evolves in the sector, we are sure to see many patients and optometrists journey’s transformed; and we think, for the better.

IbisVision is playing its part in the optometry trends of 2023 by continuing to supply our telemedicine solution, IBIS-Connect to the sector. Find out more about our platform and what we’re doing for the industry, here.

Consumer trends can move fast in many industries, and the optometry sector in particular is beginning to see the effects of hastening digital trends. Keeping up with these trends can be a big task and it can be difficult to navigate exactly how we should be engaging with consumers from month to month.

Engagement is vital in attracting customers but also in retaining them too. How we engage often determines how successful the entire consumer journey is from start to finish. In the optical sector specifically, it’s important to consider what is important to patients, what you want to get from engaging with them and also the means in which you engage with them.

Below, we take a look at a few different ways that you can engage with your patients throughout their journey with you.

We’re sure you’ll find it unsurprising that online engagement is key in keeping up with your target audience. With 6.6 billion smartphone users in 2022 (oberlo.co.uk), it would be silly not to consider taking digital methods of engagement into account. What digital avenues should we explore?

Digital advertisements boost your exposure in a multitude of ways. Utilising your social media channels allows for potential patients beyond your audience to see and interact with your content and digital ads are a perfect way to do this. As well as this, combining paid advertising with your organic social efforts will allow double the exposure and different segments of your audience to get the chance to engage with you.

Email marketing is ideal for engaging with your current consumer base but also with any consumers who have signed up to your newsletters or interacted with your social media advertisements. Using email campaigns allows you to send out targeted content to different segments of your lists allowing for maximum engagement.

Video is a growing marketing engagement tool which will continue to expand as digital content becomes the norm over other types of content. 79% of marketers who weren’t using video planned to build a video strategy in 2022 and 99% of those who are already using it are planning to use it more (hubspot.com). Video allows for you to really showcase your business and what you can offer your consumer, it’s also an engaging and efficient way of interacting with your audience.

Compelling calls to actions are what encourage your audience to really engage with you. Eye catching calls to actions that will lead to a useful interaction for the consumer are vital in encouraging their engagement. Here are some examples of intriguing calls to action from Hubspot.

Patient success stories and testimonials will ensure that you gain the trust of your consumer in order for them to interact with you. Sharing success stories are a great way to engage with your current consumer base as well as potential patients. In healthcare sectors especially, we know the patient will be looking for knowledge that they can trust your organisation before interacting with you. Nuffield Trust has stated that “there are many benefits that can accrue from a trusting relationship, including open communication of information, improved adherence to medical advice, improvement of health outcomes and better patient experience.” Therefore, attempting to build this trust through better engagement and the sharing of other patient experiences can only help to obtain the above mentioned benefits for you and your patients.

These methods of engagement are not an exhaustive list but a good indicator or where to start or where to look at refreshing or improving. IbisVision understands the patient journey and how engagement can fit into improving outcomes for our optometrist and patient users. IBIS-Engage is a part of our platform that allows for engagement before the patient has even booked an appointment for an online eye test. Find out more about this by getting in touch with our team here, or you can see more information on IBIS-Engage, here.

For a proudly Glasgow-based company like IbisVision, we are sometimes asked why we have such a global focus. Surely the aim is to shore up our own domestic UK market first before we try and work elsewhere?

The answer to that is an emphatic no – there are rich and varied eyecare markets around the world and already we’ve had a foray into India through our kiosks programme. However, nothing compares to the US when it comes to the size of the market, the various types of clients that we can deal with (from hospitals through to eyecare chains through to healthcare conglomerates), and the market make up in terms of vast physical differences and an ageing population. Put it like this – if we can crack the US first, we will be able to provide our groundbreaking technology to the patients that need it anywhere around the world.

And to get into the US market, one of the best places to be in September is Las Vegas for Vision Expo where the entire US eyecare industry comes together to see the latest technology and solutions. As we said, what happens here is a harbinger of what will happen to the global sector in coming years. We’re looking forward to meeting companies that we hope will be our partners and the myriad of healthcare, technology and business journalists who descend on the city for the event.

In fact, for a Glasgow eyecare company to grow and make a difference in the world, there’s nowhere better to be than a city in the Mojave Desert!

If you’ll be at Vision Expo from the 15th-17th September our team would love to meet you! Email us at info@ibisvision.co.uk to arrange a meeting with one of our team.

We all know the story – treating patients over the past couple of years has become much more of a challenge as we navigate our way through the Covid pandemic. Even still, while many of us have returned to a normal life without masks and restrictions, in a clinical environment the need to protect patients from disease and limit in-person interaction continues.

So what can we do when this limitation is affecting the health of some of the most vulnerable in society – our children? When childhood eyecare conditions are left untreated they not only can limit the potential of that child in later life, but also place a future burden on our healthcare system that should be avoidable.

That’s the background to a project we’ve undertaken with NHS Forth Valley, Optonet and the Small Business Research Initiative; what does this clinical evaluation of telemedicine mean for the healthcare system?

Childhood myopia is a growing epidemic and the need for access to optometrists and other eye care specialists is vital in allowing parents the information they need as well as the correct care for the child. The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that one out of two people have myopia and studies show myopia is becoming more common among children.

This project has allowed us to explore our telemedicine platform in greater detail and allow clinicians across the Forth Valley health board to gain access to our technology and test it for themselves. From this it has been found that home vision testing can be just as accurate as in-person tests. In the above video you’ll have heard clinicians attest to this.

Our work also links with amendments to regulation in Scotland as more people take on the use of telemedicine products. On the 20th of May, the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments and General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022 were laid before the Scottish Parliament. These 2022 regulations amend for General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) legislation to provide flexibility for GOS to be undertaken using remote facilities.

In the updated 2022 regulations, the existing arrangements for providing GOS using remote facilities continues to apply which is that:

“Remote eye examinations can be claimed using supplementary eye examination reason codes and must involve all the elements of an eye examination undertaken in person with the patient, except tests and procedures which require the physical presence of the patient. A GOS claim cannot be submitted where remote facilities are only used to ask a patient a series of questions to explore their concerns more fully and make a decision regarding whether the patient requires an eye examination.”

These regulations are welcomed as a nod to the developments and adoption in telemedicine and also mean that IbisVision can be used to provide some examinations to the patient from their own home and our work on remote vision testing for children with NHS Forth Valley will comply with current regulations.

The next steps in this revolution in telemedicine in the healthcare system is to carry out further clinical evaluations that will allow for telehealth assessments to become part of the patient journey. This is vital for anyone involved in eye care but also in other medical disciplines as well where eye health can be used to determine other medical conditions. The uses for telemedicine are wide and the opportunities great, all that’s needed is a wider adoption and trust in the technology that will help to transform the clinician and patient journey for the better.

To find out more about the project mentioned above or our telemedicine platform, get in touch with us, here.

There have always been several layers in our passion for ophthalmic telemedicine, producing the leading visual assessment tools that can be used over a simple internet connection. Firstly, we are excited about the prospect of allowing a greater number of people to access eye care, including those who don’t have the means to attend an optician for a variety of reasons. Secondly, we work closely with major eye care companies to see how using our technology leads to efficiencies in the patient journey saving time and costs. Those savings can be invested in further technology and in greater patient coverage.

Now, we are embarking on our most exciting and ground breaking project yet —  a process to determine how our technology can be used in conjunction with other medical disciplines, and in a broader health service context, to produce outcomes which are far wider than just those purely related to eye care. That’s why we were particularly honoured to take part in the NHS Scotland-led symposium on 7th July where our technology was discussed along with experts in stroke, cancer, mental health, dementia, diabetes, paediatrics, women’s health and skin conditions. While our technology might only touch on some of these issues, it’s also true that eye care can sometimes give greater insights into other medical conditions.

Just consider the potential if medical practitioners, no matter what specialism, could call upon eye test data to improve and guide their clinical decisions. For example, visual field screening can highlight if a patient has had a stroke or a potential brain tumour. Artificial Intelligence (AI) examination of retinal images can detect risk of cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and more. The recent Scottish National Innovation Event that took place in Murrayfield Stadium reflected this type of innovation in the Scottish healthcare space. Attended by the First Minister and Scottish Government officials as well as healthcare clinicians and technology innovators, the event showcased the types of innovations that can and will complement the healthcare sector going forward. IbisVision’s technology featured in a segment giving detail into how, as part of a current SBRI project with NHS Forth Valley, it can be integrated into the health system to improve the patient journey and assist in health care assessments.

Overall, by cutting the cost and increasing the frequency of eye examinations and opening access to a much wider group of patients, we’re allowing medical professionals across the board to tap into the insights that eye care can provide and improve diagnostic efficiency. For example, patient pre-visit triage can reduce the time they spend in practice and improve patient flow in practices, allowing for greater though put of patients for no extra staff costs. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that through our technology optometry can make an even greater contribution to society.

Contact our team today to find out more – get in touch

Could we teach Ed Sheeran how to perform? Or Cristiano Ronaldo how to kick a ball? Probably not! But it does seem that in the US, the land of Silicon Valley, Apple and world-beating innovation, we’re showing them a thing or two about ophthalmic technology.

Our recent trip to the US was an amazing success. Our travels took us first to Miami and then onto New York where we made important connections and had conversations with big players in the optometry market in both states.

Throughout the visit Compiler VC, an investor in our business, led the way, introducing us to other investment companies as well as some key optical organisations. This allowed us the opportunity to discuss and gauge the response from the US market first hand. And, we were happy to have IbisVision’s technology and mission validated by those who would be looking to utilise our platform or even invest in its future. From our conversations we found that now is the perfect time for IbisVision to enter the US market with a tele-optometry solution that will transform the way eye care is provided.

IbisVision’s technology is ahead of the curve, and we know that we are primed and ready to disrupt the market. We spoke to several optical leaders, and they have confirmed and also welcomed further innovation in the market. In particular, our forthcoming introduction of remote refraction will be a game changer, allowing for an even broader range of optical tasks to be undertaken remotely.

There are also other organisations innovating in the optometry space and we were lucky enough to meet some of them at Vision Expo in New York.  We saw the likes of Grand Vision who were recently acquired by EssilorLuxottica and are now “exploring new paths around digitization and innovation.” We also discussed the future of telemedicine and saw some of the team at Topcon Healthcare who are doing some amazing things in telehealth. Their telehealth solution ‘Harmony’ creates connectivity ensuring that eye care professionals can use their current software while adopting the latest technologies; a vital piece of the puzzle when introducing telemedicine solutions!

It’s safe to say we met and spoke to some big innovators in the industry. Keep an eye out on what’s next for IbisVision – we gained some exciting ideas from our time in the US as well as validating our current plan to revolutionise the optical sector; we’ll have more updates on this over the coming months! For now, we’re delighted to be offering our tele-optometry solution to the market and are looking forward to seeing IBIS-Connect in action in more and more optometry settings.

Why not take a look for yourself? Find out more about IBIS-Connect, here.

For a company like IbisVision, where our product is developed with the input and intelligence of partners and the market, meeting up with the companies who’ll use our platform is one of the most important tasks we can do. This is really vital in the US, which has the most cutting-edge health sector in the world, but also differs somewhat from the public model found across Europe, so we’re learning all the time.

The highlight in this case was making an appearance at the weekend at Vision Expo in New York where some of the biggest names in optometry were in attendance. We showcased our tele-optometry solution IBIS-Connect to numerous professionals and stopped by for a visit to the likes of Essilor and Clear Vision to speak further about what we’re doing for the market. The connections we’re making and conversations we’re having will definitely change the future of IbisVision.

From the past few days, we’ve been lucky enough to have gained some amazing feedback and observations. IbisVision is definitely at the forefront of the telemedicine evolution in optometry and over the next few days we’ve got some more exciting things coming up. We have important connections to be made in New York and we’ll be meeting with venture capitalists and remote healthcare networks to talk more about IBIS-Connect.

Our usual gripe though – our team hasn’t had much time to stop off at any of the iconic tourist attractions so we’ve added the Empire State building and Statue of Liberty to Disneyland on our “missed” list! But you never know…we might indulge ourselves just once before we fly home!

IbisVision provides telemedicine to the optometry industry. With our technology, optometrists can carry out eye tests with their patients no matter where they are. Find out more by getting in touch with us, here.

We’re often hearing that the world is changing and we’re moving to new ways of living, working and communicating. Remote working opportunities have become the norm and we’ve been on and off video calls with colleagues, family and friends over the past two years. And this hasn’t just applied to our social and work lives, it has also affected how we interact with other services we need to access. Many of the services that have had to adapt have been in the healthcare sector. 

With face-to-face appointments dramatically reduced or stopped altogether, the healthcare industry has had to try and adapt. This is where telemedicine came in, and though not an entirely new concept, it was something that had to be introduced and accelerated in order to support healthcare professionals and their patients. We must also remember that, even prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, many patients suffered long wait times and clinicians and healthcare staff were under massive pressure. So, telemedicine providers have sought to solve issues caused by the pandemic but they’re also now here to help us with long-terms solutions that could transform the journey’s of both patients and clinicians alike. So, with all of that being said, how do we go about choosing a telemedicine provider when it’s an entirely new concept for us?  

Here’s some advice, hints and tips on what to look out for and what to ask when selecting your provider.  

First of all, what is telemedicine?  

If you’re not familiar with the concept of telemedicine and the technology that comes with it, it combines two major aspects. The first is in regards to ‘tele’ which relates to the specific method of communicating which in this case is video conferencing or calling. And remember, it’s all about face-to-face, real-time communication. The next aspect is ‘medicine’ which relates to the practice and diagnosis of patients, as well as offering treatments, prevention of illnesses and even remote patient monitoring. We must always be careful though not to confuse telemedicine with telehealth. Telehealth is a concept that relates to any type of remote or online communication in healthcare whether that be a text message or an app that offers tips and advice on managing illnesses. Telemedicine specifically relates to the diagnosis and treatments of patients via online face-to-face interactions.  

So, once we’ve understood it, how does it help your organisation?  

Telemedicine has many benefits and can fit in to improve processes and solve internal problems your organisation and clinicians and/or staff may have been facing. It can help to reduce waiting times by allowing you to fit in more patients online for slots throughout your day, but an extremely important aspect of telemedicine is the opportunity for remote triage and follow-ups. Telemedicine solutions can give you the ability to speak to patients before they come into your practice or healthcare setting so you can either rule them out of having to come in at all, diagnose and treat anything minor online or know that inviting them for an in-person appointment is absolutely necessary. Not only that, but it could reduce the pressure on staff with less footfall through your doors with a certain percentage of appointments being carried out online, especially when it comes to triage or follow up appointments. It’s important to note that most telemedicine solutions do not seek to phase out face-to-face interactions or clinicians, they are there to support processes already in place and to ensure that the patient and clinician journey run smoothly with less pressure on the organisation.  

Now, we must look at which supplier to choose and why! 

Map out exactly what you need and are looking for. This is vital as many telemedicine solutions will have different platforms. For example, IbisVision has a telemedicine solution for the optometry sector so would only be relevant to this industry. So, remember to be specific about the area you work in when you embark on your search.  

Check out any word-of-mouth recommendations first. It’s well known that referrals are an excellent way of getting new suppliers as there’s a certain element of trust and credibility when we know they have been used successfully elsewhere. If you haven’t heard of any, why not reach out to your peers or colleagues for some suggestions!  

Check with professional bodies. If you’re having no luck, try reaching out to your industry’s professional body. Chances are they may be aware of some options that are out there and are useful to your sector.  

Evaluate and compare. It’s important that, if possible, you pull together a few options and see what each can do for your business. However, this isn’t always necessary, and you may find the perfect fit right away!  

Get to know the provider a little more. Make sure to get a comprehensive demo and even try the platform out for yourself. It’s important you get to know the platform and the team to ensure it’s a good fit for your business.  

Evaluate the software. Throughout the demonstration process and conversations with the team, you should look at evaluating the software. Here are some questions to ask yourself when doing this:  

• What does the business and team look like, and what’s the history, how is their financial stability and who are their other customers? 
• What kind of support system do they have in place? When and how do you get in touch with them if you’re having issues with the platform?  
• Are there any license requirements of using the software and what are the terms and conditions?  
• What cybersecurity protocols are in place? You must ensure yours and your patients’ data is secure. 
• Has the software been through any clinical validation? Have other healthcare professionals or bodies tried and tested this? You should request any research the company may have on this.  

Finally, test the product. It’s a good idea to test the product you have chosen and are going to be implementing. This allows you to view the user experience for both your staff and patients. This ensures it fits with what you’re looking for and it also user-friendly enough for you to implement.  

These steps should help to set you up for success when choosing your telemedicine provider. Getting your organisation in the right place in the digital space is important when looking to implement telemedicine and the technology that comes along with it. Going through these steps will also help you to mitigate any risks that could potentially arise for your business, and helps to get your team prepared! 

IbisVision provides telemedicine to the optometry industry. With our technology, optometrists can carry out eye tests with their patients no matter where they are. Find out more by visiting us at www.ibis.vision  

SBRI Healthcare announced today the nine winners of Competition 18, Stroke and Technology, including IbisVision. The pioneering MedTech innovators will share £800,000 in development funding for their solutions to help improve stroke pre-hospital diagnosis, rehabilitation and life after stroke. 

The competition, developed in partnership with the Stroke Association, the AHSN Network and Accelerated Access Collaborative, focused on improving the quality of NHS services in the context of care provided to stroke patients, reducing the prevalence of independent lives lost to stroke by early identification of at-risk groups, and to ensure provision of support which will help patients manage their condition.

For a full list of the projects visit: https://sbrihealthcare.co.uk/news/sbri-healthcare-awards-800k-to-pioneering-innovations-in-the-stroke-and-technology-field/ 

A wide adoption of digital tools is allowing the optometry industry to progress and better face the challenges that have presented themselves over the past year. Not only this, but technology is helping to improve patient care while reducing costs for the industry too. 
 
In the past year, tele-health adoption has spiked at unprecedented rates across the world, with some providers reporting 175 times the number of consultations via tele-health compared to pre-pandemic visits in the US (medcitynews.com). This, however, did not mean that every organisation was prepared with the technology to offer or manage this uptake in virtual services. Initially, clinicians adopted solutions that were ready-made such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams but technology suppliers have stepped up and have been developing solutions that are tailored to specific industries and their offerings. From no-contact solutions to health kiosks, technology is playing a major part in allowing health and eye care professionals to navigate the effects of the pandemic. 
 
How can technology benefit the optical industry now and in the future? 
 
Technology is allowing us to provide solutions for current challenges that have come from Covid-19. However, we can use these technology solutions to improve the way in which we operate for the future and provide more essential services to patients. 
 
The advantages of implementing technology are endless, but one of the shining benefits is that technology is encouraging people to look after their health and wellbeing no matter their circumstances. For example, health kiosks mean that people can self-serve which is allowing those who are still worried about visiting doctors or hospitals access to health screenings before it’s absolutely necessary for them to visit a practice in person. In the long term, these types of self-service kiosks will suit those with busy lifestyles and it’s also more convenient for many to assess themselves quickly before booking an appointment with a doctor or other health professional. 
 
Remote technology is also beneficial for industry professionals as well as patients. Tele-optometry is helping to keep to social distancing guidelines for optometrists and patients and this is vital in allowing essential services and care to continue safely. It’s also going to be beneficial for the future too. This type of service will help to fit into people’s lives who are still working from home or have busy working schedules. It’ll also help to reach those who live in more remote locations and struggle to physically access these types of services on a regular basis. Technology is increasing access to vital services and development of software has been accelerated in the past year. This acceleration has allowed certain services to remain open for patients and will now be a key way in which health professionals and patients interact going forward. 
 
IbisVision provides innovative software to the optical industry which includes tele-optometry features as well as a no-contact solution for in-practice. To find out more, get in touch with us, here.