Glaucoma electronic patient record—design, experience and study of high-risk patients

Aim To set-up a glaucoma electronic patient record (GEPR) and study referral details to a new glaucoma service, concentrating on high-risk patients. Method A GEPR was designed using the pre-existing hospital information technology (IT) infrastructure. Referral details of all new patients to the glaucoma service were completely electronically entered and analysed. Results A GEPR was successfully established. A total of 402 referrals were studied. In all, 43% (40) of high-risk clinic patients (IOP > 29 mmHg, or C/D ratio > 0.8 or moderate to advanced visual field defects) had to wait longer than 8 weeks from GP referral to be seen at the glaucoma service. Of these, nine patients lost more than one line of Snellen's visual acuity attributable to glaucoma. The optometrist failed to document IOP in 17%, fundoscopy in 30%, and visual fields in 45% of all referrals. Conclusions A GEPR can be introduced in an NHS setting without disruption of clinical care and ophthalmic training, and facilitates detailed, accurate and rapid audit. Study of high-risk glaucoma referrals showed inadequate optometric referral details and poor prioritisation of urgent cases. This information is being utilised with the cooperation of local optometrists to refine the pattern of glaucoma referrals.