DeepMind AI system ‘able to identify eye diseases and make referrals’

Clinically applicable deep learning for diagnosis and referral in retinal disease
Nature Medicine (2018) 13 August 2018

• This research uses a novel deep learning architecture to a clinically heterogeneous set of three-dimensional optical coherence tomography scans from patients referred to a major eye hospital (Moorfields Hospital, London). 
• The research demonstrates performance in making a referral recommendation that reaches or exceeds that of experts on a range of sight-threatening retinal diseases after training on only 14,884 scans. 
• See commentary DeepMind AI system ‘able to identify eye diseases and make referrals’, Digital Health 14 August 2018.

Abstract

Robotic-assisted surgery in ophthalmology

Robotic-assisted surgery in ophthalmology.[PubMed]
Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2018 May;29(3):248-253. doi: 10.1097/ICU.0000000000000476.

• An overview of the current landscape of robotics in ophthalmology concludes that robotics is still in its infancy in ophthalmology but is rapidly reaching a stage wherein it will be introduced into everyday ophthalmic practice. It will most likely be introduced first for demanding vitreo-retinal procedures, followed by anterior segment applications.

Abstract

Scaling up single specialty networked care - lessons from Moorfields

Scaling up single specialty networked care: A strategic overview
Networked Care, March 2018 

• In April 2017 the Moorfields vanguard team published a e-toolkit sharing findings from the research into best practice for single specialty networked care. (www.networkedcaretoolkit.org.uk) 
• This report shares findings from semi-structured interviews with more than 35 strategic decision makers across the NHS (providers, commissioners and regulators), and other sectors, as well as a desktop literature review, on the benefits and challenges of scaling up networked care numerically and geographically. 

Moorfields also published two other reports:

Spreading best practice UK Ophthalmology Alliance
Networked Care, March 2018

• Experience and advice from replicating the National Orthopaedic Alliance (NOA) membership model across ophthalmology nationally.

Staff and patients Improving networked care, 
Networked Care, March 2018

• A description of work with the independent charity, the POCF, to understand the best methods and tools to embed staff and patient co-design of services across the Moorfields network.

Spreading best practice UK Ophthalmology Alliance

Spreading best practice UK Ophthalmology Alliance
Networked Care March 2018

• The aim of the National Orthopaedic Alliance (NOA) vanguard programme was to create a UK-wide alliance of orthopaedic providers to deliver outstanding and consistent care in more areas. The NOA vanguard has developed a consistent benchmarking framework, describing not only ‘what good looks like’ in orthopaedic care but also the components of a quality improvement journey. 
• This publication shares experience and advice from replicating the membership model across ophthalmology nationally.

National Electronic Glaucoma Surgery and Visual Field Preservation Audit

National Electronic Glaucoma Surgery and Visual Field Preservation Audit: Feasibility report
HQIP 22 March 2018 [Report dated January 2017]

• This report includes two feasibility studies for possible national glaucoma audits based on data collected using electronic medical record systems (EMR) as part of routine care and computerised visual field tests that are linked to EMRs.
• Part 1 addresses glaucoma surgery, trabeculectomy, which is the most frequently undertaken glaucoma surgical procedure
• Part 2 addresses visual field preservation in five large glaucoma care delivery centres