INSIGHTS All Aboard the Telemedicine Train? By Mary Kane Monday, June 20, 2016 12:00 AM Telemedicine is a very hot topic these days. Just ask some of the speakers at VM’s recent Leadership Summit. IBM’s Michael Weiner spoke about the need for a new disruptive health care model complete with mobile care services, wireless health devices, home monitoring, e-visits, and yes, even hospitals at home. Peyush Bansal, co-founder of India’s fastest-growing optical retailer, touts Lenskart’s Home-Eye-Check-Up as “an Uber-like concept for delivering eye exams and dispensing” using mobile technology. Which brings me to Opternative. A year ago, the company launched its online refraction service in 27 states. By using a computer and smartphone, consumers can take a 25-minute eye test and receive a prescription, verified by an ophthalmologist, within 24 hours to use at any online or physical optical retailer. While this model is outside the scope of doctors sharing information, which is what telemedicine means in some situations, companies like Opternative which are exploring new technologies to administer tests and prescriptions are stretching current definitions and boundaries. Several states have passed laws banning companies like Opternative from offering prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses after online eye exams. The American Optometric Association has urged the FDA to pull the vision test from the market until it can be shown to meet “appropriate Federal requirements for medical devices.” Instead of turning to legislation outlawing telemedicine maybe there’s another option. This month, the American Medical Association is deciding whether they should adopt guidelines on telemedicine including whether telehealth vendors should inform users about limitations of services, advise patients to arrange for follow-up care and inform their primary doctors when they’ve used a telehealth provider. These suggestions are good and show that the AMA knows telemedicine isn’t going away. Perhaps this model is something optometry might want to consider.