(DURANGO, COLO.) November 27, 2024 - As part of its mission to provide high quality, accessible care, CommonSpirit Mercy Primary Care has acquired two retinal scanning machines to offer diabetic retinopathy screening to their patients with diabetes at Mercy Horse Gulch and Mercy Family Medicine clinics. These machines are an exciting addition to their already robust diabetic care services in primary care and give patients with diabetes the ability to receive the screening while they’re already visiting with their primary care provider.
Retinal scans are an annual test that patients with diabetes receive in order to detect and prevent diabetic retinopathy, which can cause blindness for working-age adults. This new investment now allows patients who are visiting with their primary care provider to get screened without an additional appointment with an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
“Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in adults 19 to 74 years old and the early stages are asymptomatic,” said Dr. Sarah Goodpastor, Internal Medicine and Diabetology physician. “Because Ophthalmologists and Optometrists, who screen for diabetic retinopathy (DR), are often limited geographically, it is important that our patients who need a retinal screening do not have to travel far or make an additional appointment to receive one.”
The test itself is very comfortable, takes about two minutes to complete and there is no eye dilation required.
Dr. Goodpastor added, “it is recommended that patients with diabetes complete annual retinal screenings because early detection, timely treatment, and appropriate follow-up care can reduce a person’s risk for severe vision loss from diabetic eye disease by 95 percent. We are thrilled to now be able to offer this to our primary care patients with diabetes who visit us for our other specialized services for advanced diabetes care including continuous glucose monitoring and insulin pumps.”
To make an appointment or to learn more information, please schedule a regular follow up appointment with your primary care provider at CommonSpirit Mercy Primary Care Horse Gulch or at Mercy in Three Springs and let the scheduler know you are also due for your diabetic retinal screening.
Inspired by faith. Driven by innovation. Powered by humankindness. CommonSpirit Health is building a healthier future for all through its integrated health services. As one of the nation’s largest nonprofit Catholic healthcare organizations, CommonSpirit Health delivers more than 20 million patient encounters annually through more than 2,300 clinics, care sites and 137 hospital-based locations, in addition to its home-based services and virtual care offerings. CommonSpirit has more than 155,000 employees, 45,000 nurses and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice providers across 24 states and contributes more than $4 billion annually in charity care, community benefits and unreimbursed government programs. Together with our patients, physicians, partners, and communities, we are creating a more just, equitable, and innovative healthcare delivery system. Learn more at commonspirit.org.
