Empowering AMD Patients with Early Diagnosis

Transcript:

Diagnosing a very scary disease much earlier in the process

The ability the AdaptDx has had for us to care for our patients certainly has been they were able to diagnose a very scary disease much earlier in the process. What I wasn’t expecting was the emotional impact and connection that we had with patients and that’s been one of the most exciting parts of having the AdaptDx. The thank-yous, the hug afterward, the patient who showed up for his testing day and brought his significant other because it was important enough for him to get tested and her to get tested. I start each consult afterward with, “I have great news! You’re well-within normal and we’re gonna continue monitoring you annually, or as needed. But there’s, you know, we don’t have any worry today with macular degeneration with you.” If they don’t pass the test, the same thing, “I have great news. You didn’t pass the test but now we know where you are.” We don’t have to guess anymore. So I’m surprised at the relief that I physically saw in the patients and what they expressed when I gave them the news, both positive and negative. Potentially having a disease that is a blinding disease is scary.

Patients are now part of the management treatment process

Being able, with the AdaptDx, to give their patient their number, their Rod Intercept (RI), helps empower them to take control of the disease. There’s now a reason why they’re taking their vitamin, nutraceutical every day, there’s a reason why they spend the extra money for the transition lenses in their glasses, there’s a reason why they’re coming back and seeing me because they want to see if their number is better anymore. They’re now part of the management treatment process, not me just telling them what to do.