TORONTO, Aug. 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MCI Onehealth Technologies Inc. (“MCI”) (TSX: DRDR), a clinician-led healthcare technology company focused on increasing access to and quality of healthcare, and eye health specialist Euclid Telehealth, are collaborating to increase access to care that can curtail and potentially prevent vision loss among Ontario patients. The approach contributes to improved health outcomes, better quality of life and significant cost avoidance for the healthcare system.
“Quick, convenient access to specialists with top-quality continuity of care is a cornerstone of the patient experience in MCI’s high performance healthcare network. Through data-driven screening, MCI is helping physicians connect with patients that have potentially heightened risk of certain diseases, so our physicians can get them onto the right care pathways”, said Jennifer Foster, Chief Operating Officer of MCI. “MCI is firmly committed to our mission to make healthcare more accessible, affordable and ultimately safer and we’re grateful for innovative partners like Euclid who share this goal.”
MCI is using its data insights infrastructure to help family physicians identify patients within their practices that might be at risk for eye disease. Patients are then contacted by MCI to confirm their interest in attending a diagnostic session provided by Euclid at the MCI clinic. Euclid brings its portable diagnostic equipment and expert Ophthalmologists. This physician-directed care pathway is so convenient and personalized that it encourages patient uptake of the service, with MCI and Euclid seeing up to 20 patients at each screening day. After the eye health assessment, Euclid ophthalmologists coordinate with the patient and their MCI physician for further appropriate monitoring, or any follow up care with a local optometrist or ophthalmologist. To date, hundreds of patients have gone through the program, including several for whom blindness might be prevented. Euclid-day clinics MCI sites happen based on patient need, currently occurring about once per week at multiple sites.
“Early on, eye disease is not apparent to a person, and without screening can go undiagnosed until the disease is more advanced and vision loss is irreversible. Early detection, diagnosis and timely management of many eye conditions minimizes vision loss, and in some cases, can even restore vision”, said Dr. Delan Jinapriya, Ophthalmologist, Surgeon & Founder Euclid Telehealth. “Through a partnership with MCI, we’re identifying specific patient need and bringing the specialist to them. Through this innovative, patient-centered approach that improves access to eye health services, we’re reducing the incidence and slowing the progression of vision loss in the population.”
Additionally, MCI and Euclid promote awareness of the risk factors and diagnostic options to potential patients outside of the MCI network and among MCI staff and physicians, such that even first-time patients with appropriate risk factors can be flagged and offered the right care pathway.
Prevention of eye disease is an important health and economic initiative
- 1 in 5 Canadians will develop significant, preventable, vision loss in their lifetime
- More than 8 million Canadians are currently living with eye disease from one of the four defined main conditions, of which, 1.2 million have vision loss from their disease
- The prevalence of eye disease doubles every decade over the age of 40, which underscores the need for vision screening,
- The prevalence of eye disease doubles every decade over the age of 40, which underscores the need for vision screening,
- Increasing prevalence of vision loss for patients leads to increased falls, motor vehicle accidents, depression, loss of mobility, and earlier death. There is a 29% higher risk of mortality for those with vision loss compared to those with unimpaired vision.
- It is estimated that the total cost of vision loss in Canada was $32.9 billion in 2019, and is expected to grow to $56 billion by 2050
- Approximately 71% of the total costs (wellbeing & healthcare system) due to vision loss are preventable.
- With screening and early diagnosis, disease progression and vision loss often can be curtailed for prevalent eye diseases, including:
- Age related macular degeneration (AMD), which left untreated leads to blindness
- Cataracts
- Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) a complication of diabetes
- Glaucoma, a group of diseases that, while initially asymptomatic, damage the eye's optic nerve and results in blindness
- Age related macular degeneration (AMD), which left untreated leads to blindness
MCI’s collaboration with Euclid is another example of MCI’s data-driven approach making a real impact for actual patients: disease screening, quick referral to specialists and personalized treatment. This approach helps identify, treat and monitor illness before it can further progress, creating economic savings on many levels. Similar data-driven programs are under way within the MCI network related to other speciality areas.
About MCI
MCI is a healthcare technology company focused on empowering patients and doctors with advanced technologies to increase access, improve quality, and reduce healthcare costs. As part of the healthcare community for over 30 years, MCI operates one of Canada’s leading primary care networks with nearly 260 physicians and specialists, serves more than one million patients annually and had nearly 300,000 telehealth visits last year, including online visits via mciconnect.ca. MCI additionally offers an expanding suite of occupational health service offerings that support a growing list of nearly 600 corporate customers. Led by a proven management team of doctors and experienced executives, MCI remains focused on executing a strategy centered around acquiring technology and health services that complement the company’s current roadmap. For more information, visit mcionehealth.com.
About Euclid Telehealth
Euclid Telehealth is an eye care telehealth company founded on the belief that every person deserves access to expert eye health care delivered by leading medical professionals. Preserving one’s vision of the future allows people to maintain their independence to fully participate in their work, their personal relationships, and the chance to enjoy a higher quality of life. Utilizing cutting edge diagnostic technology, in convenient locations, in combination with our telemedicine platforms, Euclid aims to reduce the barriers to access expert Canadian Ophthalmologists, with the mission to reduce preventable vision loss. For more information, visit euclidtelehealth.org.
For media enquiries please contact:
Nolan Reeds | nolan@mcionehealth.com
Alan Banting | alan.banting@euclidtelehealth.org
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release, constitute “forward-looking information” and "forward looking statements" (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and are based on assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to the anticipated health benefits, cost savings and other advantages of MCI’s collaboration with Euclid Telehealth, and references to other similar programs that are underway. The words “to increase”, “potentially”, “to help”, “can be”, “expected”, “estimated”, “underway” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain future conditions, actions, events or results “will”, “may”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “might” or “can”, or negative versions thereof, “occur”, “continue” or “be achieved”, and other similar expressions, identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon management’s perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as a number of specific factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by MCI as of the date of such statements, are outside of MCI's control and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies which could result in the forward-looking statements ultimately being entirely or partially incorrect or untrue. Forward looking statements contained in this press release are based on various assumptions, including, but not limited to, the following: MCI’s ability to maintain its relationships and continue to implement its collaborations with Euclid Telehealth and other potential collaborators; the effects of competition in the industry; the requirement for increasingly innovative product solutions and service offerings; trends in customer growth; sufficiency of current working capital to support future operating and working capital requirements; the stability of general economic and market conditions; currency exchange rates and interest rates; MCI's ability to comply with applicable laws and regulations; MCI's continued compliance with third party intellectual property rights; the anticipated effects of COVID-19; and that the risk factors noted below, collectively, do not have a material impact on MCI's business, operations, revenues and/or results. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct, and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved.
Known and unknown risk factors, many of which are beyond the control of MCI, could cause the actual results of MCI to differ materially from the results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include but are not limited to those factors which are discussed under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in MCI's annual information form dated March 31, 2022, which is available under MCI's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. The risk factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect MCI and the reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management’s expectations and plans relating to the future. MCI disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. All of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements.
