Central Alabama VA has a long-standing partnership with the VISN 7 Clinical Resource Hub (CRH) to improve eye care services for its Veterans who primarily live in rural communities. Thanks to this partnership with the VISN 7 CRH—led by Dr. April Maa, director of Virtual Eye Care Services and Connected Care’s TeleEye co-lead—Central Alabama has implemented several telehealth programs over the past half-decade that have improved Veterans’ access to eye care.
The Technology-based Eye Care Services (TECS) program, introduced in 2019, uses telehealth to make routine eye care, like screenings and eyeglass prescriptions, more accessible to rural Veterans.
TECS mobile clinics, launched in November 2020, bring follow-up eye care after a virtual eye exam directly to Veterans.
In April 2024, Central Alabama VA and VISN 7 CRH launched
Synchronous TeleGlaucoma clinics, introduced in April 2024, use video telehealth to connect Veterans with VA glaucoma specialists elsewhere.
“Synchronous TeleGlaucoma clinics are a game changer,” said Dr. Saima Kanwal, Acute Care & Specialties at Central Alabama VA. “They ensure our Veterans receive specialized care for severe glaucoma locally, enhancing patient-provider relationships and facilitating timely treatment.”
