The WBPCN offers tele-ophthalmology diabetic retinopathy eye exam clinics for patients referred to the WBPCN. This clinic involves a retinopathy eye exam for local patients living with diabetes. Clinics are scheduled three times a month at the WBPCN centralized site. Those involved in the clinic include WBPCN personnel trained to operate equipment for taking pictures of patient eyes and registered nurses trained to conduct the visual acuity check, eye pressure test for glaucoma and dilation of the eye for retinal photography.

Once pictures of the patient’s eyes have been taken and the photographs sent via secure AHS email to the on-site Ophthalmologists at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, the Ophthalmologists completes the retinal pathology and provides the results to the WBPCN within 24 hours.

Patients are informed that they must book a follow-up appointment with their family physicians in order to attain their results.