Vitazi.ai

08/11/2025

Addressing Gaps in Diabetic Retinopathy Screening: Lessons from an Outpatient Podiatry Clinic
By Dr. MelissaTripoli, MD BC Ophthalmology

As ophthalmologists, we know that diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains one of the leading causes of preventable vision loss among working-age adults. Yet, despite its severity, many patients remain undiagnosed or lost to ophthalmic care.

A recent study out of the University of Pittsburgh, from an outpatient podiatry clinic, highlights a concerning reality. In this study, over half of the patients with diabetic foot disease also had DR, with 29% newly diagnosed through point-of-care retinal imaging.

Perhaps the most alarming thing was that nearly 50% were lost to follow-up, citing barriers such as financial constraints, competing health issues, and access challenges that delayed or prevented routine eye care.

Many diabetics are missing a critical health screening and potentially missing an opportunity to diagnose and treat a vision-threatening disease. We know that diabetic patients are more likely to have multiple clinical follow-up appointments. This study underscores a critical opportunity: integrating retinal imaging into outpatient primary care and other clinics where diabetics are already going, can vastly improve DR detection in high-risk populations. Early diagnosis and intervention are key to preventing progression to vision-threatening stages.

At https://hubs.li/Q03C9gWv0, we’re committed to bridging this gap by enabling simple, efficient retinal screening in the outpatient setting. By addressing barriers to care and bringing advanced imaging directly to where patients already are, we can significantly reduce preventable blindness.

Let’s work together to make routine screening accessible, proactive, and integrated across the healthcare spectrum. Because every pair of eyes deserves the chance to see clearly tomorrow.

Larimer-Picciani AM, Brown RB, Ruan H, Jones CE, DeBlasio RN, Burns PR, Williams AM, Waxman EL. High Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in an Outpatient Podiatry Clinic and Associated Barriers to Ophthalmic Care. Clin Ophthalmol. 2025 Feb 14;19:553-561. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S499098. PMID: 39967787; PMCID: PMC11834659.

08/01/2025

The numbers are moving in the wrong direction.
By Dr. Melissa Tripoli, BC Ophthalmology

As an ophthalmologist, I’ve seen firsthand how diabetic eye disease continues to climb—and the data is sobering.

➡️ Over 38 million Americans are now living with diabetes.

➡️ Nearly 1.4 million new diagnoses occur every year.

➡️ And yet, nearly half of these patients are not getting their recommended annual diabetic eye exam.

At the same time, the rates of diabetic retinopathy—the leading cause of preventable blindness in working-age adults—continue to rise.

Diabetic retinopathy often progresses silently. Patients don’t experience symptoms until the disease is advanced, when treatment is less effective and vision loss can be permanent.

As the number of people living with diabetes continues to grow, we must rethink how we deliver this critical preventive care.

What if diabetic eye screening could happen right in the primary care office—during the same visit where their diabetes is managed?

Retinal photography, paired with remote interpretation by an ophthalmologist, can capture more patients, close the care gap, and prevent avoidable vision loss.

This isn’t just more convenient—it’s evidence-based, scalable, and effective. And with diabetes rates rising, it’s never been more important.

If you’re a primary care provider looking to better serve your diabetic population, I’d love to connect and discuss how this can be part of your practice’s care model.

Our patients deserve better access to preventative care—let’s deliver it.
Learn more at: vitazi.ai

07/25/2025

Closing the gap with Vitazi.ai
By Dr. Melissa Tripoli, BC Ophthalmology

As an ophthalmologist, I see firsthand the consequences when diabetic patients miss their annual diabetic eye exam. Despite best intentions, far too many patients never make it to an eye specialist until it’s too late—when the damage to their vision has already begun.

The data backs it up: nearly 50% of patients with diabetes are not getting their recommended annual diabetic eye screening.

There are many barriers to care—transportation issues, time off work, childcare challenges, or simply feeling fine without noticeable symptoms. But diabetic retinopathy is silent until it’s advanced.

What if we could make this easier—for both patients and providers?

Imagine this: a quick, non-invasive retinal photograph during the patient’s primary care visit. No dilation, no extra appointment, no added burden for the patient. Images are reviewed by an ophthalmologist, and if pathology is detected, the patient is promptly referred for care.

This is not a future concept—it’s available now. And it has the power to close the gap, prevent vision loss, and improve outcomes for our patients living with diabetes.

If you’re a primary care provider who wants to be part of the solution, let’s talk about how this can be integrated into your practice.

Our patients deserve accessible, proactive care. Let’s make it happen.
Visit vitazi.ai for more information.

07/18/2025

Closing the gaps, improving metrics
By Dr. Melissa Tripoli, BC Ophthalmology

As primary care physicians, you are the front line for chronic disease management—including diabetes. You manage blood sugar, blood pressure, kidney function… but what about their eyes?

We know that despite our best efforts as a healthcare system, nearly 50% of patients with diabetes never complete their annual diabetic eye exam. And that’s a missed opportunity—not just for the patient, but for the care team trying to close gaps in quality metrics and preventive care.

This is where in-office retinal photography makes a real impact.

It allows you to:

✔️ Close diabetic eye screening gaps directly in your office

✔️ Improve your quality metrics

✔️ Reduce the burden of chasing referrals

✔️ Offer comprehensive chronic disease management during a single visit

It’s fast, painless for the patient, and requires no dilation. Not to mention can be integrated seamlessly into your patient check in process without interrupting your clinic flow.

This not only improves patient outcomes—it enhances patient experience. They walk out knowing you’ve covered every aspect of their diabetes management, including their eyes. No extra appointments. No extra stress.

If you’re ready to improve diabetic eye screening rates, enhance quality metrics, and deliver more comprehensive care—retinal photography in your office is the next step forward.

Let’s connect to discuss how this can work in your practice.
Visit: vitazi.ai

06/13/2025

Addressing the Hidden Crisis of Diabetic Eye Disease
By Dr. Melissa Tripoli, BC Ophthalmology

As an ophthalmologist, I want to share some eye-opening facts.

Diabetic eye disease, particularly diabetic retinopathy, affects a staggering number of Americans—about 34 million people, which accounts for roughly 10% of the U.S. population.

Alarmingly, nearly one-third of these individuals are unaware they have any eye problems until significant vision loss occurs. Additionally the CDC estimates that about 90 percent of vision loss from diabetes can be prevented.

Despite the high prevalence, a large percentage of patients with diabetes are not getting routine eye screenings.

Studies suggest that up to 50% or more of diabetic patients do not adhere to recommended annual screenings, leaving many at risk for preventable vision loss.

This is a critical gap in care that we must address. Routine screening is proven to be the most effective tool for early detection and intervention, drastically reducing the risk of blindness.

The good news? Implementing retinal imaging within primary care settings could be a game-changer. By bringing screening directly to the places where diabetes is being managed —we can identify disease early and connect patients with timely ophthalmologic care.

Let’s work together to change this narrative—prioritize eye health, enhance screening efforts, and protect the vision of millions.

Contact Vitazi to find out how to get started today.
[email protected]
[email protected]

06/02/2025

Vitazi.ai Solution, closing Diabetic Retinopathy Gap.
By Dr. Melissa Tripoli

As an ophthalmologist, I and daily seeing the negative effects that diabetes can have on the eye. However one of the biggest issues is that there are many patients with diabetes that are not getting routine retinal screening, something that can help to not only diagnosis but identify problems before they can lead to vision threatening issues.

But what if there was a better way. Primary care physicians are on the front lines, managing the day-to-day of your patients’ diabetes, and because of that— this can be a terrific position to catch vision-threatening disease before it progresses.

This retinal image behind me? It was taken in a primary care office using the Vitazi retinal imaging camera. No drops. No dilation. Just a clear, high-quality image that allows us to screen for diabetic retinopathy right where patients already are.

It’s fast. It’s painless. And it’s incredibly powerful.

We know that early detection is key. But so many patients fall through the cracks when referred out for a separate eye exam. By integrating this technology into your clinic workflow, you’re not only improving screening rates—you’re protecting sight and preventing blindness.

Retinal imaging in your office is no longer the future. It’s available now, and it's never been easier to make it part of routine diabetic care.

Learn more at: https://www.vitazi.ai/

05/30/2025

We’re excited to share real-world results from our partnership with VitalCare Family Practice in our new case study:
“A Diabetic Retinopathy Telemedicine Program Saves Vision and Improves Quality Metrics.”

This in-depth look reveals how VitalCare:
✅Screened 75% more diabetic patients
✅Improved HEDIS and STAR quality scores
✅Projected $145K+ in additional revenue
✅Delivered better care—without adding staff burden

Read the full case study here: https://bit.ly/4j2E7MS

-MD

05/27/2025

What if a routine retinal scan could tell you much more than how healthy your eye is?

That question sparked the creation of Vitazi.ai.

As an emergency physician, Dr. Jeremy Stueven saw patients slipping through the cracks daily. He envisioned a future where retinal scans would be treated like a vital sign, a quick, noninvasive way to detect systemic disease before it becomes irreversible.

The retina isn’t just a window to the eye, it’s a window to overall health.

With Vitazi.ai, we’re making teleretinal scanning accessible and scalable.

🚀Detect diseases earlier
✅Improve outcomes
🌟Enable proactive, value-based care
👨‍⚕️Built by a physician for physicians.

Vitazi.ai brings Dr. Stueven’s vision to life by closing care gaps, catching disease early, and transforming routine screenings into powerful clinical tools.

Learn the story behind Vitazi.ai https://www.vitazi.ai/about/who-we-are -story

05/23/2025

VitalCare Family Practice became a true one-stop shop for diabetic care by bringing Vitazi-MD in-house—a fast, easy, teleretinal screening solution from Vitazi.ai.

No referrals. No dilation. No extra appointments. Just better care, right where patients already are.
Read the full case study here: https://bit.ly/4jsqZAB

-MD

05/22/2025

More than half of patients with diabetes don’t receive their annual eye exam.

That’s more than a care gap, it’s a missed opportunity to improve outcomes, meet HEDIS and STAR measures, and reduce downstream costs.

The problem? Traditional eye exam workflows don’t fit inside point-of-care settings.

That’s where Vitazi.ai comes in.
We enable point-of-care providers to deliver retina specialist-level diagnostics right at the point of care, using their existing fundus cameras or our equipment at no cost.

No added staff. No referral friction.
Boost diabetic eye exam rates by 30%+
Catch DR, AMD, and more—earlier
Meet quality goals without disrupting workflows
Keep care (and revenue) in-network

This is targeted intervention at scale designed for value-based care.
https://www.vitazi.ai/solutions/closing-the-gap

Close the gap with the most effective diabetic retinopathy screening solution on the market, helping prevent vision loss and improving patient outcomes.

05/20/2025

What if you could identify retinal changes earlier without referring patients?

Population health success hinges on targeted interventions: the right care, at the right time, for the right patients.

That’s exactly what Vitazi.ai delivers.
Using AI-powered retinal image analysis and board-certified ophthalmologists’ oversight, our platform helps you:

🌟Detect early signs of diabetic retinopathy, AMD, and hypertensive changes
🌟Drive timely, in-network care
🌟Support HEDIS, STAR, and value-based performance metrics
🌟No new equipment. No added burden. Just better data to guide smarter interventions.
🌟Built for population health. Backed by clinical-grade diagnostics.

https://calendly.com/vitazisales

05/16/2025

Case Study Highlights 🌟

92.9% of images were telehealth-grade.

That means high-quality images captured by non-specialist staff—readable and actionable by ophthalmologists—thanks to Vitazi-MD, teleretinal screening solution.

Read the full case study here: https://bit.ly/3RKvjit

-MD