Medical Design and Outsourcing

  • Home
  • Medical Device Business
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Financial
    • Regulatory
  • Applications
    • Cardiovascular
    • Devices
    • Imaging
    • Implantables
    • Medical Equipment
    • Orthopedic
    • Surgical
  • Technologies
    • Contract Manufacturing
    • Components
    • Electronics
    • Extrusions
    • Materials
    • Motion Control
    • Prototyping
    • Pumps
    • Tubing
  • Med Tech Resources
    • DeviceTalks Tuesdays
    • Digital Editions
    • eBooks
    • Manufacturer Search
    • Medical Device Handbook
    • MedTech 100 Index
    • Podcasts
    • Print Subscription
    • The Big 100
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
    • Video
  • 2022 Leadership in MedTech
    • 2022 Leadership Voting!
    • 2021 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
  • Women in Medtech

First Smartphone App Developed for Pediatric Photoscreening

June 19, 2014 By Gobiquity Mobile Health

Pediatricians Can Now Find Risk Factors for Vision Loss With Fast, Convenient, Child-Friendly Device

This July, Gobiquity Mobile Health will introduce their flagship innovation, GoCheck Kids, the world’s first and only pediatric photoscreening application for smartphones, used to screen a child’s eyes for risk factors that could lead to vision loss. Using the GoCheck Kids app, the doctor takes high-resolution photographs of the patient’s eyes, which are then automatically screened for refractive risk factors for amblyopia. The pediatrician can then determine whether to refer the patient to an eye care specialist for further testing and treatment. By putting photoscreening at pediatricians’ fingertips, GoCheck Kids empowers doctors to identify at-risk children earlier, and ultimately prevent permanent vision loss.

Studies have revealed that between 15-20 percent of children are at risk of amblyopia, with two percent developing the disease, making it the most common cause of visual impairment and loss in children. Additionally, the economic impact of visual disabilities associated with amblyopia is estimated to approach $23 billion annually, when income and quality of life issues are included. Early detection and referral to a specialist enables doctors to begin treatment early, when it is most effective in preventing vision loss; data shows that if the condition is not caught by the age of seven, it will become permanent. However, traditional vision testing that pediatricians perform with visual acuity charts requires a verbal response, making it impractical for younger patients. Consequently, many children with risk factors are not identified early enough for treatment. Even in the absence of amblyopia, detecting a visual error in a child is developmentally important. GoCheck Kids photoscreening is ideal for young children from 6 months to 6 years, as the process is fast, they are used to having their picture taken with a smartphone, and they enjoy the sound effects designed to keep a child’s attention during the test.

Photoscreening is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology (AAPOS). However, pediatricians have been slow to adopt photoscreening due to the cost and complexity of purpose-built devices. “By leveraging the smartphone as a medical screening device, we can bring affordable, convenient, and user-friendly photoscreening technology to pediatricians,” said Gobiquity CEO Michael Brownell. “One of our primary goals is to provide innovative tools for pediatricians so that they can deliver preventative care and offer early detection for treatable conditions. GoCheck Kids is the first example of our commitment to bringing mobile diagnostic solutions to doctors around the country. We hope that this will enable many more children to be screened at an early age, and that we can make a real difference in children’s lives.”

“GoCheck Kids will change how pediatricians test for vision conditions,” said Dr. Suzy McNulty, of Mia Bella Pediatrics in Orange County, CA. “It’s fast, exceptionally child-friendly, and most importantly, it is effective at finding patients who are at risk of vision loss.” Dr. McNulty has been evaluating patients with GoCheck Kids in her pediatric practice since January as part of an advanced testing program.

GoCheck Kids will initially be launched to pediatricians in California, with a national rollout planned for the fall. It will be available for zero up-front costs and a nominal usage fee. Pediatricians who use the new technology will be provided with a smartphone pre-loaded with GoCheck Kids and will be billed per photoscreening or at a negotiated contractual rate depending on the doctor’s screening volume and/or preferences. In addition, the test is reimbursable under the CPT (code for photoscreening).

Related Articles Read More >

Blackrock's Utah array is a miniature array of electrodes for sensing brain signals
Blackrock Neurotech and Pitt work on first at-home BCI system for remote trials
Engineer inspecting artificial hip joint parts in quality control department in orthopaedic factory
Deburring and finishing for beautiful, functional medical devices
A Medtronic HVAD pump opened up to show the inner workings
FDA designates new Medtronic HVAD pump implant recall as Class I
Dexcom One
How Dexcom’s portfolio goes beyond highly-anticipated next-gen G7

DeviceTalks Weekly.

June 24, 2022
How innovative design, commercial strategy is building Cala Trio’s bioelectronic medicine market
See More >

MDO Digital Edition

Digital Edition

Subscribe to Medical Design & Outsourcing. Bookmark, share and interact with the leading medical design engineering magazine today.

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
DeviceTalks

DeviceTalks is a conversation among medical technology leaders. It's events, podcasts, webinars and one-on-one exchanges of ideas & insights.

DeviceTalks

New MedTech Resource

Medical Tubing

Enewsletter Subscriptions

Enewsletter Subscriptions

MassDevice

Mass Device

The Medical Device Business Journal. MassDevice is the leading medical device news business journal telling the stories of the devices that save lives.

Visit Website
MDO ad
Medical Design and Outsourcing
  • MassDevice
  • DeviceTalks
  • MedTech 100 Index
  • Medical Tubing + Extrusion
  • Drug Delivery Business News
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • Pharmaceutical Processing World
  • R&D World
  • About Us/Contact
  • Advertise With Us
  • Subscribe to Print Magazine
  • Subscribe to E-newsletter
  • Attend our Monthly Webinars
  • Listen to our Weekly Podcasts
  • Join our DeviceTalks Tuesdays Discussion

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media LLC. Site Map | Privacy Policy | RSS

Search Medical Design & Outsourcing

  • Home
  • Medical Device Business
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Financial
    • Regulatory
  • Applications
    • Cardiovascular
    • Devices
    • Imaging
    • Implantables
    • Medical Equipment
    • Orthopedic
    • Surgical
  • Technologies
    • Contract Manufacturing
    • Components
    • Electronics
    • Extrusions
    • Materials
    • Motion Control
    • Prototyping
    • Pumps
    • Tubing
  • Med Tech Resources
    • DeviceTalks Tuesdays
    • Digital Editions
    • eBooks
    • Manufacturer Search
    • Medical Device Handbook
    • MedTech 100 Index
    • Podcasts
    • Print Subscription
    • The Big 100
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
    • Video
  • 2022 Leadership in MedTech
    • 2022 Leadership Voting!
    • 2021 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
  • Women in Medtech