With the launch of artificial intelligence-powered diabetic retinopathy eye exams at its in-store CarePortMD clinics in Delaware and Pennsylvania, Albertsons has become the first retailer to offer the diagnostic technology.
The clinics, located in five Albertsons locations — four Acme Markets grocery stores and one Safeway — now use the FDA-approved IDx-DR system. The AI technology works completely autonomously to identify patients with diabetic retinopathy and macular edema, diabetes-related complications and leading causes of blindness.
Results of the exam, along with patient vitals and other health information, are immediately transmitted from the CarePortMD clinic to the patient's physician.
"What I'm most excited about is that the retinal exam provides a rich source of information, helping to identify patients who are at highest risk for complications of diabetes," Ashok Subramanian, MD, CEO of CarePortMD, said in a news release. "If we catch these high-risk patients earlier, it can result in significant savings for the healthcare system and better patient outcomes."