The Alberta College of Optometry (ACO) has submitted to Alberta Health & Wellness (AHW) a Proposal to amend the Optometrists Profession Regulation Respecting the Authorization to Perform Restricted Activities to include such things as manage patients with glaucoma without any involvement of Ophthalmologists including prescribing medications and performing laser iridotomies and trabeculoplasties.
Read MoreIn the model of optometry that I had posted previously, the optometrist may either follow the “detect and refer” model and immediately refer the patient or attempt to discern whether there are additional findings that might further define this as a patient with a risk for glaucoma or one who has a high likelihood or even a diagnosis of glaucoma.
Read MoreWhat do optometrists do? Sounds simple and straightforward, right? Ask a dozen physicians and I would bet about a quarter will know what an optometrists is trained to do or is allowed or licensed to do.
Read MoreThis is the second installment of continuing series about the cooperative relationship that may be possible with ophthalmologists and optometrists. But first, a backdrop needs to be in place. If either eye care provider (ECP), ophthalmologist or optometrist) reads their professional organization's public relations literature, you might believe that there are never any good working relationships between the two ECPs. For many ECPs, that belief is so strong, that it might blind either side that the patient's well being is missed.
Read More"Would ophthalmologists be less skeptical of optometric skill levels if imaging accompanied referrals or phone questions?" --Richard Hom tweet from Sep 12, 2009
This tweet that Dr Hom posted this past week, and our exchange of responses that followed, is what inspired us to start this blog on how best to have Eye Care Providers (ECPs) work together. Although micro-blogging with Twitter can provide some instant feedback, many potential great learning moments can just go unnoticed in that medium. Hence, the chance to continue where we left off by having people add their comments.
Read MoreCollaboration to the mutual benefit of patient eye care is an outcome that all eye care providers (ECP) strive for. This is the mission statement that I cherish when I was asked by Rob to start a dialog amongst ECP and primary care providers to better coordinate better eye care outcomes.
Read MoreI started this site in 2009 to write about Glaucoma, Health IT (EMR, EHR), Technology and to host my podcast series "Talking About Glaucoma." There is a shortcut to this blog to make it easier to find http://iguy.tv/blog.
I am a glaucoma sub-specialized Ophthalmologist and have a full time clinical practice at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic of the Geisel School of Medicine in Hanover, NH. I have a longtime interest in the use of technology to help in medical care as well as in Education. In addition, I was a very early adopter and developer of Electronic Medical Record systems who has lectured internationally on the topic of making the transition to EMRs in daily practice.
Copyright © 2009-2018, Robert M Schertzer, MD, MEd, FRCSC. All rights reserved.
