Eye Institute Formalises Shared-Care with Optometrists
Eye Institute has launched a new initiative that will further enhance the professional services that are offered to refractive surgery patients under the comanagement of optometrists and their refractive surgeons.
For the past 15 years, Eye Institute has worked closely with optometrists. The new ‘Accredited Care-Provider’ (ACP) programme is a refinement and formalisation of the sharedcare scheme that has been in place for that time. It will also serve to further enhance the professional and ethical relationship with providers going forward.
The ACP programme will also provide enhanced benefits for optometrists who choose to participate in this initiative. These benefits will range from special educational opportunities to priority bookings for Eye Institute’s academic and social events.
Eye Institute refractive surgeons, Drs Trevor Gray, Nick Mantell, Adam Watson, Tony Morris and Peter Ring, recognise the significant amount of time that optometrists put into evaluating and discussing the refractive options with prospective patients. These surgeons also believe that current optometry fees are out of balance with optometrists’ level of tertiary education, experience and increased clinical responsibilities, and have devised a system whereby optometrists can invoice the Eye Institute ophthalmologist a fee that the optometrist feels is appropriate for their professional services, so that the patient need not pay for the initial detailed assessment. The indicative range for fees being suggested is $110 to $130 and $50 - $60 for additional tests such as topography and pachymetry for each patient. Optometrists will be required to complete a detailed pre-op refractive surgery data form, available on-line or by fax, and can indicate whether they have a surgeon preference. Their patient should also be made aware of the fee-for-service that Eye Institute provides for the shared-care provided by their optometrist.
The ACP programme demonstrates the ongoing commitment by Eye Institute to the education of optometrists with regards to shared-care. Optometrists in the programme will get access to training both inhouse and remotely through Eye Institute. Participants will be provided with training module education opportunities and using electronic media, participants will be able to partake in discussion groups as well receiving regular updates on the programme. As part of the ongoing training relationship providers will be issued with a comprehensive comanagement manual including all the current protocols for pre and post operative care, as well as photos and explanations on complications and management issues. As protocols change, updates will be sent out for the manual.
ACP optometrists will be provided with a plaque or certificate that they are free to display in their office/waiting room/window if they wish.
Eye Institute also wants to identify the optometrists who are new to the process, whether newly graduated or having just arrived in the country, to ensure they are offered appropriate sharedcare training opportunities and are able to provide the level of service that would be provided in-house at Eye Institute.
The criteria for accreditation is participation in refractive surgery assessments, experience with handling laser vision correction patients or a willingness to train in this, and attendance at Eye Institute conferences/seminars.
The new ACP programme is open to all optometrists around the country and participants can opt out at any time. Eye Institute Accredited Care-Providers are free to participate in possible future programmes run by other ophthalmologists as well.
This refractive surgery module is the first in Eye Institute’s ACP programme. Over time, more modules will be developed for other appropriate shared-care regimens such as retina, glaucoma etc.
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