An Attempt to Provide Veterans With Greater Access to Care

Hot Topic

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is considering new national standards of practice for more than 50 health professionals at its facilities, that would allow optometrists to practice to the full extent of their training, including performing some laser eye surgery and other advanced procedures. Although the new standards for optometry have not yet been released by the VA, the anticipated changes have already invited criticism.

Unsurprisingly, The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) opposes the changes, arguing that optometrists are not adequately trained. Optometrists argue that we are well-trained and that the changes would improve access to care for veterans. At a recent House of Representatives hearing, the American Optometric Association and Armed Forces and Federal Optometric Services members were able to refute many of the AAO’s arguments about inadequate training and safety concerns.

With VA optometrists accounting for 75% of the total eye care visits each year, it makes sense to allow their incredible ODs to operate to the fullest extent of their licensure. Doctors in the VA must abide by department regulations regardless of individual laws in their practicing states, and the VA has been developing new national practice standards for optometry and more than 50 other health specialties in what’s being called the “Federal Supremacy Project.”

My Two Cents

It’s unfortunate to see optometry and ophthalmology continually fighting over the same issues. Optometry’s role in laser procedures and minor surgeries has been proven time and time again to be beneficial for patient access, with results similar to MD-performed procedures. The fact of the matter is that many of optometry’s best and brightest practices are in the Veterans Administration system. These doctors should not only be allowed to practice to the fullest extent of their ability, but they should also be encouraged to do so. I salute the VA system for pushing forward with expanding optometry’s privileges within their system and for putting patient care first!

OUTSIDE THE LANE

Newly Formed Baseball Team Creates Opportunities

The Lighthouse Guild, a nonprofit organization that provides services to the blind, has formed a baseball team in New York. The Lightning’s roster is comprised of blind and visually impaired players of all ages and skill levels who practice and play games at the Lighthouse Guild’s Manhattan headquarters.

At a recent clinic held at Central Park, the Lighthouse Guild and the US Blind Baseball Association help new players adapt to the sport. Wearing blindfolds, they navigated bases, making a different sound to signal which direction to run. The only sighted person on the field was the second baseman, who clapped more quickly the closer the batter got to them.

“This is about access and inclusion,” said Lighthouse Guild President and CEO Calvin W. Roberts, MD. The organization hopes to find a permanent home for the team to practice on, with a turf field, so the players don’t have to worry about tripping over divots and such.

Despite the challenges, blind baseball offers many benefits. It is a great way for people with visual impairments to stay active and socialize. It also helps to improve their coordination and spatial awareness. According to player Ed Plumacher, “I can’t see smiles anymore but I can hear it in their voices and that’s a wonderful thing and I heard a lot of happy people.”

My Two Cents

Use this story as a gentle reminder that your patients who are blind might not know about the different activities that your community offers visually impaired individuals. Find your local Lighthouse Foundation, Lions Club, etc, and encourage your patients to contact them!

CAN YOU RELATE  

At Williamson Eye Center, if you so desire, you can take after-hours emergency calls. From my first day, I chose to take call.

I know, I know … I love to take call. Why is that strange? I know some of you reading this may have chosen optometry because being on call typically isn’t a requirement or expectation.

Let me give a few reasons why taking call is actually awesome. First, you’re there for your patients when they need you most (eg, the scratch on the eye, the chemical spill, the extreme flashes and floaters that need to be evaluated immediately, etc.) When you bring them into the office and show that you genuinely care, it can bond you to that patient forever. Some of my most loyal and appreciative patients are those who I saw on a weekend. They also tend to send their entire social circle to you because “no one else’s eye doctor does that!” Being on call doesn’t necessarily require you to even come into the office; simply answering the phone in the middle of the night and offering comfort and reassurance is often more than enough to make your patient happy.

Being on call has also presented some of the most interesting moments in my optometric career and makes for some great stories to share while gathered around the bar at these wonderful meetings we’re so blessed to attend. Just this past weekend, I had a PRK patient with worsening pain (he had accidentally rubbed the bandage contact out), a corneal abrasion from a new puppy, and a patient who had not been seen in 3 months but had undergone successful cataract surgery years prior and had achieved 20/25 vision OU. He was still furious that he couldn’t see “up close” without reading glasses. Sometimes, these patients just need a friendly voice on the other side of the line reminding them of all the great things they actually can see.

Emergency call is what you make of it. I’ve used it as an effective way to grow my practice and create enduring patient loyalty. Even if you work at a group practice and the majority of calls aren’t “your” patients, they immediately become “yours” after you see them on call.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.”

— Abraham Lincoln (in reference to the VA system)