AOA American Optometric Association

Information may not be reliable

Last month, President Elect Dr. Katherine Witmeyer and myself attended the annual President’s Council and Leadership conference. This meeting is designed for executive board members from all of the local societies to come together and get updated COA information to bring back to our societies and to spend time brainstorming various society issues. We found this meeting very informative and enjoyable.
Major topics of intererst that were presented included Healthcare Reform Update and Implementation the glaucoma bill.
In regards to the Healthcare Reform, the AOA’s number one goal is to help members thrive and succeed during the reform implementation and to safeguard and expand patient access to optometric care. One area of interest to optometry involves new federal funding that has been rewarded to what are known as School Based Health Centers. The model of these centers is to bring healthcare into school settings in the form of clinics that house a variety of specialties to meet the needs of school aged children. Optometry continues to be excluded from programs such as these and the AOA is working toward recognition that vision care should be an essential part of the school based healthcare model. To find out more about the school based health care model, visit the website: nasbhc.org. I believe it is crucial that optometry be allowed to participate in these centers.
The implementation of the glaucoma bill that was passed last year is still in the process of being accepted. The way in which we will re-educate ourselves (including the 24 hour didactic course as well as direct patient care) and complete the requirements to become certified has been drafted and is in review at the state’s Office of Administrative Law. This is the last step in the process to approve or reject the regulations. Hopefully the regulations will be accepted and we will be able to begin the process of becoming glaucoma certified.

With the PCLC meeting behind us, we have 2 more important events to look forward to in the remained of the year. On October 24, we will be walking in the American Diabetes Associated Step out to Fight Diabetes walk. If you cannot come out and walk with us, please donate to our team. We would love to reach our donation goal of $4200. Thank you to all who have donated so far! The last event of the year will be the annual Holiday Party generously hosted at the home of our fellow member Dr. Eric White. This will be a fun event and we hope everyone will join us to celebrate the end of a great 2010.