Optometrists given wider range under Health Professions Act

[monkey799]

primary care is not alone - the trend of encroachment continues

The Vancouver Sun
Tue 03 Mar 2009
Section: Westcoast News
By: Doug Ward

Naturopaths aren't the only health professionals in B.C. who are seeing their scope of practice expanded. A regulation under the new Health Professions Act has given optometrists the right to prescribe and administer topical medications and remove superficial objects from a patient's eye.

Previously, only physicians were allowed to perform these tasks in B.C., said Ministry of Health Services media relations manager Bernadette Murphy. Under the new regulation, optometrists must complete a certification course and also notify a patient's medical doctor of any prescribed medications.

Paul Neumann, president of the B.C. Association of Optometrists, said optometrists have "always had the ability to diagnose common eye problems and now the government is saying that you can treat them as well." Neumann said the change brings B.C. in line with most other provinces. There is a shortage of ophthalmologists in B.C. and across Canada, he added.

"So this change is a huge win for patient access to eye care." Victoria similarly expanded the prescribing rights of pharmacists in January. Pharmacists can now renew routine medications that have been prescribed by physicians, said ministry official Murphy.

Pharmacists can also change dosages up to six months after the original prescription. The B.C. Medical Association said it has urged Victoria to make sure optometrists are qualified to provide the medications and are properly regulated. The newly created College of Optometrists will be regulated under the Health Professions Act and replaces the Board of Examiners in Optometry.

The College of Optometrists will also monitor the prescribing patterns of individual optometrists and will establish standards of practice. By June of this year, the Health Professions Act will cover the professions of pharmacy, chiropractic, medicine and dentistry. Previously, many of B.C.'s health professions have been governed by individual pieces of legislation.

[new member]

Optometrists in most part of North America have been diagnosing, treating, and co-managing eye diseases with ophthalmologists in the last few decades. In fact, BC is one of the LAST few provinces in Canada to expand the scope of practice for Optometry.

[smile]

ophthalmologists (paediatric and LASIK) that I've shadowed are incredibly swamped with work. I'm sure they'd welcome the lessened load. besides, they absolutely hate refracting and doing menial stuff. the big $$$ comes from the surgeries, cataracts, etc. they refer out all other care to the optoms.

[hermandez]

Optometrists in most part of North America have been diagnosing, treating, and co-managing eye diseases with ophthalmologists in the last few decades. In fact, BC is one of the LAST few provinces in Canada to expand the scope of practice for Optometry.