AMA President, A/Prof Brian Owler, said today that people with glaucoma can expect the safest and highest quality care and treatment for their condition following the resolution of a long-running dispute over the optometry guidelines for glaucoma diagnosis and management.
The glaucoma guidelines established by the Optometry Board of Australia (OBA) were disputed by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) and the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists (ASO).
A/Prof Owler said the resolution of the dispute will lead to a strong collaborative care arrangement between optometrists and ophthalmologists that will ensure that glaucoma patients receive the most appropriate care for their condition.
“Optometrists will no longer be able to independently manage glaucoma patients,” A/Prof Owler said.
“The revised Optometry Board guidelines will ensure that ophthalmologists will be the leaders of glaucoma management, with collaborative arrangements and clear referral pathways between the patient’s optometrist and ophthalmologist.
“Glaucoma patients are the winners from this arrangement.
“The AMA applauds the Optometry Board for revising their guidelines, and working with RANZCO and the ASO to provide the safest medical care and treatment for people with glaucoma.
“RANZCO and the ASO are to be commended for their efforts on behalf of Australians with glaucoma and other serious eye conditions.”
A/Prof Owler said the AMA has long been advocating for the registration boards and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency to have clear, robust and transparent processes for assessing the impacts of expanded scopes of practice for non-medical practitioners so that patient care is not compromised.
26 November 2014
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