| Greensheet Fall 1997
The International Association of Boards of Examiners in Optometry hosted its 78th Annual Meeting at the Adam's Mark, St. Louis, Missouri, on Monday, June 9 and Tuesday, June 10, 1997. A special workshop was held off-site at the University of St. Louis at Missouri on Sunday, June 8. The meeting, scheduled over three days, brought together 55 representatives from 32 boards of optometry, as well as other invited speakers and guests. Total attendance at the Annual Meeting was 75 individuals representing 41 various organizations. The three-day meeting featured two unique workshops on the opening day, both of which were held at the University of St. Louis at Missouri (UMSL). The first workshop on Internet Communications was held in the computer labs of UMSL; the first-class technology enabled the delegates to enjoy a unique 'hands-on' tour of some major web sites on the Internet. Led by Mr. Ernie Patterson, IAB's technical consultant, the delegates learned how the Internet is organized, how to research information using search engines, and importantly, how web-sites can share information with licensees. Robert Sorrell, O.D., Chair of the IAB's Data Collection Committee, discussed with workshop attendees the benefits of sharing licensee data with the IAB. Dr. Sorrell enumerated the benefits of a databank that pooled licensee information, both demographic and disciplinary in nature. The afternoon session saw the repeat of the popular National Board Workshop, presented by the staff of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry. This interactive presentation allowed the delegates to gain a first hand look at the workings behind the organization that administers the primary licensing exam for optometrists in the U.S. The NB Workshop gave attendees a chance to question NB staff on the 'mechanics' of exam construction and testing techniques while also engaging in a Patient Management Problem (PMP's) test item writing session that many described as a "real learning experience." National Board staff in attendance included: Executive Director Norman E. Wallis, Ph.D., O.D.; NB Director of Psychometrics and Research Leon J. Gross, Ph.D.; and NB Coordinator of Clinical Examinations, Charles L. Haine, O.D. The IAB House of Delegates convened on Monday, June 9, and began two days of discussions and presentations that addressed the issues that currently impact licensing jurisdictions, and the laws and regulations that govern the scope of optometric practice. In addition to the business of the association, the House of Delegates considered or reviewed the following key issues: progress on the work of the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE); a Bylaws amendment; a panel discussion on Telehealth; a report on endorsement regulations; a presentation on development and implementation of a quality assurance program for boards; and reports from several allied organizations, including the Association for Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO); the American Optometric Association (AOA) State Government Legislation Office; the AOA's Licensure & Regulation Committee; and the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA). The House of Delegates also heard a report from the IAB's Data Collection Committee on a new Federal anti-fraud and abuse initiative called the Health Care Integrity and Protection Data Bank (HCIPDB). According to an attendee survey conducted at the meeting, the two hottest topics of the meeting were the presentations on telehealth and the federal anti-fraud and abuse program. The telehealth presentation featured analysis and legal perspectives from Mr. Johnny Loper, Special Counsel to the North Carolina State Board of Examiners in Optometry and a featured speaker at the Annual Meeting; Mr. Thomas Eichhorst, AOA Counsel; Ms. Sherry Cooper, AOA Staff; and special guest speaker Dr. Yadin David, President of the Center for Telemedicine Law. Telehealth was an almost entirely new topic to the delegates at the meeting, and Dr. Yadin's presentation held the close attention of the delegates as he explained the possibilities that modern technology offered for the delivery of patient care. While the panelists agreed that telehealth offered few opportunities to optometry at the present, there was a general recognition that this form of health care delivery will undoubtedly impact the scope of practitioner licensure in the near future. In response to this emerging issue, the IAB created a new Telehealth sub-committee to continue investigating the potential impact on member licensing boards. The federal Fraud and Abuse Databank, which has been subsequently renamed the Health Care Integrity and Protection Data Bank (HCIPDB), also posed new concerns for delegates. HCIPDB was created by a provision of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (commonly referred to as the Kennedy-Kassebaum Act) and requires state boards to report disciplinary and other data on licensees to a national data bank. Dr. Robert Sorrell presented a report to the delegates on the involvement of IAB in the discussions regarding the rules development phase of the data bank, and urged delegates to be proactive in the process by sharing data with IAB (who will in turn share it with HCIPDB). Dr. Sorrell outlined means by which the IAB could play a role in sharing the data with state boards as a means to ascertain whether a licensure applicant has a disciplinary record in another state. The IAB continues to be involved in the ongoing development of HCIPDB. One of the final presentations that delegates saw at the Annual Meeting was a two-issue presentation from the IAB's Contemporary Issues in Optometry Committee on endorsement, and quality assurance. Delegates were informed of the results of a recent IAB survey on the extent of endorsement laws throughout the nation, and were presented with a list of IAB-developed Definition of Common Terms. The panel discussion on endorsement was moderated by Dr. Ronald Detwiler, and featured Dr. Ed Williams, Vice President of the Colorado Board of Examiners in Optometry; Ms. Sherry Cooper of the AOA; Dr. Russ Jones of the AOA Licensure & Regulation Committee; and Dr. D.R. Gordon, IAB Director. The panelists reemphasized the issue as a legitimate concern for many practitioners, however, this concern was tempered to a certain degree with the recognition that the process of re-examining, re-writing, or even creating endorsement rules and regulations was a lengthy process often fraught with complications. The IAB continues to monitor the issue on behalf of member licensing boards. The last presentation of the day featured Dr. John Brand, Secretary of the Utah Optometric Association Quality Assurance Program, and Dr. Lyman Norden, a member of the AOA Commission on Quality Assessment and Improvement, discussing the benefits and implications of developing a quality assurance program. The delegates were introduced to the Utah Optometric Association Quality Assurance Program, and reviewed the mechanisms involved in starting such a program. Dr. Norden discussed the views of the AOA on quality assurance, and delegates asked questions of both presenters on the effects of such a program on the quality of care delivered to patients. The House of Delegates also passed four resolutions (summaries follow below) which are currently being reviewed by the Judicial Council. The full text of all four resolutions will be reproduced in the next issue of the Greensheet:
The House of Delegates chose this occasion to recognize Howard F. Flippin, O.D., who passed the gavel to incoming President, Ronald E. Serfoss, O.D. Dr. Flippin was presented with a handsome wall plaque recognizing his contributions to the IAB and commemorating his service as President. Steven H. Eyler, O.D., and James W. Hartzell, O.D., were elected as Vice-President and Secretary-Treasurer, respectively for the 1997-98 term (see related story this issue). This meeting also saw the retirement of Phillip L. Ernzen, O.D., of Wichita, Kansas, who had served on the Board for five years. Dr. Ernzen was unable to attend the meeting, however, in his absence the Board recognized his service to the profession. The delegates recognized Dr. Ernzen's contributions by adopting a resolution honoring him and affirming his Life Membership, and presented him with a handsome wall plaque.
IAB ELECTS LEADERSHIP FOR 1997-98 At the IAB's 78th Annual Meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, in June, Ronald E. Serfoss, O.D., was elected President of the IAB for the 1997-98 term, and two new Board members, Drs. Don Crouch and Bob Sorrell were elected (see separate interview with Dr. Serfoss in this issue). Dr. Serfoss was elected to the IAB Board of Directors in 1994 and previously served on the Illinois Optometric Licensing & Disciplinary Board. New IAB officers are: Steven H. Eyler, O.D., of Charlotte, North Carolina, as Vice-President, and James W. Hartzell, O.D., of Des Moines, Iowa, as Secretary-Treasurer. Dr. Eyler previously served on the North Carolina State Board of Examiners in Optometry, and Dr. Hartzell has served on the Iowa Board of Optometry Examiners. The IAB welcomes two new directors to the Board: Drs. Donovan L. Crouch and Robert Sorrell. Dr. Crouch, O.D. is a serving board member of the Iowa Board of Optometry Examiners, and is a 1963 graduate of the Illinois College of Optometry, where he was a member of the Honorary Tomb and Key Fraternity. He is a member of the AOA, IOA, AOF and AAO, was a recipient of the Iowa Optometrist of the Year Award. He is also the immediate past president of the North Central States Optometric Congress and presently serves on the AOA Ethics and Values Committee. Dr. Crouch has been in private practice since 1963 and his family consists of wife Lois, and children Cyndee, Craig, Charles and Kevin. Dr. Crouch keeps involved in the local community with service on the Board of Directors at Methodist Manor, as a trustee of the United Methodist Church, and through activities with Boy Scouts, Little League, Community Chest, and the Chamber of Commerce. "I am very honored to have been elected to the IAB Board of Directors," said Dr. Crouch. "I believe our biggest challenge is to fill the needs of our member boards of Optometry. Our profession is rapidly changing and to keep up with the times will take the support of everyone. Communication is the key to success. "I feel fortunate to be a part of the decision-making process that affects our profession at the national level and accept the challenge. I have served on the Iowa Board of Examiners for 8 years and feel I have been well prepared to serve on the IAB Board." Dr. Sorrell recently completed service with the Ohio Board of Optometry and is a 1978 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Optometry. He is a member of the AOA and OOA and presently serves as the Chair of the IAB's Information & Data Services Committee. Dr. Sorrell is married to Marcia, and his civic activities include participation in the Cincinnati United Way. He was also a past chair of the Middletown Area United Way, a past director of both the Middletown YMCA and Chamber of Commerce, and is a Deacon with the 1st Presbyterian Church. Dr. Sorrell welcomed his appointment to the Board. "State Boards of Optometry are entering a new era of information exchange that will significantly alter how we manage information about the profession of optometry. We will need to track practitioners, monitor continuing education and report to the consumer through new and evolving electronic mediums. Through the IAB, I would like to help state boards achieve this shift in how we do business. "As an organization, I believe the IAB needs to continue to develop ways for our member boards of optometry to improve and help do their job. I would like to see the IAB at the forefront of suggesting new ideas and directives for regulatory effectiveness in the profession of optometry. It is the job of the IAB to be a resource for boards of optometry, and to also serve as a forum for board members and board executives to exchange ideas and information." Drs. Crouch and Sorrell are joining fellow remaining members of the Board of Directors: Howard F. Flippin, O.D., of Searcy, Arkansas, serving as Immediate Past President, and Board Directors: Linda M. Dejmek, O.D., of Appleton, Wisconsin; Mary L. Freitag, O.D., of Greeley, Colorado; D.R. Gordon, O.D., of Clinton, Illinois; and Frank L. Salimeno, O.D., of Ogden, Utah.
DR. RON SERFOSS IS ELECTED IAB PRESIDENT 1997-98 In an interview held shortly after the IAB Annual Meeting concluded, Dr. Serfoss noted the beginning of a new administrative year for the IAB and stated his goals for the coming year. The full text of the interview follows: Q. How did you get involved with the IAB and/or your state board? I was first appointed to the Illinois Optometry Board in 1985, serving for ten years, several as Secretary and then as Vice Chairman. During those ten years Illinois began a clinical practical that was modeled on guidelines started by the IAB with consultants from the National Board. At that time Illinois began collaborative efforts with other states from the Midwest to develop a regional practical, a concept later adopted by many states as they signed on to use the National Board Clinical Skills Examination. During the development of that examination all of the members of the Illinois Board became involved with the IAB. Q. How has the IAB changed over the years since you first had contact with the IAB as a state board member, and describe some of the most important IAB projects? One of the first IAB meeting that I attended was the last of the meetings with an independent executive director (IAB contracted with an association management company, PAI Management, shortly thereafter to provide administrative services). A few years later the contract with the National Board was signed, and this in turn created the IAB National Board Examination Review Committee. At the urging of several leaders in academic optometry the IAB accepted the challenge to attempt to create a system of continuing education approval that would serve our individual state boards, utilizing criteria from existing state laws to set common standards. From the CE classification system to COPE, the IAB has taken the initiative to assist our member states in using CE as it was intended. The practicality of the relationship with the National Board, and the success of COPE has provided a new and invigorating sense of direction to IAB, that has been coupled with an infusion of new, hard-working talent on the Board of Directors. All this has lead to further gains by IAB on behalf of our member boards. During the recent development of a greater role of the federal government in health care, the IAB began a data project to accumulate an accurate data base of all licensed optometrists in the 54 licensing jurisdictions. No sustainable, coordinated, data base has ever existed for optometry. With much perseverance and work, a committee of the IAB now has the most accurate accounting of all licensed optometrists in over twenty years. The IAB continues to bring contemporary issues to the forefront. We have sponsored discussions of contact lens Rx release and licensure by endorsement. We have represented optometry at the multi-disciplinary Interprofessional Workgroup on Health Professions Regulation (IWHPR), a group that developed a unified response to the Pew Health Professions Commission, Taskforce on Healthcare Workforce Regulation Report, "Reforming Health Care Workforce Regulation: Policy Considerations for the 21st Century." We have aggressively pursued consultants with the Department of Health & Human Services regarding the new Health Care Integrity and Protection Data Bank (HCIPDB) to benefit member boards. We have explored new areas in licensure, such as telehealth. The IAB's participation at all these levels is indicative of a healthy, progressive organization that demonstrates leadership in the profession. Q. What sort of issues will IAB be facing during the next year? The IAB currently has committees preparing background material on several key topics that will face state boards in the near future:
There are, of course, may other hard issues that will arise, and we encourage our member boards to seek our assistance in addressing them. Q. Can you tell us about some of the IAB activities that deserve special attention by members? Have you visited the IAB web page? The Data and Information Services committee has developed a great web site. The COPE committee soon will have a web site offering visitors the opportunity to access all of the CE courses approved by COPE over the last three years. The International Committee is hosting a conference in conjunction with the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) meeting in San Antonio, TX, about the regulation and licensing of optometrists in other countries, and the possible difficulties our members face with licensing applicants with international training. The 1998 Annual Meeting also promises to be a true learning event for attendees, with presentations and discussions on many of the issues that have caught the attention of our member boards. Q. Where is the future of IAB? In the twelve years that I have been involved with IAB, the organization has matured and mostly because of the strong leadership of our past Boards and committees. The IAB has a unique place in organizations that are associated with optometry because as members of licensing boards we are appointed to oversee the educational qualifications of applicants for license, to give examinations, to determine that entry level skills are present for those initially licensed, and to assure that licensed optometrists continue to maintain a level of competency to practice. The IAB is the buffer between institutions of professional training and public licensure and at the same time the buffer between the political system and licensure. This is a difficult role, but it's not impossible and it is certainly necessary. COPE has opened new doors in our relationships with allied organizations, and we have continued to strengthen those relationship with further joint projects. Using the success of COPE, it is now time to expand our abilities to provide new solutions and information to our member boards. Broadening our services to the profession will solidify, and ultimately enhance our credibility in the optometric community. Q. Is there anything you'd like to say to the members? As we proceed in the next few years we will not shy from the difficult questions, rather we wish to ask them. We are uniquely placed to be leaders in the continuing evolution of our great profession. How can the association of licensing jurisdictions function to assist each member board to fulfill its duty? We believe that only by bringing issues to the forefront of awareness and by foreseeing those issues that will affect us all, can this organization effectively serve its members and assure its vitality. We are always listening. Bring your state reports to our Annual Meeting. Bring new board members to the National Board Workshop at the Annual Meeting. Volunteer to serve on a committee. Share the problems you face as a member of your state board. Bring the perplexing and interesting experiences of your state laws and rules to the Annual Meeting. If you have a question or an idea call a board member. Participate. Together we really will achieve more.
ASCO-IAB AGREEMENT ON COPE SIGNED: COPE BEGINS PROCESSING CE FOR SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES A new agreement signed between the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) and the International Association of Boards of Examiners in Optometry (IAB) has opened the door to permit COE-accredited institutions to use the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE) program to obtain approval for continuing education. The agreement, signed at the IAB's Annual Meeting in St. Louis, MO, on June 10, 1997, permits Active Members of ASCO to utilize the services provided by COPE if complying with guidelines incorporated into the agreement. The agreement is valid for one year, and both parties recognize that the success of this trial period will set the tone for future discussions on its renewal. "The agreement recognizes the fact that accredited institutions are already held to higher standards than other providers of CE. The agreement spells out the administrative necessities that must be met in order for COPE to report approved CE to boards of optometry, but more importantly it requires schools and colleges to agree to meet the same standards that COPE has always required. The standards for course and administrator qualification have not been relaxed," said Howard F. Flippin, O.D., Immediate Past President of the IAB and a participant in the talks that led to the final agreement. COPE is a clearinghouse for approval of optometric continuing education on behalf of multiple boards of optometry, while simultaneously creating uniform standards for CE administrators and lecturers to present courses for approval. COPE was created as a service for participating boards of optometry to reduce the duplicative efforts expended by boards when reviewing and approving courses that have already undergone the same process in other states. As part of the process, a practitioner attending a COPE Approved course can be assured that the licensing board s/he submits CE credit to for that course will accept it as credit towards re-licensure. Boards of optometry always reserve the right to review individual local courses. Forty-one boards of optometry now accept COPE approved courses. The agreement is seen by IAB as a new incentive for other boards to consider the benefits of joining the national clearing-house. The implementation of COPE had initially garnered little response from ASCO, although it provoked considerable discussion amongst CE Directors at schools. Over time, however, the criticisms of COPE have been mitigated by the success of the project at setting the standards for CE that accommodate the needs of boards, while giving CE administrators and lecturers the opportunity to reduce the costs and paperwork associated with gaining credit for programs from multiple boards. This in turn resulted in a new appraisal of COPE from many groups involved with CE delivery. IAB believes the agreement with ASCO will pave the way for new projects that could also see profession-wide benefits. Ronald Serfoss, O.D., IAB President, noted, "We are extremely pleased to secure this agreement with ASCO. We believe this agreement will not only provide boards of optometry with another reason to value their participation in COPE, but will significantly benefit practitioners who are seeking quality CE from accredited institutions and who need the security of CE approval that will come with the courses COPE approves. This agreement is built on the cooperation of our two organizations to improve CE, and we have high hopes that this will also lead to other joint projects of mutual interest and benefit." Jerry W. Strickland, O.D., Ph.D., Dean of the College of Optometry, University of Houston, and ASCO President, noted, "The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry has worked with the IAB to develop an appropriate, collegial and complementary relationship for the benefit of the profession. This agreement on COPE is the first in what we believe will be an ongoing dialog with the IAB as we work to promote entry level and continuing practitioner competence."
COPE: THREE MORE STATES JOIN FORTY-ONE BOARDS NOW ACCEPT COPE The Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE), now in operation for over two years, is pleased to announce the recent decision of three states to begin accepting COPE Approved courses. COPE received announcements from the Massachusetts Board of Optometry, the New York State Board for Optometry, and the Oklahoma Board of Examiners in Optometry, stating their intent to begin accepting COPE Approved Courses. Forty-one (41) boards of optometry now accept COPE approved courses. Peter P. Cottone, Jr., O.D., Chair of the Massachusetts Board of Optometry, said, "The centralized, combined resources approach that COPE has developed will go a long way towards relieving the increasingly onerous burden of reviewing enormous amounts of continuing education courses received by the Massachusetts Board of Optometry. Having one organization conduct the review process on our behalf (as well as for forty other participating boards) will free up valuable clerical staff time that will be allocated to other critical tasks that will be of benefit to both Massachusetts licensees, and the general public. "Out-of-state Massachusetts licensees will also reap the benefit of our participation in COPE as identifying courses that comply with our requirements for re-licensure will be considerably easier. As COPE courses are presented nationwide, and by an increasing number of CE vendors, it should prove comparatively easy for out-of-state licensees to find a COPE course and accumulate the necessary credits for re-licensure." Dr. Frank Salimeno, IAB Board member and board liaison to the COPE committee, noted, "We are extremely pleased to welcome the Massachusetts Board of Optometry, the New York State Board for Optometry, and the Oklahoma Board of Examiners in Optometry as COPE participating states. The recognition by all three states that COPE's standards meet or exceeds their own lends additional credibility to our program, and adds extra value to the program with their participation." Program Changes COPE is in the process of updating both the Information and Application for Course Qualification and Information and Application for Administrator Qualification booklets. We anticipate that the Course Qualification booklet will be released in late October, and the Administrator Qualification booklet in late November. A brief summary of the changes:
REPORT OF CONTINUED COMPETENCY
SUMMIT Introduction The Continued Competency Summit sponsored by the Interprofessional Workgroup on Health Regulation (IWHPR), was held in Chicago on July 25-26, 1997. The Continued Competency Summit, held July 26-26 in Chicago, attracted over 200 attendees. Under the auspices of the Interprofessional Workgroup on Health Professions Regulation (IWHPR), a group of 18 organizations related to regulation of health professionals, the conference brought together experts and interested parties to assess the issues, methods, and realities of continued competency. ( IWHPR represents the following health care professions: audiology, chiropractic, medical laboratory technology, dentistry, dietetics, medicine, nursing, nursing home administration, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistants, respiratory care, social work, and speech-language pathology. These organizations represent over four million health care practitioners.) Overview The Continued Competency Summit was created in large part as a response to the recommendations that were publicized in the Pew Health Professions Commission-sponsored 1995 report, "Reforming Health Care Workforce Regulation: Policy Considerations for the 21st century." IWHPR published a response to the Pew report, and subsequently received a grant from Pew to expand and explore on the issues covered at the Citizen's Advocacy Center (CAC) conference on the same issue held in December 1996. The Continued Competency Summit was designed to go further than the CAC conference by focusing more on workable solutions and examining existing and proposed models. Dr. Paul Mazmanian of the Virginia Commonwealth University keynoted the conference, sharing research evidence related to the effectiveness of various types of continuing education. Other speakers debated whether approaches should focus on all practitioners, or on a subset who are at greater risk for failure to maintain professional competence. Ten potential mechanisms for maintaining and/or assessing competence, ranging from self-directed study to virtual reality, were presented by experts in the field. Participants explored the roles of regulatory boards, certifying agencies, professional associations, and consumers through panel discussions and an interactive luncheon. Participation by conference attendees was enthusiastic, and their comments on the summit showed an appreciation for the "proactive multi-disciplinary approach" and "the different voices within each profession that made for a good conference." Discussion Under our system of professional regulation, states grant licenses to practice a health care profession to individuals who have received an acceptable education and who have passed an examination that tests basic knowledge in a chosen field. The system grants a lifetime license to practice, so long as a licensee pays the required renewal fee and does not violate the state's professional act. A growing concern is, how do we know any given licensee has kept their skills and knowledge up to date. The objectives of the Continued Competency Summit were three-fold.
Lifelong learning is to be encouraged and expected of all professionals. The IWHPR believes that mandatory continuing education is only one of a number of methods for maintaining continuing competence. IWHPR recommends that:
Conclusion In conclusion, the implementation of the Interprofessional Workgroup's recommendations would result in a regulatory system in which:
This vision represents the commitment of the Interprofessional Workgroup to continuos improvement in health professions regulation. Additional Information A book of proceedings of the conference is available from the National Council (312/787-6555) for $20 plus $3 shipping, and information about ordering audiotapes is available from AVEN, 10532 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98133 (1/800/810-TAPE; Web site at http://www.aven.com/). Definition of Common Terms The following definitions of commonly used terms were developed by the IAB's Contemporary Issues in Optometry Committee and presented at the St. Louis, MO, Annual Meeting. The definitions are intended to be used as guidelines for boards seeking to apply a commonality of understanding shared by other optometry licensing boards for terms that are applied to describe aspects of licensure or patient health care. Comments or suggestions are invited from readers.
NORTH CENTRAL REGIONAL MEETING A regional meeting of the IAB was held Friday, January 31, 1997 at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Minneapolis, MN. IAB Board Director, James W. Hartzell, O.D., conducted the mid-day meeting for about 10 people in attendance. Dr. Hartzell updated the group by reviewing activities of the Data Collection, International, and Contemporary Issues in Optometry Committees. He also reported on the current status of the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE). Most north central states are COPE members and report being satisfied with the growth and development of the organization. All boards were invited to attend the IAB annual meeting to be held in St. Louis, MO, June 9-11. The members in attendance felt the National Board/IAB joint workshop is very helpful and would like to see it continued. In addition, attendees were encouraged to become more involved with the IAB by either running for election or putting their names forward to work on a committee. It was pointed out that two directors terms were expiring at the Annual Meeting. SOUTHWEST REGIONAL MEETING The Southwest Council of Optometry State Leaders Conference and the IAB Southwest Regional Meeting were held March 14-16 in Dallas, TX. The meeting was chaired by Dr. John Musselman and the IAB representative was Dr. Ronald Serfoss, IAB Secretary-Treasurer. There were representatives from Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas boards of optometry; University of Houston College of Optometry; and North Eastern State College of Optometry. David Swankin, President of the Citizen's Advocacy Center and a member of Pew Health Professions Commission Taskforce on Health Care Workforce Regulation was the featured presenter for the morning session. Mr. Swankin's presentation and discussion covered topics on the National Fraud and Abuse Disciplinary Reporting requirement of the Kennedy-Kassebaum Act. States expressed concern over the possible difference in the definition of a disciplinary action among different states and the national requirement, i.e. when shall a disciplinary action be released by a board .when is an investigation is opened? .after probable cause? .after final disposition? States have differing rules governing when this becomes public knowledge. Scope of practice changes and different professions' overlapping responsibility was discussed relative to the Pew Commission recommendation that "States should explore pathways to allow all professionals to provide services to the full extent of their current knowledge, training, experience and skills." Mr. Swankin raised an interesting perspective that in cases of change of scope of practice the opponents should be asked to show by outcomes analysis why the petitioners of change cannot safely expand the scope of practice. The IAB discussions in the afternoon were about the expanding acceptance of COPE, impaired provider treatment programs, National Board Report, credentialing of optometrists and several state board reports. MOUNTAIN WEST REGIONAL MEETING The Mountain West Regional Meeting was held on May 3, 1997, in Las Vegas, NV. Attendees expressed much interest in endorsement, and were interested to learn that the IAB was planning on holding a panel discussion on the issue at the St. Louis Annual Meeting. Telehealth proved to be a largely new topic for those present, however, interest was exhibited over the IAB's continued project to collect licensee information in an effort to evaluate the demographic trend of optometrists nationally. Attendees noted the issue of declining scores for Part I of the National Board exams and expressed concern. Wyoming and California noted that they would shortly be accepting Part III Clinical Skills exam results towards licensure, and California noted that 1/5th of practitioners in their state were now TPA licensed. A comment was made that California HMO's were not permitting O.D.'s to practice to the full extent of their new TPA scope of practice, and Dr. Salimeno noted that Maryland was also apparently dealing with the same issue. All attendees indicated that a representative from their board would be attending the Annual Meeting. Representing the IAB was Board Member Dr. Frank Salimeno. Board representatives in attendance: Dr. John Anthony (CA); Dr. Mike Harris (WY); Dr. Hal Marsell (Emeritus, IAB Board); Dr. Brian Anderson (NV); Dr. Russ Jones (AZ); and Ms. Denyne Kowalewsi (COA-Legislative Analyst).
REGIONAL MEETING DATES FOR 1998 ANNOUNCED Details on the IAB Regional Meetings scheduled for 1998 are below. These meetings are open to anyone, however, specific invitations to attend are mailed only to those optometry boards in geographic proximity to the meeting site. If you wish to attend a meeting for which your board would typically not receive an invitation, please contact the IAB office and we will be glad to register you for the meeting. Please note that the North Central and Great Western Regional IAB Meetings have been canceled in 1998 due to low attendance and lack of interest expressed by the boards of optometry in those regions. Boards in those regions will instead be invited to other regional meetings hosted by IAB. Tentative agenda topics for 1998 meetings:
The schedule for 1998 is as follows: Southern Regional IAB Meeting Southwest Regional IAB Meeting Northeast Regional Meeting Mountain West Regional IAB Meeting
THE GREENSHEET - Fall Issue 1997 The Greensheet is published quarterly by the IAB, 4401 East West Highway, Suite 205, Bethesda, MD 20814-4521. Copyright 1997, International Association of Boards of Examiners in Optometry, Inc. All rights reserved. Information/address changes: Write to IAB at address above. Subscriptions: Free upon request; send subscription request to IAB at address above (optometry board members automatically receive a free subscription). |