Blog vol 4.9. The importance of a regular exam.
A regular eye exam checks your vision and the health of your eyes. Part of the testing determines what you can and cannot see. It is often hard to tell if your vision has changed because most changes come on very gradually.
Optometrists get regular exams too. The Ontario College of Optometrists has a Quality Assurance Committee whose task it is to ensure that all optometrists maintain excellence in the practice of their profession. Over time it is easy enough to get into habits or practices that do not maintain this standard of excellence, especially since the technologies and standards of care are continually changing.
All optometrists in Ontario are in a pool to be randomly selected for this exam. In June I got selected. The College requires ten new patients’ charts and the completion of a detailed questionnaire. Once submitted (with all names kept confidential and the file properly encrypted), the records are scrutinized.
It is an excellent time to look at your practice and your habits. I was very encouraged with the thoroughness of care we provide our patients. It has been helpful to review best practices in care to make sure we are not missing anything. The process obviously has a teaching component, having you review core documents and highlight the many changes in practicing optometry that have occurred over the years (I was first licensed in 1987 so there have been a few!). The review also helps me see how wonderful my staff and my colleagues at Burlington Eyecare are.
Over four years ago, Burlington Eyecare entered into an agreement with the School of Optometry at the University of Waterloo to supervise students from their 4th-year class in our clinic. I do think that we help the students to grow and thrive, but the reality is that we learn a great deal ourselves. The 4th year students bring an energy and a hunger for knowledge that is contagious. There is so much to learn and so many ways we can help people.
I must say the whole process has made me think and analyze our work, which is the point, but it has also been onerous. There is a lot of work involved in this process. I am almost there and hope to send off the completed document tomorrow. Yeah!!
For the record, one of our doctors was selected in the last few years and, not surprisingly, received excellent results. It is good optometrists are held to high standards and it is good for patients to know that they are.
‘til next week,
the good doctor
