Transforming and Supporting Patient Care - Health Professions ...

316Chapter 13 – Profession of OptometryThe COO believes that the vast majority of optometrists are in favour of theexpansion in the scope of practice. 16Upgrading to Ensure Readiness for the New Controlled Act of PrescribingTo prepare for the new the act of prescribing drugs as set out in theproposed designated drug regulation, starting in 2009, the COO hasincreased the continuing education requirement to 70 hours over threeyears, of which 20 hours must be related to the diagnosis or management ofocular disease or related systemic conditions. In addition, it requires a100-hour course to meet prescribing authority. These new requirements arebased on experiences in the United States and other Canadian jurisdictionswhere optometrists have similar prescribing rights.The COO has indicated that the practice of optometry is evolving to includetreatments by means of injection, although HPRAC has found this to be avery limited competence of members of the profession, and authorized invery few jurisdictions. Currently, the injecting of drugs or substances is nottaught in the University of Waterloo optometry program, but COO informedHPRAC that the procedure will soon be examined by the National Board forpractice in the United States and in consequence, the school will adjust itscurriculum.COO has recently published revised standards of practice and clinicalpractice guidelines in the Optometric Practice Reference (OPR). A draft OPRhas been prepared, which includes information related to the prescribing ofdrugs included in the proposed designated drugs regulation.Managing the Risk of HarmIn preparation for act of prescribing, the COO has increased continuingeducation requirements to require that members take a 100-hour course,prepared by faculty at an accredited school of optometry, with successfulcompletion of an examination at the end of the course. Additionally, theCOO’s quality assurance program includes an enhanced requirement for aminimum of 70 hours of continuing education in each three-year cycle, 20hours of which must be related to the diagnosis or management of ocularor related systemic disease. 17The COO has reported to HPRAC on extensive take-up by members incontinuing education programs, including, among other courses, a 100-hourcourse being delivered in February 2009 at the School of Optometry at theUniversity of Waterloo, with 110 optometrists registered. 18The COO has a quality assurance program that includes two componentsrelated to quality improvement and quality measurement. Thesecomponents include the increased continuing education requirementsnoted above and a practice assessment component, which will beimplemented when the designated drug regulation comes into force.16COO. Submission to HPRAC. November 2008: 11.17Ibid: 9.18Key stakeholder interview with Registrar, COO, January 2009.HPRAC Critical Links January 2009