SECURE TABLETS AND SMART PHONES

SIDD CHOPRA, C.S.M., D.T.M., P.M.P.

Tablets, smart phones and other mobile devices continue to transform optometric practices. These devices, operated by O.D.s and staff, often hold sensitive information, such as patient contact information, emails, retinal images and health records, that can be used against you. With all the news about cybercrime, how can you and your staff keep these devices secure?

Here are four ways to substantially decrease the cyberattack risk:

1 KEEP TABS ON DEVICES

Keep your device(s) with you vs. leaving them in a room where others can access them without being observed.

Also, consider using a tracking app, if your device(s) doesn’t include one already.

Finally, display your email address or phone number on your locked screen, so you can be contacted if someone finds your device(s).

2 PROTECT YOUR DATA

Avoid storing Protected Health Information (PHI) on your personal device. If your device contains patient information, including emails and phone numbers, you should encrypt the device, enable remote wiping of the device, always log out, or lock the screen, keep your devices’ operating system updated, check permissions on apps ­­ ­ — consider uninstalling apps that needlessly want access to data, like your contact list — and consider getting a malware app. (These may also include software that track the devices’ physical locations.)

In addition, lock your device(s) with a password or pin — keep in mind that patterns leave smudge trails that can often be seen, so if you can swipe vs. tap, do so — turn on your device(s)’ auto-lock feature to time out your connection, and backup your data to a separate computer and/or the cloud. (See: http://bit.ly/2oR5XRn .)

3 AVOID CERTAIN NETWORKS

Connect to websites prefixed with HTTPS (the “S” stands for SSL or “Secure Sockets Layer”). Websites prefixed with HTTP may not be secure.

Also, avoid accessing financial or PHI data on public wifi, unless you are connecting securely with SSL, HTTPS or similar encryption technology.

4 WIPE IT CLEAN

When considering device disposal, transfer or reselling it, synchronize the device with the cloud, fully backup the device to a laptop or computer, remove any memory cards from the device, perform a factory reset (This may not delete all your data.) and record blank video, so the device(s) has no space to record more video. Neither a factory reset nor blank video recording removes all the data, but both should remove most, if not all. ■

Mr. Chopra works for Analytrix, an ophthalmic IT company.

SPORTS VISION O.D.S OFFER TIPS COLLEAGUES CAN GIVE TO ATHLETE PATIENTS

Annually, more than 25,000 seek treatment for sports-related eye injuries, reports Prevent Blindness. The good news: A total of 90% of these injuries can be precluded via protective eyewear (goggles, safety glasses, eye guards, etc.) use, according to the NEI. Given that April is Sports Eye Safety Month, what advice can O.D.s offer their athlete patients with regard to eye protection during sports?

Michael Peters, O.D., a Raleigh, N.C. sports vision specialist and author of “See to Play: The Eyes of Elite Athletes,” says he would tell athletes it’s important to make sure they put on their protective eyewear before they approach the playing field or as the last piece of sports equipment they put on before leaving the locker room.

“One of the worst sports’ eye injuries I have evaluated happened to a high school senior lacrosse player,” he explains. “He was heading to the field before practice. Two players were practicing passing the ball nearby, and the ball flew directly into the senior teammate’s eye. He almost lost the eye. He did end up with usable vision, but was unable to pursue his desire to play lacrosse in college.”

Optometrist Donald Teig, founder and president of The A Team — High Performance Vision Associates and author of “High Performance Vision,” says athletes often balk at protective eyewear because some of the equipment available can actually be a detriment to the accuracy of play.

“When one wears sunglasses during golf, for example, sometimes it’s harder to read the greens,” he explains. “I would suggest acknowledging this in a discussion with the athlete patient, while also highlighting the benefits of protective eyewear, such as UV protection.”

Graham Erickson, O.D., F.A.A.O., F.C.O.V.D., a Portland-based sports vision specialist and professor at the Pacific University College of Optometry, says he would educate athletes who already wear spectacles or contact lenses that neither eyewear offers the impact resistance necessary to protect them from the possible hazards encountered in many sports.

“The American Society for Testing of Materials (ASTM) has developed performance standards for protective eyewear in each sport individually, and the forces potentially encountered in a sport are used to determine appropriate testing parameters,” he explains. “As a result, you want to offer frames to these patients that are certified as meeting the ASTM standards.” ■

CL COMPANIES, AOA FORM PATIENT SAFETY GROUP

To advance patient eye health and vision care, the AOA, Johnson & Johnson Vision and CooperVision have become members of the Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety (APS), which seeks to, “advocate for patient safety and defend the doctor-patient relationship,” according to the APS website, patientsafetytoday.com .

“ . . . Through the Alliance, we hope to bring attention to the untreated and, in some cases, undiagnosed vision conditions affecting millions of Americans, while also ensuring that eye health is a national priority in our health agenda,” explains Peter Menziuso, president, North America —Vision Care, Johnson & Johnson Vision, charter member and leadership member of the Alliance, along with the AOA, in a press release.

Jerry Warner, CooperVision’s president, North America, adds, “In the industry, we recognize that consumer choice and behaviors are changing, which is why CooperVision invested in areas like LensFerry and EyeCare Prime more than four years ago. These tools help maintain the doctor-patient relationship, which leads to the best outcome for the patient.”

APS is committed to the following, according to a press release:

• Supporting public policy solutions, such as laws, regulations and increased enforcement, to safeguard public health.
• Raising awareness to patients, legislators and regulators of the importance of the doctor-patient relationship and existing and potential threats to patients’ eye health and safety.

If you are interested in becoming a local advocate or wish to get involved in protecting patient safety, visit www.patientsafetytoday.com , which includes, among other menu items, “Take Action.” ■

COOPERVISION NAMES 2018 BEST PRACTICES HONOREES

CooperVision announced 2018’s Best Practices honorees at Vision Expo East, held March 15 to March 18, at the Javits Center, in New York City.

“ . . . Over the last three years, this program has uncovered some of the nation’s most impressive eye care practices — some more prominent, but others who have truly been hidden gems,” says Michele Andrews, O.D., senior director of Professional and Academic Affairs, North America, CooperVision, in a company-issued press release. We continue to be humbled by the opportunity to get to know and partner with these eye doctors, and look forward to sharing their stories.” (See: http://bit.ly/2FXOMWG .)

The honorees:

• Doctor My Eyes – Scottsdale, Ariz.
• Family Eye Care of Coal City – Coal City, Ill.
• Highlands Ranch Optical – Highlands Ranch, Colo.
• The Koetting Associates – St. Louis, Mo.
• Livermore Optometry Group – Livermore, Calif.
• Norwalk Eye Care – Norwalk, Conn.
• Personal Eyecare – Sylvania, Ohio
• Pinnacle Eye Associates, P.A. – McKinney, Texas
• Vision Optique – Houston, Texas
• Vision Professionals – Columbus, Ohio

To learn more about the 2018 honorees, visit www.eyecarebestpractices.com . ■

ECPS MOST INFLUENTIAL IN EYEWEAR PURCHASES - SURVEY

A total of 61% of all generations say they are the most influenced by eye care professionals when making an eyewear purchase decision, reports a Transitions Optical and the Center for Generational Kinetics (http://genhq.com ) survey.

The survey, comprised of 1,263 consumers, also shows that 70% and 51% of U.S. consumers, regardless of generation, cite style and “clear and upfront cost” as the No. 1 and No. 2 reason for eyewear purchases.

These, among other survey results were presented by Jason Dorsey, millennials and Gen Z speaker and researcher, at the 2018 Transitions Academy, a two-day, invitation-only event that took place at the Swan Resort in Orlando, Fla. in mid-February.

Other highlights from Transitions Academy:

• Pacific Eye Care named Winner of the 2017 Eyecare Practice of the Year. Jamie Nelson, practice manager of the Port Orchard, Wash. practice accepted the award for the practice, which includes Drs. Earl Buchanan and Joseph Trull. Finalists, Millennium Eye Center and Pullen Eyecare, were also recognized for promoting healthy sight and supporting the Transitions brand, reveals the press release.
• Jennifer Lyerly, O.D., Given Transitions Brand Ambassador Award. Dr. Lyerly, of Triangle Visions Optometry, in Raleigh, N.C., was among three finalists for the award. ■