Over the past several decades, the scope-of-practice for optometrists has expanded greatly and continues to shift toward broader patient care, giving optometrists prescribing rights to a full gamut of oral and topical pharmaceutical agents. This expansion can benefit optometric practices, patients, and the healthcare system alike. In fact, a 2019 study looking at optometric scope expansion showed that Americans would save over $4 billion in healthcare costs annually, if states continued to modernize their optometric scope laws to reflect optometry's advanced education, training and certification.1
Unfortunately, many people — both patients and other health care professionals — remain confused regarding optometrists’ scope-of-practice, including their prescribing ability. And if they are unaware of an optometrist’s prescribing service, they are less likely to benefit from it.
In this article, I discuss how to educate patients on an optometrist’s prescribing ability, how staff can help with this endeavor, and how to spread this information beyond the exam room.
Patient education
When patients present with eye conditions related to their chronic disease/health condition (as determined by health history intake forms completed before being seen), we use that as opportunities to educate them on our prescribing ability and how it can help them.
A patient script for such a discussion would go as follows: “The role of the optometrist has evolved significantly over the last few decades, and prescribing medication is normal for many optometrists, including myself. You could leave the office with a prescription for your condition, if we decided it was the right course of action.”
To help educate patients, we not only talk with them about prescriptions but also use pamphlets and handouts; I also point them towards my YouTube channel, “Vision Refocused,” where my optometrist wife and I post educational videos.
Since time with patients is often short in the practice, it is important to have as many educational resources to take home as possible, and available in multiple languages based on patient demographics.
How staff can help
Educating office staff on a practice’s ability to prescribe medication also allows them to pass this information on to patients. This way, staff can inquire during pretesting about various ocular symptoms that could benefit from a medication an optometrist can prescribe. An example of this could be a patient with symptoms of dry eye; staff can then recommend they ask the OD about a prescription of cyclosporine or a topical steroid.
When patients have questions about whether the optometrist can manage a particular eye condition, it is important for office staff to be well-equipped to educate these patients on the optometrist’s behalf. To ensure this, take time at regular staff meetings to review things like the indication of medicines you commonly prescribe, frequency of use, duration of use, and any follow-up protocols for the medicine.
Educate beyond the exam room
Patient education on prescribing ability shouldn’t begin or end in the exam room. In addition to educating patients with in-office conversations or brochures, leveraging a practice’s various digital avenues can also be a highly effective approach. These can include email newsletters, social media posts, blogs, websites, YouTube channels, or even podcasts.
Optometrists can also network with other local health care professionals and explain optometry’s role within the greater health care system. In such discussions, I typically introduce myself and the services offered by my practice (including writing prescriptions for oral and topical ocular medications), as well as how we can best collaborate, refer, and co-manage patients.
When these other health care professionals are educated on optometrists' medication-prescribing abilities, they can then educate their patients and give them an idea on what ocular treatment options exist and what they can expect from their visit with their optometrist. A specific example of this is when a Sjogren's disease patient with severe dry eye is referred to an optometrist by their primary doctor or rheumatologist.
One way to start this networking would be to send letters back to a patient’s primary care providers or specialists (ex, endocrinologist or rheumuatologist) following a patient’s exam, describe the care you gave the patient and using that to discuss the care options you can provide. A personal phone call to the professional in question can also be used in the event of a more urgent health matter.
Some offices will also host open house events to invite patients, other health care professionals or even legislators to come and learn more about what optometrists do.
Spreading the word
Unfortunately, many people remain unaware of the scope of what optometrists do and their integral role in the health care system. This creates unnecessary barriers-to-care for patients while also increasing health care costs.
When optometrists educate their patients and the public about their ability to prescribe medication, everyone wins - patients, optometrists, and the health care system overall. OM
References
1. Optometry’s Essential and Expanding Role in Health Care: Assured Quality and Greater Access for Healthier Communities. Avalon Health Economics. bit.ly/avalonstudy2019. Published June 20, 2019. Accessed Aug. 23, 2023.
