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Contact: Leann Fox Director of Federal Advocacy, 800-962-9008 ext. 225 or 202-256-1417 cell or [email protected]
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) today applauded the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for rescinding a directive that allowed laser eye surgery to be performed at VA facilities by providers other than ophthalmologists.
A new directive (2004-070), issued on Dec. 17 by VHA Undersecretary Jonathan Perlin, M.D., limits the performance of laser surgery in the VA system to qualified ophthalmologists.
"The AOA, along with our coalition partners, several of the nation's Veterans Service Organizations, and numerous Members of Congress were concerned that the previous VA directive allowing non-surgeons to perform eye surgery jeopardized the quality and safety of care received by our country's 25 million veterans," said Philip Shettle, D.O., president-elect of the AOA and an ophthalmologist.
For the past year the AOA has worked with other physician organizations to resolve this issue and enhance the quality and safety of eye care in the VA Health system. The AOA strongly opposes the expansion of scope of practice for any non-physician providers that would allow them to perform surgery. Furthermore, the AOA believes that allowing non-physicians to perform a complicated and delicate procedure such as eye surgery is a departure from accepted national standards of care. Surgery only should be performed by physicians who complete the academic and post-graduate training required and expected by our nation's veterans and the American public.
Only one state, Oklahoma, allows optometrists to perform laser eye surgery. The Oklahoma law created national concern when, in April 2003, an Oklahoma-licensed optometrist working in a Kansas VA facility was allowed to perform laser eye surgery on veterans. "The decision to rescind the directive is sound public policy and is supportive of the AOA's view that only surgeons should perform surgery," said Shettle. "The AOA looks forward to working with the new Secretary to improve the safety of care provided in the VA health system."
The American Osteopathic Association represents over 54,000 osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) practicing in 23 specialties and subspecialties, promotes public health, encourages scientific research, serves as the primary certifying body for D.O.s and is the accrediting agency for all osteopathic medical schools and health care facilities. For more information about osteopathic medicine, access http://www.osteopathic.org.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) today applauded the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for rescinding a directive that allowed laser eye surgery to be performed at VA facilities by providers other than ophthalmologists.
A new directive (2004-070), issued on Dec. 17 by VHA Undersecretary Jonathan Perlin, M.D., limits the performance of laser surgery in the VA system to qualified ophthalmologists.
"The AOA, along with our coalition partners, several of the nation's Veterans Service Organizations, and numerous Members of Congress were concerned that the previous VA directive allowing non-surgeons to perform eye surgery jeopardized the quality and safety of care received by our country's 25 million veterans," said Philip Shettle, D.O., president-elect of the AOA and an ophthalmologist.
For the past year the AOA has worked with other physician organizations to resolve this issue and enhance the quality and safety of eye care in the VA Health system. The AOA strongly opposes the expansion of scope of practice for any non-physician providers that would allow them to perform surgery. Furthermore, the AOA believes that allowing non-physicians to perform a complicated and delicate procedure such as eye surgery is a departure from accepted national standards of care. Surgery only should be performed by physicians who complete the academic and post-graduate training required and expected by our nation's veterans and the American public.
Only one state, Oklahoma, allows optometrists to perform laser eye surgery. The Oklahoma law created national concern when, in April 2003, an Oklahoma-licensed optometrist working in a Kansas VA facility was allowed to perform laser eye surgery on veterans. "The decision to rescind the directive is sound public policy and is supportive of the AOA's view that only surgeons should perform surgery," said Shettle. "The AOA looks forward to working with the new Secretary to improve the safety of care provided in the VA health system."
The American Osteopathic Association represents over 54,000 osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) practicing in 23 specialties and subspecialties, promotes public health, encourages scientific research, serves as the primary certifying body for D.O.s and is the accrediting agency for all osteopathic medical schools and health care facilities. For more information about osteopathic medicine, access http://www.osteopathic.org.
