Assurance of quality vision care in alternative health care delivery systems

The continuing evolution of competitive arrangements in the marketing and delivery of health care services can have an adverse effect upon the quality of care. Traditional modes of health care delivery are being replaced by the more competitive alternative delivery and managed care systems. Practitioners, consumers, administrators and legislators are finding it increasingly difficult to balance the various issues that surround the desire for quality and the necessity of cost containment. Optometry must be able to establish its own standards and methods of evaluation for the assurance of quality eye care within the alternative delivery and managed care systems.