Hospitals and optometry: an evolving relationship.

Area of Science:

• Optometry
• Hospital Administration
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• Most hospital-based optometrists work in government or HMO settings offering comprehensive care.
• Private U.S. hospitals primarily offer episodic acute care and restrict privileges to physicians.
• Optometrists often treat patients needing hospital-provided laboratory or imaging studies on an outpatient basis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how optometrists can affiliate with private hospitals.
• To identify pathways for optometrists to access hospital-based diagnostic services for patient care.
• To review hospital organization and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) standards relevant to optometrist affiliation.

Main Methods:

• Review of hospital organizational structures.
• Analysis of JCAHO standards.
• Examination of optometrists' needs for outpatient diagnostic services.

Main Results:

• Optometrists do not require admitting, staff, or clinical privileges to order outpatient diagnostic tests.
• A less formal hospital affiliation may be more beneficial initially for optometrists than full staff membership.
• This affiliation can enhance patient care and referral quality.

Conclusions:

• Optometrists can leverage private hospital resources for outpatient diagnostic testing without needing full privileges.
• Developing affiliations with private hospitals can improve the scope of care optometrists provide.
• Understanding hospital organization and accreditation standards is key for successful optometrist affiliation.