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Why should optometry become involved in the hospital setting?
Journal of the American Optometric Association
|August 1, 1988
Summary
Independent healthcare providers, including optometrists, have a right to hospital clinical privileges. Recent guideline changes support that non-physicians should not be denied these privileges based on their professional title alone.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare policy
- Optometry
- Hospital administration
Background:
- Hospitals are evolving beyond physician-only domains.
- Independent healthcare providers are increasingly seeking clinical privileges.
- Optometrists' scope of practice has expanded, raising awareness of their hospital practice rights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the justification for independent healthcare providers, specifically optometrists, applying for clinical privileges in hospitals.
- To analyze the impact of recent guideline changes on the rights of non-physician providers in hospital settings.
Main Methods:
- Review of current healthcare policy and guidelines.
- Analysis of the Joint Commission for Accreditation in Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) standards.
- Examination of the expanding scope of practice for optometrists.
Main Results:
- Independent healthcare providers are increasingly recognized as legitimate applicants for clinical privileges.
- Changes in JCAHO guidelines support the inclusion of non-physician providers.
- Optometrists are increasingly aware of and asserting their rights to practice within hospitals.
Conclusions:
- Hospitals should not deny clinical privileges to qualified independent healthcare providers solely based on their non-MD status.
- Optometrists possess rights to practice in hospital environments, supported by evolving healthcare standards.
- Policy changes reinforce equitable access to clinical privileges for diverse healthcare professionals.