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Charity Care in Ophthalmology, 2024
David J Browning1, Sally S Ong1, John G Clarkson2
1From the Department of Ophthalmology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine (D.J.B., S.S.O., H.H.), Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
American Journal of Ophthalmology
|February 10, 2024
Summary
Charity eye care has shifted to training programs as private practitioners decrease involvement. Sustainable solutions require broader participation and hospital support for ophthalmology services.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Healthcare Policy
- Surgical Training
Background:
- Charity eye care provision has evolved over 50 years.
- Broader insurance coverage has reduced the population needing charity care, now around 7.3% in 2023.
- The landscape of charity eye care faces challenges in sustainability and clinician support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review changes in charity eye care provision over the past 50 years.
- To hypothesize the effects of these changes on surgical training and patient outcomes.
- To analyze the current state of charity eye care in ophthalmology.
Main Methods:
- Perspective analysis.
- Case report and comparison of experiences in community versus training program settings.
- Selected literature review.
Main Results:
- Charity care is increasingly provided by ophthalmology trainees under faculty supervision.
- A shrinking number of private practitioners provide charity care in areas without training programs.
- Lack of organized financial support hinders data collection for charity eye care assessment.
Conclusions:
- Charity eye care in 2024 is characterized by unsustainable, localized efforts with diminishing clinician support.
- Care is transferring to training programs, with nonclinicians often performing financial vetting.
- Recommendations include increased private practitioner involvement, hospital support for charity care, and clinician-defined surgical criteria.
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