Randolph L. Johnston, MD
I am honored to be nominated for the position of president-elect of the Academy for the year 2009.
Ophthalmology is facing the perfect storm. The environment in which we practice is unsettled as never before.
In the political arena, we face constant pressure on reimbursement, with a 5 percent cut in Medicare fees in 2002, and higher cuts threatened yearly. Even when Congress intervenes at the last minute with a freeze or a minimal update, our fees decrease as measured against inflation. Ophthalmologists are increasingly retiring early or refusing to see Medicare patients. Medical liability reform continues to be a pipe dream in most states.
On the state level, we face an increasing threat to quality patient care because of non-physicians who broaden their scope of practice by legislative and regulatory means rather than education.
These pressures are compounded by the coming explosion in geriatric disease as the baby boomers enter their “golden years.”
All is not lost for the practice of ophthalmology. The Academy continues to make inroads in educating the public to the difference between physician and non-physician. We know that patients, once educated, strongly prefer to have their surgery performed by a physician.
The Academy is working to help us become more efficient to care for the increase in patients. There are a number of models of efficient practice which have been or are being developed. The Academy does not claim to know which is best for your practice, but we can help you evaluate the options.
Lastly, our greatest strength is our education. The best patient care comes from the best educated practitioners. Education is what separates us from the non-physician. Continuing medical education, which the Academy does better than anyone else, is what guarantees quality care for our patients. The Academy is developing newer and better methods of continuing education such as the ONE Network.
You, the member, can help the Academy achieve these goals. In my time with the Academy (state affairs, the Council, OPHTHPAC Committee, and the Board of Trustees) I have seen the major benefits of the Academy’s advocacy tools. OPHTHPAC played a significant role in the recent Medicare fee fix, helping our Eye M.D.s and our excellent lobbyists gain the ear of members of Congress. The Surgical Scope Fund has so far helped 26 states forestall optometric surgery and laser privileges. The Academy’s excellent staff make all of this possible. We are handicapped, however. The idea that we use only 10 percent of our brains is an urban myth. That we use only 14 percent of our members is, unfortunately, true. Only 14 percent of our members contribute to OPHTHPAC and the Surgical Scope Fund. Imagine what we could do by using, say, 50 percent of our members.
If elected, I will work hard to maintain our excellence in education and improve our clout in advocacy. I am interested in everyone’s ideas for the Academy. I can be reached at: rjohnston@cheyenneeyeclinic.com.
