News from the AOA's Blog

The profession of optometry is privileged to serve the eye care needs of the public and is entrusted by society to do so in a professional and ethical manner. The placement of the patient’s interests above self-interest is referred to as fiduciary duty and is the primary ethical responsibility of all health care professionals. Specifically, optometrists have the duty to look after the best interests of their patients with regard to the patient’s eye, vision and general health. Additionally, the ethical optometrist strives to protect and enhance the health and welfare of the public in general.  Read the rest of this entry ?

A – Patient Autonomy (“self-determination”)

The optometrist has the duty to involve the patient in care and treatment decisions in a meaningful way, with due consideration of the patient’s needs, desires, abilities and understanding, while safeguarding the patient’s privacy.

1. Patient Participation
2. Confidentiality
3. Truthfulness
4. Informed Consent
5. Patient Records Read the rest of this entry ?

Patient selection, advertising, and relationships with industry are among the subjects covered in a new set of Standards of Professional Conduct for optometrists, approved in June by the AOA House of Delegates at Optometry’s Meeting®.

The optometric professional conduct standards document is designed to provide practitioners useful guidance on the application of the AOA Code of Ethics in day-to-day practice, according to AOA Ethics & Values Committee (EVC) Chair James Paramore, O.D. Read the rest of this entry ?

The AOA evolved its ongoing online social engagement strategy with the Oct. 10 unveiling of an all-new version of AOAConnect. The new version of AOAConnect went online with significant enhancements that allow members to network, engage and easily communicate with each other. Read the rest of this entry ?

Here’s a taste of what some in the optometric world are talking about on Twitter and Facebook.

@HROsocial tweeted: Have you heard about #EyeLearn from @AOAConnect? It’s a great online learning resource! #CE #continuingeducation – http://ow.ly/6vGmJ Read the rest of this entry ?

AOA Board of Trustees Barb Horn, O.D., at left, and Hilary Hawthorne, O.D., at right, welcome the AOA’s new Third Party Center (TPC) head, Lendy Pridgen. As TPC director, Pridgen will be leading the charge in extending the AOA’s advocacy mission to key health plan and corporate decision-makers around the country, as well as educating doctors and students about the challenges and opportunities in the business of health care environment. Read the rest of this entry ?