That this Canadian Medical Association statement on eye care be approved.
1. The medical profession in general and ophthalmologists in particular have a responsibility to provide leadership in developing plans for effective, efficient and realistic eye care in Canadians.
2. The principle that the provision of eye care includes both medical and non-medical personnel is recognized and accepted. Any such personnel should be organized and administered to ensure adherence to all of the following specific principles:
a) provision of quality eye care includes both medical (including surgical) and non-medical acts,
b) only duly qualified and legally licensed physicians must be allowed to provide the medical aspects of eye care,
c) duly qualified and legally licensed physicians must also be free to provide complete eye care,
d) the duly qualified and legally licensed physician must be free to delegate appropriate eye care acts at his discretion to persons acting under his control and his responsibility,
e) non-medical personnel should be free to perform independently only non-medical eye care acts: and they should perform independently only those acts that they are legally authorized to perform independently, and
f) guidelines for referral between non- medical and medical personnel are essential.
3. Within the broad limits set by the above, many patterns are possible. However, in order to be effective, efficient and realistic, any eye care plan or plans that are developed should meet the following criteria:
a) every citizen should have reasonable access to the eye care system through duly qualified and legally licensed medical or non-medical personnel of his choice in his own population-area,
b) every citizen should have reasonable access to treatment of ocular disease by duly qualified and legally licensed medical personnel either by direct personal appointment, or by referral from other primary eye care personnel,
c) treatment for especially complicated cases should be available to every citizen upon referral from medical personnel to specialized medical personnel in one or more adequately equipped centres in each province or region,
d) programs designed for the promotion of eye health should be provided in every population-area. These should include prevention and early detection of eye disease and injury, and may be provided through programs and services that serve general needs or special needs such as:
i) pre-school needs
ii) school needs
iii) industrial and occupational and recreational needs
iv) specific survey (e.g., glaucoma) needs
v) special purpose (e.g., driving and sports) needs
vi) geriatric needs
vii) ocular rehabilitation needs
e) training institutions must be equipped and staffed to prepare graduates appropriately for their assigned roles in eye care term,
f) optical appliances should be available in every population area, and other ocular prostheses should be within reasonable access- all at reasonable cost,
g) methods of financing should provide for the maximum quality eye care for every one at the lowest possible cost to the government and to the private citizen,
h) eye research programs should be appropriately staffed and funded, and
i) the organizational structure of eye care services should establish and maintain lines of control and responsibility that are consistent with the principles and criteria enunciated above.
That this Canadian Medical Association statement on eye care be approved.
1. The medical profession in general and ophthalmologists in particular have a responsibility to provide leadership in developing plans for effective, efficient and realistic eye care in Canadians.
2. The principle that the provision of eye care includes both medical and non-medical personnel is recognized and accepted. Any such personnel should be organized and administered to ensure adherence to all of the following specific principles:
a) provision of quality eye care includes both medical (including surgical) and non-medical acts,
b) only duly qualified and legally licensed physicians must be allowed to provide the medical aspects of eye care,
c) duly qualified and legally licensed physicians must also be free to provide complete eye care,
d) the duly qualified and legally licensed physician must be free to delegate appropriate eye care acts at his discretion to persons acting under his control and his responsibility,
e) non-medical personnel should be free to perform independently only non-medical eye care acts: and they should perform independently only those acts that they are legally authorized to perform independently, and
f) guidelines for referral between non- medical and medical personnel are essential.
3. Within the broad limits set by the above, many patterns are possible. However, in order to be effective, efficient and realistic, any eye care plan or plans that are developed should meet the following criteria:
a) every citizen should have reasonable access to the eye care system through duly qualified and legally licensed medical or non-medical personnel of his choice in his own population-area,
b) every citizen should have reasonable access to treatment of ocular disease by duly qualified and legally licensed medical personnel either by direct personal appointment, or by referral from other primary eye care personnel,
c) treatment for especially complicated cases should be available to every citizen upon referral from medical personnel to specialized medical personnel in one or more adequately equipped centres in each province or region,
d) programs designed for the promotion of eye health should be provided in every population-area. These should include prevention and early detection of eye disease and injury, and may be provided through programs and services that serve general needs or special needs such as:
i) pre-school needs
ii) school needs
iii) industrial and occupational and recreational needs
iv) specific survey (e.g., glaucoma) needs
v) special purpose (e.g., driving and sports) needs
vi) geriatric needs
vii) ocular rehabilitation needs
e) training institutions must be equipped and staffed to prepare graduates appropriately for their assigned roles in eye care term,
f) optical appliances should be available in every population area, and other ocular prostheses should be within reasonable access- all at reasonable cost,
g) methods of financing should provide for the maximum quality eye care for every one at the lowest possible cost to the government and to the private citizen,
h) eye research programs should be appropriately staffed and funded, and
i) the organizational structure of eye care services should establish and maintain lines of control and responsibility that are consistent with the principles and criteria enunciated above.
That, recognizing the importance of comprehensive nutrition counselling services, the Canadian Medical Association urge that such services be made widely available within the framework of the health care system.
That, recognizing the importance of comprehensive nutrition counselling services, the Canadian Medical Association urge that such services be made widely available within the framework of the health care system.
That the Canadian Medical Association draw the attention of its members to the need for first aid knowledge by the general public and that members be encouraged to become more active in the promotion and teaching of first aid.
That the Canadian Medical Association draw the attention of its members to the need for first aid knowledge by the general public and that members be encouraged to become more active in the promotion and teaching of first aid.
The Canadian Medical Association, recognizing the vital role of ambulance services in providing mobile life support for the acutely ill and injured, recommends that
i) ambulance services be considered, where practicable, a direct extension of a hospital emergency department and integrated with the emergency services,
ii) ambulance services incorporate standards of personnel education, vehicular design and life support equipment commensurate with those of the overall emergency care system.
The Canadian Medical Association, recognizing the vital role of ambulance services in providing mobile life support for the acutely ill and injured, recommends that
i) ambulance services be considered, where practicable, a direct extension of a hospital emergency department and integrated with the emergency services,
ii) ambulance services incorporate standards of personnel education, vehicular design and life support equipment commensurate with those of the overall emergency care system.
The Canadian Medical Association, recognizing that noise pollution is a significant and increasing health hazard in the work and home environments of most Canadians, calls on all levels of government to delineate, legislate, monitor and enforce laws on the question of noise.
The Canadian Medical Association, recognizing that noise pollution is a significant and increasing health hazard in the work and home environments of most Canadians, calls on all levels of government to delineate, legislate, monitor and enforce laws on the question of noise.
That physicians make themselves more aware of the health hazards associated with noise and wherever possible take the necessary steps to reduce such hazards, particularly in their own working environments.
That physicians make themselves more aware of the health hazards associated with noise and wherever possible take the necessary steps to reduce such hazards, particularly in their own working environments.
That the Canadian Medical Association continue to monitor developments in regionalization/decentralization in Canada and abroad, particularly as they relate to the implications for the medical profession.
That the Canadian Medical Association continue to monitor developments in regionalization/decentralization in Canada and abroad, particularly as they relate to the implications for the medical profession.
That the admission policies of Canadian medical schools allow for application from out-of-province students who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
That the admission policies of Canadian medical schools allow for application from out-of-province students who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
That the education of physicians in health care system management must be fostered and research in the management of health care systems must be increased.
That the education of physicians in health care system management must be fostered and research in the management of health care systems must be increased.
That funding for medical and health care research, education, administration and management of the health care system be adequate and separate from those monies intended for clinical services.
That funding for medical and health care research, education, administration and management of the health care system be adequate and separate from those monies intended for clinical services.
That the Canadian public, physicians and governments must face the reality that there are and will be limitations on the availability of publicly funded medical care based on the availability of the public purse to finance medical care.
That the Canadian public, physicians and governments must face the reality that there are and will be limitations on the availability of publicly funded medical care based on the availability of the public purse to finance medical care.
The Canadian Medical Association supports and promotes the concept of Comprehensive School Health as defined by the Canadian Association for School Health.(see http://www.cash-aces.ca/index.asp?Page=Consensus )
The Canadian Medical Association supports and promotes the concept of Comprehensive School Health as defined by the Canadian Association for School Health.(see http://www.cash-aces.ca/index.asp?Page=Consensus )
That the Canadian Medical Association develop a complete practice management strategy that will address the physician's needs in areas of:
1. Professional Development (including PMI, Leadership Conference);
2. Office Automation (training physicians to deal with the rapidly changing technologies, including hardware requirements/options, new software developments, the paperless office, online applications, etc.).
3. Health Reform (assisting physicians in dealing with practice issues that arise out of the changes being implemented by provincial/territorial governments);
4. Personal Financial Services;
5. Practice Counselling for New Physicians (establishing a new practice, including type of practice (solo, group), the pros and cons of legal and tax implications, office design, etc.);
6. Audit process for Established Physicians (to allow established physicians to effectively evaluate their current practice and identify opportunities for greater efficiencies).
That the Canadian Medical Association develop a complete practice management strategy that will address the physician's needs in areas of:
1. Professional Development (including PMI, Leadership Conference);
2. Office Automation (training physicians to deal with the rapidly changing technologies, including hardware requirements/options, new software developments, the paperless office, online applications, etc.).
3. Health Reform (assisting physicians in dealing with practice issues that arise out of the changes being implemented by provincial/territorial governments);
4. Personal Financial Services;
5. Practice Counselling for New Physicians (establishing a new practice, including type of practice (solo, group), the pros and cons of legal and tax implications, office design, etc.);
6. Audit process for Established Physicians (to allow established physicians to effectively evaluate their current practice and identify opportunities for greater efficiencies).
