Florida Society of Ophthalmology’s Proposals Receive Approval Regarding Inclusion and Scope of Practice Expansion
 
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- At the 2012 Florida Medical Association’s (FMA) Annual Meeting this past weekend, the FMA House of Delegates (HOD) reaffirmed its position to oppose all scope of practice expansion by non-physician providers. The Florida Society of Ophthalmology (FSO), in its capacity as a recognized subspecialty member of the FMA, submitted two resolutions to the HOD for consideration regarding scope of practice at the meeting, held July 27-29 in Boca Raton.

Scope of practice refers to those laws and regulations that delineate what a professional can or cannot do within the guidelines of the license held by the professional. In recent years, many allied health professionals, including nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, pharmacists and optometrists, have been seeking legislation to expand their scope of practice beyond what their license allows.

The FSO resolutions restated the FMA’s previous policy regarding opposition to scope of practice expansion, as well as to require input and consideration from affected organizations such as specialty medical societies about legislation that could potentially impact them. In response to the resolutions, the FMA acted to reaffirm its “strong support and assistance to the FSO in opposing legislation which allows use of oral drugs by optometrists” and to “oppose efforts by….less trained groups or individuals that attempt to legislate practice activities beyond the scope of their training.”  The FSO is looking forward to participating on the FMA’s Task Force on Scope of Practice.

“Our first and foremost priority has always been to our patients and to ensure their safety and well-being,” said Charles Slonim, MD, president of the FSO. “The FMA—as well as the FSO—has always been steadfastly committed to preventing unqualified allied health professionals who have not been to medical school or completed a residency training program from expanding their scope of practice beyond what their training allows. Ensuring health professionals practice only within the confines of their designated license will enable patients to receive appropriate and safe treatment by the appropriate health care professional.” 

The second resolution adopted by the FMA relates to the inclusion of affected stakeholder organizations like the FSO and resolves that:
…prior to taking action that is inconsistent with or contrary to established HOD policy, the FMA Board of Governors be required to uphold and respect the governance of the HOD by first providing full, honest and open disclosure of the risks and benefits of such action as they relate to the FMA and the affected Stakeholder Organizations and patients…
 
“Any legislation that the FMA is introducing or endorsing on behalf of its members that deviates from its stated policy should be discussed beforehand with any affected members,” said Dr. Slonim. “We are fortunate to have such a strong and united house of medicine in Florida, and we look forward to working closely with our colleagues at the FMA to protect the safety of Florida patients and assure those patients that when they visit a health care provider, that provider will only provide the care that they are qualified and trained to perform.”

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The mission of the Florida Society of Ophthalmology is to promote and to protect the medical specialty of ophthalmology through active participation in legislative advocacy and through providing continuing medical education and the dissemination of responsible information to its members, physicians and to the citizens of Florida to ensure the delivery of the highest standard of eye care throughout the state of Florida. For more information go to www.mdeye.org.