Pearls for Improving Patient Care and Confidence in You as the Physician

By Anne Dwyer, COMT

Ophthalmic technical personnel are a valuable asset to an ophthalmology practice. Technicians facilitate patient care by performing a variety of ophthalmic tests, including testing visual acuity, best-corrected acuity, extraocular muscle function, tonometry, and pupil assessment. Technicians also perform specialized diagnostic testing, including fluorescein angiography, fundus photography, corneal topography, optical coherence tomography, and specular microscopy. While technicians do not make diagnoses, they are invaluable in their ability to provide the tools necessary for ophthalmologists to accurately diagnose and treat patients.

Ophthalmologists should encourage their technicians to perform at a high level. This includes encouraging certification, which demonstrates a level of knowledge and competency. As an ophthalmologist, consider providing continuing education to your technicians during clinic and/or surgery. This involves showing them slit lamp findings and explaining disease processes. Many technicians know basic ocular anatomy, but ocular physiology can be complex. Explain to them why a CRVO can lead to neovascular glaucoma, how pseudoexfoliation contributes to phacodonesis, the mechanism behind an afferent pupillary defect, etc. Expanding their knowledge will give them confidence in their abilities and help them guide the exam work-up.

Allowing technicians to observe surgery is also valuable. Consider training your technicians to scrub in surgery. If they conduct the initial exam work-up in the office, scrub in surgery, and help examine the patients postoperatively, they will quickly develop a valuable skill set. They can help educate patients about what to expect for their surgery, how to prepare for it, and any precautions postoperatively.

Ophthalmic technicians always work under the supervision of an ophthalmologist. You as a physician can set the tone for the clinic, providing an atmosphere of teamwork and continuing education for the staff. Technicians who want to excel will quickly grasp the knowledge you share and will make your clinic run more effectively. By educating your technicians periodically, this improves patient care and reassures a high level of confidence in you and your practice.