health professions regulatory advisory council interprofessional collaboration in eye care ...

285 Pages·2009·0.84 MB·English

HEALTH PROFESSIONS REGULATORY ADVISORY COUNCIL

INTERPROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION IN EYE CARE

JURISDICTIONAL REVIEW FOR OPTOMETRY

1: ADVERTISING
2: RECORDS
Eye care - Jurisdictional Reviews
Optometry (1)

Note to Reader

The materials in these jurisdictional reviews were derived from online versions of statutes and regulations and are neither the official
versions of the legislation nor an official statement of the law in the various jurisdictions.

Wherever possible, the text (which may contain spelling and grammatical errors), was reproduced in order to maintain fidelity to the
online versions.

Material retrieved from websites is accurate as of the date it was accessed and cannot be guaranteed accurate when accessed at a
later date. The material in this review, unless otherwise specified, was generally accessed between August and October, 2009.
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INDEX

CANADA...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................5

Alberta.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................5
British Columbia...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................15
Manitoba...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................30
New Brunswick.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................33
Newfoundland and Labrador............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................36
Northwest Territories........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................39
Nova Scotia.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................41
Nunavut.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................45
Prince Edward Island........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................45
Québec..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................47
Saskatchewan....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................63
Yukon................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................67

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (Selected states).......................................................................................................................................................................................................67

Alabama............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................67
California..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................71
Florida...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................87
Georgia............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................105
Illinois.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................108
Indiana.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................111
Massachusetts.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................122
Michigan.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................127
Minnesota........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................130
Missouri..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................136
New Hampshire..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................141
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New Jersey......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................143
New York........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................152
North Carolina................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................158
Ohio.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................162
Oklahoma........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................169
Oregon.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................176
Pennsylvania...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................179
Puerto Rico......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................182
Tennessee........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................187
Texas...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................201
Vermont..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................208
Washington.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................210

NEW ZEALAND............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................217

AUSTRALIA..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................221

Australian Capital Territory............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................221
New South Wales............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................226
Northern Territory...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................229
Queensland......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................231
South Australia................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................240
Tasmania.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................241
Victoria...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................246
Western Australia............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................254

UNITED KINGDOM.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................256

EUROPEAN UNION.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................273

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Legislation, Regulation and
Jurisdiction Regulatory Framework Records Advertising
Board References

CANADA
A self-regulating profession given authority The Alberta College of Optometrists The Health Professions Act provides: Health Professions Act
by the Health Professions Act, and Schedule Standards of Practice provide:
17 of the Health Professions Act. The Alberta Part 5: Business Arrangements http://www.qp.alberta.ca/574.cfm?
College of Optometrists is the regulatory and 1.2 Records page=h07.cfm&leg_type=Acts&is
licensing body for the profession. 1.2.1 An optometrist must make and maintain Advertising102 A regulated member shall not bncln=9780779738083
a record of his/her care for each patient that engage in advertising that is untruthful,
Section 104 of the Health Professions Act contains the results of measurements and inaccurate or otherwise capable of misleading Alberta Optometry Regulations:
provides for professional Corporations. observations determined by Patient or misinforming the public. http://www.qp.alberta.ca/574.cfm?
Examination and Diagnosis (Section 3 and 4). Name page=2003_083.cfm&leg_type=R
Part 8 of the Health Professions Act provides 1.2.2 Records are to be organized and 105(1) The name of a professional corporation egs&isbncln=0779741498
for Regulations, Bylaws, Codes of Ethics and maintained in ways that allow for retrieval in must meet the requirements of the bylaws.
Standards of Practice of the College. a timely manner. (2) A professional corporation may provide Alberta College of Optometrists
1.2.3 Records shall be legible and professional services only under a name that ByLaws:
Alberta ALBERTA REGULATION 83/2003 under understandable. meets the requirements of the bylaws. http://www.collegeofoptometrists.
the Health Professions Act provides for the 1.2.4 Records must be maintained and/or 1999 cH-5.5 s105 ab.ca/pdf/2006bylaws.pdf
Optometrists Profession Regulation transferred as set out in Privacy Legislation. Use of name
The Alberta College of Optometrists 1.2.5 Except in circumstances specified by 106(1) No person shall provide the Alberta College of Optometrists
determines the Code of Ethics and the law, the information contained in a health professional services of a regulated member ... Standards of Practice:
Standards of Practice, which are then record shall be maintained confidentially. (d) of the Alberta College of Optometrists, http://www.collegeofoptometrists.
published as a general description of the 1.2.6 Optometrists are to provide patients with within Alberta under any name containing the ab.ca/pdf/sp.pdf
fundamental professional activities undertaken reasonable access to the information words “corporation”, “incorporated”,
by an optometrist in the provision of maintained about them in the record. “company”, “limited” or “Professional Alberta Advisory PC-3
optometric services. 1.2.7 Records are to be held for as long as Corporation” or the abbreviation “Inc.”, “Ltd.” http://www.collegeofoptometrists.
The College also publishes Guidelines, which necessary to satisfy the clinical, ethical, or “P.C.” unless that person is incorporated or ab.ca/pdf/advisory/17.pdf
more specifically describe the expected financial, and legal obligations of the continued as a corporation under the Business
actions to be taken by a member when optometrist. Corporations Act and the corporation holds an Alberta Practice Advisory
complying with the fundamentals of the annual permit under this Act, or unless PFOMT - 3
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Legislation, Regulation and
Jurisdiction Regulatory Framework Records Advertising
Board References
Standards of Practice. Practice Advisories are Alberta Practice Advisory PFOMT - 3 otherwise expressly authorized by statute. PATIENT FILE OWNERSHIP,
also produced and circulated to all regulated PATIENT FILE OWNERSHIP, MAINTENANCE AND
members. MAINTENANCE AND TRANSFER Schedule 17 of the Health Professions Act TRANSFER
provides: http://www.collegeofoptometrists.
A. File Ownership Profession of Optometrists ab.ca/pdf/advisory/15.pdf
In a solo practice, the office records (patient Use of titles, etc.
files, accounting records, correspondence 2 A regulated member of the Alberta College Alberta Practice Advisory No.
from other practitioners, etc.) are considered of Optometrists may, as authorized by the P&M – 3
to be property of the optometrist who owns regulations, use any of the following titles, Promotion and Marketing
the practice. In a partnership, associateship or abbreviations and initials: http://www.collegeofoptometrists.
other such practice arrangement of more than (a) optometric contact lens practitioner; ab.ca/pdf/advisory/18.pdf
one practitioner, the Alberta College of (b) optometrist;
Optometrists (ACO) recommends that the (c) O.D.
issue of ownership of office records be agreed
to in writing in advance of starting practice by The Optometrists Profession Regulation
all regulated members in the group, provides:
partnership or associateship. Authorization to use titles, etc.
10(1) All regulated members may use
In the event that no written agreement is in (a) the titles
place, it is the opinion of the ACO that (i) optometrist, and
ownership of the office records is as follows: (ii) optometric contact lens
[a] Associateship - office records belong to practitioner,
the owner of the practice. (b) the initials O.D., and
[b] Regular Partnership - office records (c) the word registered, in
belong to the regulated member who produced combination with the titles referred to in clause
the chart/file. (a).
[c] Group practice - office records belong to (2) In connection with providing optometric
the group. health services all regulated members may use
[d] Group Professional Corporation - office the title doctor and Dr.
records belong to the group PC.
[e] Limited Liability Partnership - office The Bylaws of the College provide:
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records belong to the LLP. 1.3.4 Subject to sections 10 (2) and 10 (2.1) of
the Business Corporations Act, the name of the
B. File Maintenance Optometric or Optometry Professional
The ACO requires that all regulated members Corporation may only contain given names,
adhere to the Standards of Practice and initials and/or the surname or surnames of one
accompanying Guidelines to ensure that or more Regulated Members who are
sufficient information is recorded in the shareholders of the Professional Corporation.
patient files so that another practitioner is able The name may also include the descriptors
to assume the patient’s care at any point in the "optometry" or "optometric" between the words
course of diagnosis or treatment without loss "Professional" and "Corporation."
of patient care or continuity. Failure to keep
adequate records may be cause for levying a The Standards of Practice provide:
charge of unbecoming conduct. 1.2 Practice Promotion
From time-to-time it may be necessary to 1.2.1 The principles of planning, establishing,
alter an office record due to an error being developing and maintaining a marketing
made at the time of entry. When such an error program should be understood.
is recognized within a paper chart, the old 1.2.2 Promotional material should be
information should be crossed out with a effectively utilized in both internal and external
single neat line and the new correct marketing environments.
information must be written immediately 1.2.3 Stationery, business cards, brochures, web
above or below the crossed out information sites, and prescription pads shall be
with a corresponding new date of entry and professional in appearance and contain the
initials or signature of the optometrist information pertinent to the facility location.
amending the information.
With respect to computerized records, once Alberta Advisory PC-3 provides:
again, do not delete the old information, but Professional Corporations
rather enter the new information immediately
beside the old information and include the E. Descriptors
new date of entry as well as the initials or As of January 01, 2006, Professional
name of the optometrist amending the Corporations may include descriptors. The
information. Alberta College of Optometrists has decided
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Legislation, Regulation and
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The goal of file alteration is not to obliterate, that the terms “optometric” or “optometry” may
remove or destroy the old information, but be inserted between the words “professional”
instead to show both entries along with the and “corporation”. For example, “Tony Smith
reason(s) for the change. Professional Optometric Corporation” or “Tony
According the privacy legislation, patients Smith Professional Optometry Corporation”.
have the right to demand correction of This change would require a name change for
erroneous records where the issue is about a existing professional corporations or may be
factual matter that can be proven. That right used when registering all new professional
does not extend to professional opinions with corporations with the ACO.
which the patient may disagree. Should a
patient demand a change to a professional Alberta Advisory PM-3 provides:
opinion that you do not feel is warranted or PROMOTION AND MARKETING
correct, it is the opinion of the ACO that the Promotion and marketing of an optometric
optometrist obtain the patient’s request in practice is governed by the Alberta College of
writing. After receipt of this written request, a Optometrists Code of Ethics. This advisory is
written response letter, informing the patient intended to assist the regulated member in
that you will not change your professional the determination of appropriate behavior when
opinion should be sent. Include your reasons contemplating any promotion or
for not altering your professional opinion and marketing of his/her practice.
keep a copy of both letters in the patient’s file. Generally, promotion and marketing by an
Patient records must be kept for a minimum optometrist or on behalf of an optometrist:
of ten (10) years after the patient’s last [a] Must be clear, truthful, complete, and not
examination or two (2) years after the death of misleading.
a patient. [b] Must be dignified and in good taste.
[c] Must not misrepresent the effectiveness of
All optometric offices should respect and any procedure, instrument or ophthalmic
adhere to the privacy legislation applicable to device.
an individual patient with respect to [d] Must not claim superiority over any other
collection, use, transfer and disposal of optometrist.
personal information. [e] Must not be detrimental to the best interest
of the public.
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C. File Transfer [f] Must not damage the integrity of the
Although office records are the property of the profession of Optometry.
regulated member(s), the information Specifically, promotion and marketing by an
contained in these records is the property of optometrist or on behalf of an optometrist is
the individual patient or the individual governed as follows:
patient’s legal representative. It is the opinion [a] Advertising Medium
of the ACO that patients (or their legal Advertising and promotion is allowed via any
representatives) should have reasonable form of communication equally available to all
access to their personal records. Patients (or optometrists.
their legal representatives) who request access [b] Specialist Designation
to their office record may be charged a The ACO does not allow regulated members to
reasonable fee for the retrieval, preparation, refer to themselves as specialists.
reproduction and delivery of such information [c] Advanced Training Designation
as per the rules and processes of the The ACO believes that clear, dignified, and
appropriate privacy legislation. appropriate advertising by regulated members
Should a separate third party request a copy is in the public’s best interest. If a regulated
of the information contained in a patient member has taken the extra time and effort
record, please refer to the “Preparation of required to achieve a designation beyond a
Medical-Legal Reports” Advisory. Doctor of Optometry degree, the ACO believes
Whenever patient information is sent by that member should be able to refer and
mail, fax or by electronic means, the regulated promote himself/herself as having “advanced
member should take great care to ensure the training in…..”. The following post-graduate
following steps are taken: programs are deemed appropriate in order for
[1] Proper selection of the requested members to use the “advanced training in”
information be made. designation:
[2] Verify accuracy of the number dialed or a] Accreditation Council on Optometric
address if written. Education (ACOE) Accredited Residency
[3] Attachment of a cover sheet which Program. This program is typically one year
specifies the individual (rather than an of intensive clinical and didactic training in one
organization) to which the information is specific area offered by many optometry and
being sent. ophthalmology facilities.
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[4] Attachment of a clear privacy statement b] Diplomat of the American Academy of
about the information’s confidential nature. Optometry (AAO). This program has a pre-
To ensure that patient files are not lost in requisite of a fellowship (FAAO)
transit (if using Canada Post or courier), it is designation. Completion of the diplomat
recommended that the optometrist sending the designation then requires further case reports,
file keep the original file and send a written, oral and clinical tests. Ongoing
photocopy. maintenance (continuing education, research,
The original patient file may be destroyed patients care, etc.) is also required to preserve
once confirmation is received that the patient use of this designation.
file (be it faxed, electronically sent or c] Other similar programs deemed appropriate
mailed/couriered photocopy) has safely by Council. To receive approval, a complete
reached its destination. It is recommended that history of the program must be submitted to
the confirmation message be kept as per file Council including, but not limited to: pre-
maintenance time periods. requisites, length of program, date completed,
Should a regulated member leave a practice, location, list of instructors, clinical versus
the rules surrounding ownership of patient didactic hours, research conducted, published
records are detailed in the “Severing an papers and posters, lectures given and number
Associateship or Partnership” Advisory. of patients examined. The “advanced training”
title is to be followed by the relevant
Alberta Practice Advisory SAP-2 description as given by the organization. For
SEVERING AN ASSOCIATESHIP OR example, a residency trained
PARTNERSHIP AND MAINTENANCE optometrist in contact lenses would be
OF PATIENT RECORDS described as “advanced training in contact
lenses”.
When an associateship or partnership of [d] Academic Designations
optometrists is severed, a conflict or dispute Academic degrees, fellowships, certificates and
may arise over the ownership of patient diplomas earned by examination from facilities
records or the proper method of informing accredited by the ACO are allowed to be
patients of the change in practice. It can be stated. It is considered appropriate to use either
quite complex when several different the designate “Dr.” in front of your name
optometrists in the same practice have without any degree identified behind your name
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