Valuation of uninsured ophthalmological services
Report
2016
Read the full report on the valuation of uninsured ophthalmological services
Canadian ophthalmologists asked the Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) to provide guidance with regard to physician fees for services that are presently uninsured by provincial and territorial health insurance in many jurisdictions.
COS commissioned Health Intelligence Inc., an independent and well-respected health research firm, to conduct a study using recognized methodologies to determine fair market value for these uninsured services.
Lignes directrices sur les publicités de chirurgie réfractive
Révision : août 2022
La Société canadienne d’ophtalmologie (SCO) et la Société canadienne de la cornée, des maladies externes et de la chirurgie réfractive (SCCMECR), sa société de surspécialité, visent l’excellence en ophtalmologie. L’excellence exige le respect des plus hautes normes d’éthique dans toutes les activités professionnelles, y compris le marketing et la publicité. Nous avons pour principe directeur que le bien-être des patients est primordial. Une publicité est éthique quand elle informe et sensibilise le patient, quand elle ne crée pas de confusion ou qu’elle n’induit pas en erreur, et lorsqu’elle renforce – sans s’y substituer – une discussion complète entre le patient et le chirurgien. Rien ne remplace des conseils aux patients, qui peuvent uniquement être prodigués dans un contexte personnalisé.
La SCO et la SCCMECR sont d’avis que, lorsqu’elle prend la forme d’information destinée aux patients, la publicité est régie par les lignes directrices et politiques en matière d’éthique qui couvrent l’information aux patients, y compris les lignes directrices des ordres provinciaux de médecins et chirurgiens.
En particulier, nous sommes d’accord avec l’American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) sur le fait qu’une bonne information destinée aux patients :
- Est claire, précise, à jour et complète;
- Évite les déclarations trompeuses;
- N’est pas exagérée et ne crée pas d’attentes irréalistes chez les patients;
- Sert de tremplin pour une discussion verbale avec le patient.
La SCO et la SCCMECR recommandent que leurs membres respectent ces normes.
Nous sommes également d’accord avec la déclaration commune de l’American Academy of Ophthalmology, de l’American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) et de l’International Society of Refractive Surgery of the American Academy of Ophthalmology intitulée Guidelines for Refractive Surgery Advertising Policy et recommandons que nos membres en tiennent compte.
Aucun ensemble de lignes directrices ne peut prévoir toutes les prétentions ou expressions publicitaires possibles. Au bout du compte, la publicité est une question d’éthique, et nous nous attendons à ce que nos membres respectent les plus hautes normes d’éthique en publicité comme dans tout autre aspect de leur pratique.
Vision standards for driving in Canada
April 2012
The Canadian Ophthalmological Society’s (COS) expert working group on driving and vision standards provided recommendations on the visual acuity and visual field needed for safe driving in Canada.
These recommendations are published in Section 12: Vision of the Canadian Medical Association Driver’s Guide, 8th edition.
COS’s Vision Standards for Driving Committee revisited the vision section of the guide in April 2012 and indicated no changes were required at this time.
Background
When a patient is visually impaired, the physician should inform the patient of the nature and extent of the visual defect and, if required, report the problem to the appropriate authorities.
When minor visual defects are not accompanied by cognitive defects or neglect, most drivers are capable of compensating for partial defects. For example, most people adapt to the loss of an eye in a period of several months.
Recent studies indicate that experienced drivers can compensate for a loss of visual acuity if they are in familiar surroundings and they limit their speed. In these circumstances, functional assessments are indicated.
Section 12 presents information about the recommended visual acuity and visual field needed for safe driving (section 12.2). Actual standards for these functions are set by provincial or territorial licensing authorities and may vary among jurisdictions as well as varying from the recommendations in Section 12, which are based on expert opinion.
Section 12 also presents information about other important visual functions that should be taken into consideration in determining fitness to drive (section 12.3) and recommendations for exceptional cases that require individual assessment (section 12.4).
It also provides further detail on recommended testing procedures (addendum 1), a list of medical conditions with increased risk for vision problems and a discussion of the use of vision aids in driving (addendum 2).
National retinoblastoma strategy: Canadian guidelines for care
December 2009
National retinoblastoma strategy: Canadian guidelines for care
These guidelines are based on the best available evidence and expert opinion, and are intended to optimize patterns of clinical practice. They are not to be prescriptive or replace clinical judgement, nor restrict innovation. Healthcare professionals must always consider the needs, preferences, values, financial and personal circumstances of individual patients and work within the realities of their healthcare setting. Inequities in staffing, financial, equipment, and healthcare resources in different jurisdictions may impact upon physician and patient options and decisions. As the general nature of guidelines cannot provide individualized guidance for all patients in all circumstances, this document should not be used as a legal resource.