Academy Notebook News • Tips • Resources
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Academy Notebook news • tips • resources WHAT’S HAPPENING necessary. The Michael R. Redmond, MD Profession- n Major Gift Establishes alism and Ethics Education Michael Redmond Ethics Center Center will serve as this re- The Academy recently received a major source within the Academy gift to establish the Michael R. Red- and maintain a dynamic, mond, MD Professionalism and Ethics comprehensive approach Education Center. The $500,000 gift to dealing with professional from Dr. Allan Jensen and his wife, ethics. Claire, creates an endowment fund in “Professionalism and honor and memory of Dr. Redmond ethics are pivotal com- and his clinical excellence in pediatric ponents of the practice of ophthalmology, commitment to pa- medicine. While some of tients, highest ethical standards, and ethics is intuitive, it can be service to the Academy. In recognition complex and dynamic. Al- JENSEN DONATION. Dr. and of the Jensens’ generosity, the Academy lan and Claire Jensen’s gen- Mrs. Jensen’s donation will will establish the Dr. Allan D. and erous gift will help ensure establish the Michael R. Claire S. Jensen Professionalism and that the Academy remains a Redmond, MD Professional- Ethics Lecture, to be held during the strong resource for its mem- ism and Ethics Education Joint Meeting. bers in ethics training,” said Center. In the last 28 years since the Acad- David W. Parke II, MD, emy’s Ethics Program was established, Academy Executive Vice medical knowledge, therapies, treat- President and CEO. “Mike Redmond changing scope of practice, the deter- ments, and the health care environ- was a fierce force for good in ophthal- mination of equitable reimbursement ment as a whole have undergone mology. Whether it was ethics, access for services, and the rationing of care. significant changes. As a result, new to care, patient safety, or defending the We are honored to help in the devel- professional and ethical issues have profession, Mike was in the vanguard. opment of an Ethics Education Cen- arisen, requiring the program to evolve And Allan Jensen has been there, too. ter at the Academy to address those and expand its role. The program has I can think of no greater tribute to concerns, and are pleased to have the also expanded from educating practic- Mike’s principles than what Allan and center named for our friend and past ing U.S. ophthalmologists to includ- Claire Jensen have done.” Academy president, the late Michael ing residents, program directors, and “The medical profession is facing Redmond, who was also a member of international ophthalmologists. In dramatic challenges as our health care the Ethics Committee. While he and I the future, educational initiatives may delivery and payment systems quickly were able to joke about our foibles, he extend to practice administrators and evolve,” said Dr. Jensen. “Physicians set a wonderful example of integrity allied health professionals. Because of and the profession will be faced with and ethical behavior for all of us.” these changes, a cohesive resource to ethical questions regarding the edu- For more information or to donate, implement these efforts has become cation of providers and patients, the visit www.faao.org/donate. 57 58 59 60 60 59 D.C. Report What’s Take Academy Meeting Members MEDICARE PAY FIX: The Academy Happening Notice Store Matters at Large addresses obstacles. eyenet 57 Academy Notebook n Global Ophthalmology Initiative: Preparing to n ONE SPOTLIGHT: New Volunteer Abroad Master Class in Corneal The Academy’s 2013 Global Education Transplant Surgery Video and Outreach Committee, chaired by Series. Review the latest Linda M. Lawrence, MD, will drive techniques and challeng- the Academy’s programming and ac- es in performing anterior tivities in the Global Ophthalmology lamellar and endothelial (GO) arena to educate and prepare keratoplasty surgeries. ophthalmologists who are volunteer- Francis Price Jr., MD, ing overseas. and colleagues present These physicians need to be aware a comprehensive library of videos and step-by-step techniques for corneal trans- that performing eye surgeries and pro- plant surgery. Topics include the following: viding treatment in other countries, • Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) and Des- particularly in the developing world, cemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in the pseudophakic eye will inevitably raise ethical issues and • Combined cataract surgery and keratoplasty procedures involve safety risks. In addition, they • DMEK donor preparation and bubble management must be prepared to find ways to pro- • Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) with either manual dissection or mote the long-term efficacy and sus- the big-bubble technique tainability of their aid. The Master Class in Corneal Transplant Surgery video series is a free member The committee enlisted the help of benefit. To view, visit www.aao.org/masterclass. Alfred Sommer, MD, MHS, and David S. Friedman, MD, MPH, of the Dana Center of the Wilmer Eye Institute parts—“Things to Consider Before TAKE NOTICE and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg You Go” and “Identifying and Work- School of Public Health to develop two ing With Partners.” Ophthalmologists n 2012 Donations to the lectures delivered as online learning are eligible for 0.5 CME credit after Foundation modules. The first, “So You Want to viewing this presentation. The second The Foundation of the American Work Overseas,” is presented in two lecture, “Major Causes of Blindness,” Academy of Ophthalmology is in- is presented in four parts— strumental to the success of Academy “Cataracts,” “River Blind- programs. Thanks to the generosity of ness,” “Xerophthalmia,” and donors, the past year has been an ex- “Trachoma.” Ophthalmolo- citing one for the Foundation. Notable gists are eligible for 1.25 events include: CME credits after viewing • One of the most generous individual this presentation. More donations in the Foundation’s history modules are coming. will establish the Dr. Charles R. and For information and to Judith G. Munnerlyn Laser Surgery view these presentations, visit Education Center. www.aao.org/one and select • The Ophthalmic News and Educa- “Global ONE.” tion (ONE) Network gained dozens of videos, courses, and cases, and in- creased its reach to thousands of oph- n MUSEUM: This Month in Ophthalmology. On Dec. 6, 1850, Hermann von thalmologists in developing countries. Helmholtz revolutionized ophthalmology when he presented his invention, the • The H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr., M.D. ophthalmoscope, to the Berlin Physical Society. Johannes Purkinje initially in- Center for Quality Eye Care advanced vented it in 1823, and Charles Babbage created an ophthalmoscope similar to its goals by providing guidance on best Dr. Helmholtz’s in 1847. However, neither discovery was well known at the time. treatment practices and increasing the Dr. Helmholtz created his ophthalmoscope without knowledge of their work, and, focus on quality and safety. unlike his predecessors, he publicized his findings. Dr. Helmholtz was not the • EyeCare America referred nearly first person to look at the living retina nor the first person to fashion a device 10,000 medically underserved indi- for viewing it. Nevertheless, ophthalmic clinicians soon recognized the ophthal- viduals for sight-saving eye care. moscope as the most important instrument for the diagnosis of eye diseases. Read more about these and other By 1900, over 200 variations were available. To learn more about Hermann von achievements in the online edition of Helmholtz, visit www.museumofvision.org/bios. the Foundation’s annual report at www. faao.org. 58 december 2012 Academy Notebook n Member Benefits: Improved Journal Access D.C. REPORT: Permanent Medicare Pay Fix Faces Obstacles A key benefit of Academy membership is a subscription to the peer-reviewed hile lawmakers are seeking a temporary halt to the 27 percent cut in Medi- studies, research, and reviews in Oph- care physician pay scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, the Academy and other thalmology, plus online access to other W physician associations are also focused on finding solutions to the obstacles notable ophthalmic publications. that impede its permanent repeal. The cut is a result of the faulty sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula that is used to Two recent changes improve your The Academy continues to work with the access to these journals: calculate Medicare physician pay. American College of Surgeons on a plan that • Ophthalmology iPad app: You can Because temporary fixes to halt now read Ophthalmology using its Medicare cuts take a toll on physician would provide multiple options for surgical dedicated iPad practices and increase the cost of specialties to receive positive pay increases. app, available doing business, the American Med- in Apple’s App ical Association is leading a campaign for a five-year solution to provide stability. Store. The app This would give physicians time to modify their practices, purchase electronic features the cur- health record systems, and refine quality program measurements. rent issue and The Congressional Budget Office estimates the cost to permanently repeal the articles published SGR formula is $249 billion, which is considerably less than its previous $321 ahead of print, billion estimate. However, lawmakers so far have been unable to agree on funding plus the ability sources that must be found elsewhere in the federal budget to cover the cost of to view in-article the permanent repeal. videos, save and Legislation introduced earlier this year in the House of Representatives to share articles, repeal the SGR formula would dramatically cut payments to physicians who do bookmark content, and add notes. not transition to a new model (such as accountable care organizations and bundled • Redesigned site: Visit www.oph payments with the hospital) in 2018. The Academy opposed this legislation because thalmologyadvance.com (previously the effectiveness of these new models is still unproven, and it is too early to see how www.ophsource.org) to see what’s new ophthalmology will fit in.