EYE2EYE 2The Magazine of the Leaders in Collaborative Eye Care
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Winter 2017 VOLUME 20 ISSUE 2 EYE2EYE 2the magazine of the leaders in collaborative eye care IN THIS Leaders in RANZCO 2017 Join us in Perth for The road less collaborative care: Workforce Survey out RANZCO 2017 travelled: practicing ISSUE: living the RANZCO now! ophthalmology in a tagline rural setting When freedom becomes reality For more information contact your Bausch + Lomb Territory Manager or Customer Service on 1800 251 150 © 2017 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated. ®/TM denote trademarks of Bausch & Lomb Incorporated and its affiliates. Other product names/ brand names are trademarks of their respective owners. iNova Pharmaceuticals (Australia) Pty Limited. ABN 88 000 222 408. Level 10, 12 Help Street, Chatswood NSW 2067 Australia. (Ph 1800 251 150) LOTJ 2017-02-000 3 EYE2EYE 2the magazine of the leaders in collaborative eye care 24 37 Contents Message from the President 4 Censor-in-Chief’s Update 6 CEO’s Corner 8 Membership Spotlight 10 Annual Scientific Congress 24 Indigenous Eye Health 34 Policy and Advocacy Matters 36 International Development 37 Feature Article The road less travelled: practicing ophthalmology in a rural setting 40 42 62 Branch Musings 46 Special Interest Groups 49 RANZCO Affiliates 54 Ophthal News 56 RANZCO Museum 62 Obituaries 63 Calendar of Events 66 Classifieds 68 Front cover: Gantheaume Point, Broome, Western Australia Eye2Eye is published by The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists as information for its members. The views expressed in the publication are those of the authors and not necessarily of the College. The inclusion of advertising in this publication does not constitute College endorsement of the products or services advertised. Editor: Laura Sefaj Design and layout: Francine Dutton The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists A.C.N 000 644 404 94-98 Chalmers Street Surry Hills NSW 2010 Australia Ph: +61 2 9690 1001 Fax: +61 2 9690 1321 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ranzco.edu 4 Message from the President Message from the President Making the health system better countries and provides excellent care Over the past few months, RANZCO to most of the population, particularly CEO, Dr David Andrews, and I have those in metropolitan areas and those had numerous meetings with federal with health insurance. Maintaining ministers, advisors and senior health the system, at reasonable cost, with bureaucrats in government and the the increasing demands of an aging Department of Health. We managed QUALITY EYE SUPPLEMENTS population, is the fundamental to bring a number of key issues to the challenge for all health ministers. attention of the Minister and senior at affordable prices As we move from a system that is department officials. based on healing the sick to an ideal of making the well healthier, this will Access to Care become even more difficult an issue. Both Minister Greg Hunt and Minister Our role is to advocate on behalf Ken Wyatt have declared a focus on of the patients that we look after, Indigenous eye health as part of Closing identifying problems and providing the Gap. The Rural Health Outreach solutions based on our knowledge of Fund aims to improve access to medical A/Prof Mark Daniell the practical issues we face delivering specialists in rural, regional and remote Advocacy has become a care. areas of Australia. This is essential for more important part of the reducing the health inequalities of people living in these areas, particularly work of the College over RANZCO not only delivers Indigenous people. Vision loss is an the past decade. While our essential part of that but is hampered the highest standard of MDeyes Once Daily AREDS 2 DRYEYE Forte - High Potency Formula health system is the envy by a lack of coordination of services. ophthalmological education ✔ Available as a Softgel Capsule or Powdered Orange Drink ✔ Concentrated Omega-3, GLA, Vitamin D3 & Antioxidants of many countries, it can We encouraged government to look at and sets professional improving the coordination of services ✔ Premium Ingredients ✔ Patented, Research-Based Formula for Systemic Relief “standards but also is now always be made better, and by better cooperation with the Visiting ✔ 6 Packs for $99 (MDeyes Caps) ✔ Improves Tear Quality & Production NCE DA EGA 3 deeply engaged with O I M + governments and health Optometrist Scheme and through L O V Y ✔ Precise AREDS 2 Formula ✔ Reduces Inflammation i SY t government, hospital and G the development of regional hubs for AREDS 2 STEMIC D insurance companies can L RELIEF health services on key policy ophthalmology in Alice Springs and A + always make changes that F changes that impact the Broome. We strongly supported the O Proudly A R NT TS will make it worse! health system and your Roadmap for Closing the Gap for Vision MULA supporting and IOXIDAN The health budget is currently less practice. that has shown such positive results and than 10% of GDP which compares emphasised the need for more focus on © MD EyeCare 2017. favourably with other developed the problems of diabetes and cataract. For samples / (Aus) [email protected] Australian-made in a world-class brochures, please 1300 95 2001 e: “ pharmaceutical facility. contact MD EyeCare: 0800 443 652 (NZ) f: +61 7 3056 0969 Eye2Eye Winter 2017 5 Access to care in metropolitan areas we need to be in a strong position Unsustainable price rises lead to is hampered by an overburdened and to argue for rational adjustments patients dropping coverage and poorly funded public system. As cataract to the schedule. In glaucoma, we thereby increasing pressure on the waiting lists lengthen and outpatient highlighted the benefits of the new public system. Cases of doctors departments become choked with minimally invasive glaucoma surgery charging exorbitant fees are used as patients requiring intravitreal injections technology and ensured an expedited examples adding to this perception and glaucoma care, it has become clear review by the Medical Services of poor value and can be extremely that public hospital ophthalmology Advisory Committee. The RANZCO damaging to the profession as a needs to be better supported. Each of referral guidelines for glaucoma were whole. I plan to explore ways of the RANZCO state branches are working showcased as an evidence based reducing this risk. on innovative solutions that should be management system that should RANZCO not only delivers the supported by the department. ensure the best quality of care without highest standard of ophthalmological Workforce distribution is another key wasteful expense. Cost effective education and sets professional element of access to care in Australia. treatments for retinal diseases using standards but also is now deeply Strengthening regional centres and anti-VEGF biosimilars or Avastin engaged with government, hospital public hospitals will provide great were proposed and could save the and health services on key policy benefits in overcoming the workforce taxpayers many millions of dollars. We changes that impact the health maldistribution. RANZCO and the will continue to discuss the regulatory system and your practice. While we cannot succeed in every situation, by other colleges are developing regional issues with the relevant departments putting forward well thought through, training posts as a way of redistributing to see if this is possible in Australia. evidence based and economically the workforce. Private hospital industry sensible proposals and arguments we can often persuade policy makers to Health system viability RANZCO has been involved in the modify the system in a way that makes The other key issue we discussed Private Hospital Industry review. things better for us all. was maintaining the viability of the Premiums are under pressure as health system. Our turn before the consumers complain that the policies A/Prof Mark Daniell Medicare review is approaching and fail to offer good value for money. President, RANZCO QUALITY EYE SUPPLEMENTS at affordable prices MDeyes Once Daily AREDS 2 DRYEYE Forte - High Potency Formula ✔ Available as a Softgel Capsule or Powdered Orange Drink ✔ Concentrated Omega-3, GLA, Vitamin D3 & Antioxidants ✔ Premium Ingredients ✔ Patented, Research-Based Formula for Systemic Relief ✔ ✔ 6 Packs for $99 (MDeyes Caps) NCE D Improves Tear Quality & Production EGA O A M 3 + IL O V Y ✔ Precise AREDS 2 Formula ✔ Reduces Inflammation i SY t AREDS 2 G STEMIC D L RELIEF A + F O Proudly A R NT TS MULA supporting and IOXIDAN © MD EyeCare 2017. For samples / (Aus) [email protected] Australian-made in a world-class brochures, please 1300 95 2001 e: pharmaceutical facility. contact MD EyeCare: 0800 443 652 (NZ) f: +61 7 3056 0969 6 Censor-in-Chief’s Update Censor-in-Chief’s Update Selection for the RANZCO training program: addressing key areas The selection process in ophthalmology because the better for the RANZCO training a medical profession understands and represents the cultural diversity program plays an essential of the communities we serve, the part in determining the better outcomes we will see for future of ophthalmology in those communities. This is perhaps Australia and New Zealand. particularly true given that ophthalmic care deals with an issue as emotive It is important therefore and sensitive as people’s sight, which that this process is as is so intrinsically linked to how they robust and transparent as are able to live their lives. possible, to ensure that To increase the number of Indigenous and minority trainees, future ophthalmologists the