DAO Spring newsletter 2024

DELAWARE ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY

CME Member Lecture at Harry’s

Page 3

THE PRESIDENT’S CORNER

AAO’s Regional Director called the DAO “Small but Mighty!” Read why he is impressed with our organization

Page 4

SHORT CLINICAL PEARLS

Quick Links to Medical news relating to our community

Page 5

SPOTLIGHT — MID-YEAR FORUM REPORT

Dr Chaon and Kung’s take on the weekend

Page 11

DIABETIC EYE SCREENING STARTS AT HJMC

Non-Mydriatic cameras with AI Technology

Page 12

FREE YEARLY EYE SCREENING RESTARTED

Thank you so much to the DAO Volunteers!!

Page 15

UPCOMING EVENTS

Lectures, Graduation Grand Rounds, Pickle Ball and DAO

Eye Screening/Advocacy Day in Dover

Page 16

DELAWARE’S MEDICAL WASTE BILL ALLOWS YOUR PATIENTS TO TAKE THEIR DROPS HOME!!

Page 17

REMEMBER TO JOIN THE DAO! SOME MEMBERS HAVE NOT PAID 2024 DUES!

Page 18

DAO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ThInk about becoming involved, even a small role helps

Page 19

AAO is in CHICAGO THIS YEAR!

THE PRESIDENT’S CORNER

PAULA KO, MD

Dear Delaware Ophthalmologist,

DAO accomplishments were well received by our Metro East Section at Mid-Year Forum, and many states were interested in how we were able to get things done, particularly, how we worked with the Medical Society of Delaware to improve reimbursements from Aetna for Eye Codes. In addition, there is a lot of excitement for our Diabetic Screening pilot project in conjunction with AAO and EyeCare America. We are hoping for a successful project that will act as a model for the rest of the country. Thank you very much to those who agreed to participate in this program through EyeCare America. We are looking to be good stewards of Eye Care in Delaware and look to promote our profession to our patients and local politicians.

We are trying to finish meeting with all the members of the Senate Health and Social Services Committee and the House Health and Human Development Committee before their summer recess. There are scope battles all over the US, and one in our backyard in New Jersey. Making connections now will be incredibly important when a scope battle occurs in Delaware. Legislators are interested in understanding scope of practice differences between an Optician, an Optometrist, and an Ophthalmologist. Recently North Dakota passed a surgical bill for Optometrists and it passed mostly because the State Ophthalmologists did not band together against the scope of practice bill. We need to stay a strong organization for our patients, our community and our profession.

Click here if you can connect us with someone you know.

List of Senate committee and House Committee

SHORT CLINICAL PEARLS

Can Type 1 Diabetes now be delayed?!

SPOTLIGHT ON MID-YEAR FORUM

Drs Chaon, Moore, Kung speak to Legislators

Temple Residents learn about Advocacy for our patients and profession

THE IMPORTANCE OF ADVOCACY IN OUR STATE

Advocacy for our patients and profession is important and we continue to teach young Ophthalmologists the need to stay involved. Ophthalmologists are outnumbered by Optometrists 3:1 but out-donated by them financially 10:1. Because of this, we sponsored a Temple Resident again this year and are trying to impart knowledge on the next generation of leaders in our community. Only 7% of Ophthalmologists donate to the Surgical Scope Fund and/or OphthPAC. Our goal is to get 20% of our membership to donate! The DAO gets money from the Surgical Scope Fund to pay for our lobbyist, Anne Farley, so our membership benefits directly from these funds.

Click to donate to the surgical scope fund which helps the DAO and other state societies fight scope battles and OphthPAC which helps us Advocate for things like pre-certification, step therapy and reimbursement.

MID-YEAR FORUM REPORT

The 2024 Mid-Year Forum and Congressional Advocacy Day sponsored by the American Academy of Ophthalmology was a tremendous opportunity to learn more about how to advocate on behalf of our patients and our profession. I attended the Congressional Advocacy Day sessions which included a great overview of key advocacy issues facing ophthalmologists across the country and how to effectively communicate our interests to congressional stakeholders and legislators in Washington, D.C. We met with legislative aides from the offices of Senators Chris Coons and Tom Carper and Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester. We raised concerns related to Medicare physician reimbursement rates, the proposed new VA scope of practice for optometrists (which has the potential to dramatically expand optometrists’ scope of practice to include laser eye surgery procedures across all VA Hospitals and Clinics), burdensome insurance requirements (such as step therapy), and onerous prior-authorization requirements.

BEN CHAON, MD

DAO COUNCILOR

This was my first time attending the meeting, and I appreciated learning firsthand from Dr. Dot Moore who is a seasoned veteran of AAO Congressional Advocacy Day and has participated for decades advocating tirelessly on behalf of her patients and ophthalmology colleagues in Delaware. I found that the legislative staffers were all very enthusiastic and generally supportive of the issues we raised, and I also think that hearing directly from a constituent of their member’s district made a big impact on how our concerns were received. I would definitely encourage others to participate next year. Delaware is a small state, but our voice as concerned ophthalmologists throughout the state can make a big difference in effecting policy change on a national level.

RESIDENT REPORT

PRESTON KUNG, MD

In April 2024, I had the opportunity to attend the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Mid-Year Forum (MYF) in Washington, D.C. as an Advocacy Ambassador sponsored by the Delaware Academy of Ophthalmology. One key takeaway was the importance of advocacy in shaping healthcare policies that directly impact our patients and our profession. Through engaging discussions and workshops, I learned strategies for advocating for patients' access to quality eye care and promoting policies that support innovation and research in ophthalmology. Subsequently, I was able to join Drs. Benjamin Chaon, Dorothy Moore, and Paula Ko in advocating to Delaware’s senators and congresswoman. As we discussed the Veterans Affairs optometric scope of practice, Medicare reimbursement, and research funding for the National Eye Institute, I realized how much of advocacy is really education—something ophthalmologists do with laypeople day in and day out. Similar to how our patient education in clinic results in increased compliance, educating the legislative aides also helps our patients get access to quality eye care and improves patient outcomes. Another memorable portion of MYF was the L.E.A.P program, exclusively for residents and fellowship trainees.

The L.E.A.P session provided a unique opportunity to network and interact with leaders in ophthalmology and with other trainees around the country with panel discussions covering four major areas: leadership, engagement, advocacy, and practice management. Hearing from speakers like Dr. Russell Van Gelder, the Editor-in-Chief of Ophthalmology, or Chris Albania, the director of AAO’s Leadership Development Program, opened my eyes to what my possible career in ophthalmology can look like. Prior to residency, my main and only goal was to be the best surgeon and clinician I could be; however, I now envision honing my leadership abilities, building collaborative relationships with colleagues, and actively engaging in advocacy efforts to shape the future of eye care and to impact those I cannot reach within the four walls of my future practice and clinic. Furthermore, the L.E.A.P program provided invaluable mentorship and networking opportunities that helped me roadmap my first steps for achieving my professional aspirations. Overall, the Mid-Year Forum was a transformative experience that not only enriched my knowledge but also invigorated my passion for ophthalmology and advocacy. I would like to thank the DAO for sponsoring and enabling me to attend such a unique and incredible event. The lessons I’ve learned will continue to shape me and hopefully inspire those around me in the future.

AI-BASED DIABETIC

RETINOPATHY SCREENING

The AI-based non-mydriatic camera has been donated to Henrietta Johnson Medical Center by EyeNuk and diabetic retinopathy screenings will start this month.

Thank you to the DAO members who agreed to accept patient referrals from HJMC through EyeCare America that have pathology such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration. We will do a research study on our project and report data to the AAO and DAO. You may be surprised to find that in diabetic screenings, we find just as much glaucoma as we do significant diabetic retinopathy. The AAO hopes to make this a national program.

FREE EYE SCREENING

At HJMC

OVERVIEW

The DAO and HJMC have a long history of a yearly free eye screening located at HJMC and run by DAO volunteer doctors and staff. Henrietta Johnson is an FQHC in Wilmington, DE. The screening was restarted after a 5 year hiatus due to COVID-19 on March 16, 2024

RESULTS

Patients and staff were all impressed with the AIbased non-mydriatic camera donated by EyeNuk Approximately 25 eye appts were made the same day of the screening

A significant amount of patients screened were uninsured

We picked up diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, AMD 45 patients were screened

Round of applause to DAO Members who volunteered on Saturday March 16, to make this a huge success!

Dr. Dealy

Dr. Chaon

Dr. Minkovitz

Dr. Shyu

Dr. Carroll

Dr. Olurin

Dr. Glazer

Thanks to dedicated staff who volunteered from CCHS, Dr. Dealy’s office, Dr. Shyu’s office and Eye Physicians and Surgeons

Thank you to EyeNuk for donating the AI-based nonmydriatic camera to HJMC for the successful screening

June 6

UPCOMING EVENTS

Temple Graduation Grand Rounds and Graduation Dinner

Harry’s Savoy Grille

Thursday 6:30 PM

Fall 2024

Fall 2024

January 2025

OMIC Lecture - get 5% off your Malpractice

Location date and time TBD

Pick-up Pickle Ball! Come for fun and prizes!

Location date and time TBD

Eye Screening for legislators at Dover Legislative Hall using non-mydriatic AI-based EyeNuk Camera

Date and Time TBD

DECREASING TOPICAL MEDICAL WASTE

LEGISLATION IN DELAWARE

REMINDER OF RECENT LEGISLATION

Reminder to all Surgery

Center Owners!!

Delaware passed Topical Medical Waste legislation this year which is one of the goals of the AAO, because of Susan Morris, a Surgery Center Nursing Director, and Laura Sturgeon, a Delaware State Senator who sponsored the bill. Please read the short piece of legislation and be aware that we are able to send patients home with their drops!

We are one of the few states in the country to have passed this form of legislation and we are a great model for other states follow.

This newsletter is sent to all Ophthalmologists in Delaware. We generate money mainly through your dues. Please make sure you jointhe DAO is doing good things for our community, our patients and our profession! Click here to email Ilicia our Executive Director to join our Small but Mighty Group!

$500.00 $500.00 $500.00

Delaware Academy of Ophthalmology

Board of Directors

President Paula Ko

Vice-President Neil Kalin

Secretary/Treasurer Andrew Shyu

Director of Membership Heather Dealy

Representative-At-Large Tabassum Ali

Rep-At-Large Young Ophthalmolgist Neha Kumar

Immediate Past President Carolyn Glazer-Hockstein

Councilor Andrew Shyu

Activities Director Ben Chaon

Federal Advocay Coordinator Jeff Minkovitz

Down-State Rep Representative Ed Jaoude

Executive Director Ilicia Strasser