Member Information on the Public Register
College Registrar Dr. Paula Garshowitz updated Council on changes being considered for the public register. These changes involve making more information about members available to the public, including some complaints outcomes. Council talked about how much and what type of information this should be, and what impact this would have on the complaints process, remediation, and appeals. It also heard preliminary results of a transparency survey that was sent out earlier this month.
The College Leaves 2014 with Operating Surplus
College auditors Radvany Jurina Cleary Associates LLP visited Council to present the 2014 audited financial statements. The College ended the year with a $287,243 operating surplus. The statements reflect higher capital expenditures due to the College’s relocation and the creation of a new member database. The final statements will be circulated to members and published on our website in the near future.
The Use of Optometric Designations
The Registration Committee recommended to Council that it not allow members to use two additional designations – MCOptom and FCOptom, both used in the U.K. – when offering optometric services. The recommendation comes after a survey of designations allowed by other provinces. The Committee felt it was important to be consistent with other Canadian regulators, and believed that no greater public protection would result by allowing them.
Patient Relations and Sexual Abuse
The College has submitted reports to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care and the Ministry’s Sexual Abuse Task Force outlining the current status and operations of our Patient Relations program when preventing and dealing with the sexual abuse of patients. The reports are the result of a government initiative to raise awareness of sexual violence and harassment. To read our response to the Minister, click here (PDF).
Prescription Expiry Dates Required on all Prescriptions: OPR Update
Changes to OPR 5.2 The Prescription were approved for publication in the Optometric Practice Reference (OPR). As a result of the changes, expiry dates are now required for all optical prescriptions. Click here to read the updated OPR.