Ophthalmic Education:

Principles and Guidelines of a Curriculum for Education of the Ophthalmic Specialist: Chapter 16. Ophthalmic Practice and Ethics

On this page:

• Basic Level Goals: PGY-2
  
  
• Standard Level Goals: PGY-3
  
  
• Advanced Level Goals: PGY-4

(Some of the goals listed here are applicable only to selected countries, e.g., USA, UK, and Canada)

Basic Level Goals: PGY-2

1. Describe the fundamentals and principles of medical ethics in ophthalmology (e.g., patient care decision-making, informed consent, competency issues, ethics of inter-collegial relations, risk management, privacy issues).
   
   
2. Describe the basics of ophthalmic practice management (e.g., contractual negotiations, hiring and supervising employees, financial management, working with associates, billing/collecting).
   
   
3. Describe the basics of the health care system and reimbursement, as appropriate to the local, regional, and national market of the trainee (e.g., third party payers, managed care, Medicare (USA), medical documentation, Medicaid (USA), private insurance, nationalized health care systems (UK, Canada, and others).

Standard Level Goals: PGY-3

1. Describe and apply more advanced principles of medical ethics (e.g., life and death patient care decision-making, ethics of optometric and non-physician relations, documentation requirements, insurance claims and risk management).
   
   
2. Describe and apply more advanced aspects of practice management (e.g., business models, documentation requirements and coding, privacy requirements, dealing with patients or employees with disabilities).
   
   
3. Describe and apply more advanced aspects of health care reimbursement (e.g., physicians' role in managed care organizations, administrative role, third party reimbursement, capitated programs).

Advanced Level Goals: PGY-4

1. Demonstrate proficiency in more advanced principles of medical ethics (e.g., informed consent in children, the mentally ill, disabled, or the demented patient; physician and industry relationships; acceptance and disclosure of gifts or consultation fees).
   
   
2. Utilize in clinical practice the principles of practice management (e.g., starting a practice, economics of starting a practice, licensing and credentialling applications).
   
   
3. Utilize in clinical practice more advanced aspects of health care reimbursement (e.g., denials of claims, hospital contracting, electronic billing).

Next: Appendix 1. Literature and Studies for Review: General references

Also see: Table of Contents of the Principles and Guidelines of a Curriculum for Education of the Ophthalmic Specialist