By Pamela Miller, OD, FAAO, JD, FNAP
May 27, 2015
Healthcare practitioners can operate within closed off silos. Joining a national organization that brings together doctors from a range of disciplines can provide just the perspective you need. With the Affordable Care Act’s emphasis on co-management, understanding and learning from other healthcare providers has never been more important.
In 1999, I was invited to apply to the National Academies of Practice (NAP), a multidisciplinary organization that brings together practitioners from optometry, medicine, dentistry, nursing, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, podiatry, psychology, social work and veterinary medicine. Four new academies were announced in 2014, including audiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech and language pathology.
NAP Membership is based on individuals who have an exemplary career of 10 years or more, and are committed to inter-professional practice and accessible, affordable healthcare for all. Candidates are judged by distinguished peers to have made significant and enduring contributions to their professions. Once accepted into the organization, I earned the FNAP–Fellow, National Academies of Practice–the credential that you see after my name.
Participating in this organization has helped give me the perspective I need to better manage my patients and my practice. One of the benefits of an interdisciplinary healthcare organization is you get a global overview of the issues that are, or will soon, impact all healthcare practitioners. For example, doctor reimbursements under the ACA is a topic I have discussed and debated with my peers at NAP. We’ve discussed how optometry, and the other healthcare fields in NAP, are going to fit into a new healthcare model that is focused on keeping costs down and emphasizing co-management. For instance, an OD may soon find herself sending fundus photos of a diabetic patient to a retinal specialist, and not just monitoring, but being a part of the team of doctors that diagnoses and manages our patients. NAP also produces white papers which cover a multitude of topics affecting all our professions and patients.
To address such interdisciplinary challenges, NAP offers continuing education, including a seminar on managing diabetic patients, enabling me to better work with other doctors to provide the care expected in our new healthcare environment. This presentation offers CE credit to some members, but not for ODs, but I still go because I believe so strongly in the value of learning beyond what is mandated to ensure I am giving the best care possible to my patients.
I’m fortunate to have access to the resources and multidisciplinary membership of NAP, but any OD can reach out to the healthcare community beyond optometry to gain a broader perspective. You can meet and interact with healthcare providers outside of optometry by doing something as simple as attending community health fairs. You also can participate in philanthropies with other healthcare practitioners in which you visit local schools to give educational presentations and screenings, or visit local nursing homes with other doctors to provide screenings, or even care.
Breaking past the silo of optometry and learning from–and teaching–those from other healthcare fields is a key part of any OD’s professional development. Are you ready to take the interdisciplinary challenge?
Do you interact with healthcare providers outside of optometry? What are some of the ways you’ve found to do this? Any important lessons you’ve learned along the way?
Pamela Miller, OD, FAAO, JD, FNAP, has a solo optometric practice in Highland, Calif. She has a law degree, holds a therapeutic license, is California State Board-certified and glaucoma-certified to prescribe eye medications, and offers comprehensive vision care, contact lenses, visual therapy and low vision services. To contact her: drpam@omnivision.com.
