The global health care landscape is changing, requiring eyecare professionals to expand their scope of practice to accommodate rapid rises in disease prevalence, government health care mandates and more. International Vision Expo West will address these changes and their impacts through 190 hours of clinically focused continuing education tracks surrounding the diagnosis, treatment and management of eye disease.
Vision Expo West offers a CE curriculum designed to prepare today’s doctors with the knowledge needed to develop their practice and enhance patient care. “In a short period of time, the optometry profession has encountered a host of complex issues and regulations forcing changes in the ways eyecare practices are built and patient care is managed,” said Tom Loughran, group vice president for Reed Exhibitions. “The clinical programs available through Vision Expo West provide the industry’s most comprehensive educational solutions to support professionals in adapting their practice to stay abreast of these changes.”
Clinical CE highlights for 2014 include an enhanced Glaucoma program offering 23 course hours dedicated to expanding attendees’ knowledge around the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, which accounts for more than 10 million physicians visits each year.
And, just as the prevalence of glaucoma continues to be on the rise, so does the incidence of diabetes and high blood pressure, with more and more individuals diagnosed each year. The 11-hour Systemic Disease and Neuro-Ophthalmic track will provide eyecare providers, often on the front-lines of diagnosis and management of these conditions, with the latest information, best practices in patient education, and strategies to facilitate coordinated care between optometric practices and primary care physician’s offices for improved patient outcomes.
The 2014 curriculum will also include dedicated tracks on Macular Degeneration and Nutritional Supplements to arm doctors with an understanding of how to integrate the latest medical eyecare into their practice, as well as 11 hours focused on Pharmacology, and the impact of generic medications on prescribers and patients.
“As more ODs work to expand their practice, Vision Expo is the only place where doctors and their staff can obtain the knowledge they need,” explained Mark Dunbar, OD, FAAO. “From learning advanced treatments to exploring ways to expand their practices, such as in pediatrics or specialty contact lenses, Vision Expo has it all,” he said.
Overall, Vision Expo West boasts nearly 400 total hours of continuing education credits and 19 specialty tracks spanning the full scope of eyecare from clinical management of eye diseases and conditions to practice management, profitability and optical trends and technologies. ■