The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) and the New Zealand Association of Optometrists have launched The Choosing Wisely Patient Card.
Develop by the RANZCO NZ Branch and the New Zealand Association of Optometrists, the aim of the card is to help patients feel more comfortable and informed when having conversations with their eye care professional about their own eye health.
The card was inspired by Choosing Wisely, an initiative which aims to reduce the use of unnecessary or unevidenced medical tests and procedures. Choosing Wisely recognises that not all tests or procedures are helpful for all patients and therefore encourages constructive conversations between patients and health professionals in making decisions.
The patient card encourages patients to start an informed conversation by asking four important questions before undergoing eye health tests:
By asking these four questions, the patient starts a conversation that will mean they are better informed, more confident in the care provided and part of the conversation as to what is best for their visual well-being
• Why am I having this test?
• What information will it provide?
• What are the risks of the test?
• What happens if I don’t have the test?
“It is important that patients feel comfortable to ask informed questions about eye health tests so that they have a better understanding of what they may or may not find out from a particular test. It is easier for a patient to take an informed and active part in their own eye care when they have a good understanding of all their options. This information will help to spark important conversations between patients and eye care professionals,” explained ophthalmologist Dr. Derek Sherwood who launched The Choosing Wisely Patient Card at the RANZCO New Zealand Branch Annual Scientific Meeting on 12 May.
Dr. Frederikson, National Director of the New Zealand Association of Optometrists said, “The New Zealand Association of Optometrists fully supports Choosing Wisely. With the advent of many advanced methods to test for various eye health issues, it is important for any eye care practitioner to communicate effectively what tests are appropriate and how frequently they need to be performed.
“By asking these four questions, the patient starts a conversation that will mean they are better informed, more confident in the care provided and part of the conversation as to what is best for their visual well-being”.
The card will be distributed through optometry and ophthalmology clinics throughout New Zealand.
Choosing Wisely has been implemented in USA, Canada, UK and Australia and was launched in New Zealand in 2017 by the Council of Medical Colleges, of which RANZCO is a member.
