New optometry community alignment program: Submit your expression of interest (EOI)

Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) is expanding their network of aligned practitioners to enhance community outreach to ensure that patients across the region receive high-quality, timely and coordinated eye care.

PAH is seeking expressions of interest from community optometrists and General Practitioners (GPs) who are interested in becoming an aligned practitioner for low-risk review patients currently on a review waiting list in ophthalmology at PAH.

Overview of the Princess Alexandra Hospital Optometry Community Alignment Program

Aligned practitioners will play an important role in the management of low-risk review patients, working closely in partnership with the hospital’s specialists to provide seamless care.

This partnership aims to bridge the gap between primary and tertiary care, offering patients a continuum of care that supports their eye health journey.

How to become an aligned practitioner

To become an aligned practitioner with the PAH Optometry Alignment Program, clinicians must attend the initial workshop on Sunday 1 December 2024.

This workshop covers the essential information required to manage stable, low-progression eye disease within the community.

To maintain alignment accreditation, participation in a refresher workshop is required every 2 years thereafter.

Preferred equipment for participants:

• slit lamp
• direct ophthalmoscope
• tonometer, contact or non-contact (e.g., Icare)
• sodium fluorescein
• foreign body removal equipment (20G to 30G single use needles, 0.4% oxybuprocaine eye drops)
• visual acuity testing chart (Snellen chart).

Workshop details

Date: Sunday 1 December 2024

Time: 8:30am to 4:30pm (catering included)

Location: Russell Strong Auditorium, Lower Ground Floor, Building 1
Princess Alexandra Hospital
199 Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba

Cost for GPs: $75 (subsidised)

CPD hours:

A statement of attendance will be provided upon completion of the workshop. Participants can self-record their attendance with the CPD Home, such as RACGP or ACRRM. This workshop includes 7 educational hours and 1.75 hours of review performance.

Benefits of becoming an aligned practitioner

• The workshop is designed to upskill community optometrists and General Practitioners with Special Interest (GPwSI) to effectively manage stable, low-progression eye disease in their practices, reducing the need for patients to receive hospital-based care.

• The workshop will cover the latest evidence-based approaches and clinical guidelines for managing low-progression eye diseases, ensuring attendees are informed on current practices.

• Participants will receive training and insights from leading ophthalmologists and experienced optometrists, enhancing their capacity to provide comprehensive eye care.

• Improved patient access to receive quality eye care through enabling local clinicians to manage conditions typically referred to specialist services, thus reducing wait times for patients with more complex needs.

• More collaboration between PAH specialists and community clinicians that will result in a more integrated care pathway for patients with stable eye conditions.

• Sustainable, long-term improvements in local eye health management and streamlined referral pathways, benefiting both practitioners and their patients.

Express your interest in joining the program

Submit your expression of interest to PAH_OptAlign@health.qld.gov.au by Friday 15 November 2024.

Please include the following information in your submission:

1. AHPRA registration
2. confirmation of above equipment mentioned (e.g. Type of VFT, OCT, applanation tonometry etc.).