 | William L. Park, OD, FAAO is in private practice in Wichita, KS. He works exclusively with patients referred for low vision evaluation, low vision rehabilitation and neurological vision loss. He is a past Director of Low Vision Services, Lions Research & Rehabilitation Center, Wilmer Eye Institute-Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Park can be reached at William L. Park, OD, LLC, www.parklowvision.com, 610 N. Main, Suite 201, Wichita, KS 67203, (316) 440-1690 or drpark@parklowvision.com. |
Vision
2010-02-01 08:42:00
What about this low vision rehab study?
Question: I have read that your practice is involved in the Low Vision Rehabilitation Outcome Study. What does the study involve, and why should I enroll?
Answer: Research into vision impairment is becoming increasingly important with the aging of the Baby Boomer generation, and the subsequent increase in the number of people affected by age-related vision conditions. These impairments may include macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease and vision loss due to stroke or other neurological issues.
This kind of research and development is significant because of the importance of vision in activities such as working, driving, reading, utilizing technology, self care and overall quality of life.
My practice, located in Wichita, KS, is one of 26 sites across the country involved in the Low Vision Rehabilitation Outcome Study. The sites include University of Iowa, Harvard, Michigan, Oregon Health & Science and others, including hospital-based practices along with numerous private practices.
Each of the participating centers has identified a clinic staff member who is responsible for subject recruitment and a staff member responsible for entry of the clinical data for each subject.
After a new low vision examination appointment is scheduled, a staff representative will contact a patient, describe the study and send the patient a consent form and HIPAA waiver. It is the patient’s responsibility to sign and mail the waiver to Johns Hopkins University (JHU). Upon receipt of the waiver, a JHU study interviewer will call the patient, explain the study, answer questions and read the consent form to the patient. At that time, the patient can then choose to give verbal consent or simply let the interviewer know that he or she is not interested. After obtaining verbal consent over the phone, the interviewer administers an intake history, which usually takes an hour.
Upon completion of the patient’s first visit to the clinic, the clinician will complete an online visual analog scale through a secure website answering three questions estimating rehabilitation potential of the patient.
After the low vision rehabilitation process is complete, a clinic staff member, in collaboration with the clinician, enters the subject’s clinical examination data (e.g., visual acuity, disorder diagnoses, etc.) and information about the plan of treatment (e.g., recommended and obtained devices and/or services) into the study database through the secure website. The patient will be contacted by JHU several times following the completed vision rehabilitation to assess outcomes.
Having practiced in several academic university environments prior to coming to Kansas, I have a significant appreciation for the positive impact of research on patient care, epidemiological study, rehabilitation of neurologically and visually impaired individuals and, perhaps most significantly, the capability to influence policy and reimbursement for those affected by visual impairment.
If you have an interest in participating in this study, please call (316) 440-1690 and join in this important endeavor.
