Glaucoma Referral Refinement Expansion- 26/08/2014 at Staffordshire Local Optical Committee

Glaucoma Referral Refinement Expansion- 26/08/2014

 

COME FORTH AND APPLANATE!

The Staffordshire Primary Eye care Services Company is always looking to expand Glaucoma Referral Refinement (GRR) Test A and B providers in North Staffs and Stoke. Test A is IOP refinement with GAT/Perkins tonometer. Test B is a full Glaucoma work up which includes OHT and suspect Glaucoma monitoring. I am enclosing a brief summary of what is required to become a Test A /B provider.

TEST A (IOP REFINEMENT)

What training is required?

You will need to have successfully completed the LOCSU-WOPEC Glaucoma Referral Refinement module and OSCE exams. There is funding in place for this, so it is free to acquire this certificate at the moment.

What equipment is required?

  1. GAT/Perkins
  2. Disposable tonometer prisms & appropriate minims

What is involved in Test A GRR?

Px with average IOP >21 mm Hg measured with NCT are referred to Test A provider. You will then measure IOP with either GAT or Perkins Tonometer. This may be your own Px or one that has been referred to you by unaccredited Optom.

How long does Test A take?

5 minutes chair time.

Tariff?

You will be paid £13.60 per Px episode

Result submission & invoicing?

Soon to be fully electronic using Metastorm system. Paper based at this moment.

How do I get involved?

Contact Alison Lowell at the LOC office (admin@staffsloc.co.uk) to register your interest. If you have any further clinical queries about the pathway, you can contact Irfan Razvi (sihrazvi@yahoo.co.uk). If you feel you need a refresher on some aspects of the clinical tests involved, this can be arranged.

To conclude, I would encourage all Optoms to become Test A providers as a bare minimum! This is a core competency which is relatively quick and simple to execute without disruption to your normal practice routine.

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TEST B (GLAUCOMA WORK UP)

What training is required?

You will need to have successfully completed the LOCSU-WOPEC Glaucoma Referral Refinement module and OSCE exams. There is funding in place for this, so it is free to acquire this certificate at the moment.

To be accredited as a Test B COSI, you will be required to attend Glaucoma clinic sessions at UHNS. This will be on a rota basis and roughly works means attending one session every 2 months. This will help maintain your accreditation as a Test B COSI.

What equipment is required?

  1. Humphrey Field Analyser (HFA)
  2. Slit lamp & BIO lens (Volk etc.)
  3. GAT/Perkins + disposable tonom prisms + appropriate minims

 What tests do I carry out for Test B GRR? 

  1. Relevant history & symptoms
  2. Best corrected VA
  3. Threshold field test HFA C24-2
  4. GAT/Perkins
  5. Van herricks angle assessment
  6. Stereo Disc Assessment SLBIO with dilation if required.

 What about OHT & suspect Glaucoma monitoring? 

You are required to carry out the same tests as per Test B GRR, but you need to be able to make judgement on clinically significant changes as per clinical management plan issued by UHNS. 

How long does it take to do Test B GRR? 

15-20 minutes consulting room chair time + 5-10 minutes taken to carry out visual fields.

 Tariff? 

You are paid £ 45 for each episode 

Result submission & Invoicing? 

Electronic using Metastorm system 

How do I get involved? 

If you would like to be a GRR Test B provider, contact Alison Lowell at the LOC office (admin@staffsloc.co.uk) and register your interest straight away.

 

If you have any further clinical queries about the pathway, you can contact Irfan Razvi (sihrazvi@yahoo.co.uk). If you feel you need a refresher on some aspects of the clinical tests involved, this can be arranged. To summarise, for those of you with an interest in Glaucoma, the GRR pathways are a logical extension of your core competency skills and a rewarding one to be involved in!

  

Irfan Razvi

Vice Chair North

Staffs LOC

 

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