A workforce in crisis: a case study to expand allied ophthalmic personnel.

Can J Ophthalmol

Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology, St. Paul, Minn.. Electronic address:

Published: August 2016

Objective: To examine how the development of allied ophthalmic personnel training programs affects human resource capacity.

Design: Using a qualitative case study method conducted at a single Ontario institution, this article describes 6 years of establishing a 2-tiered allied ophthalmic personnel training program.

Participants: The Kingston Ophthalmic Training Centre participated in the study with 8 leadership and program graduate interviews.

Methods: To assess regional eye health workforce needs, a case study and iterative process used triangulations of the literature, case study, and qualitative interviews with stakeholders. This research was used to develop a model for establishing allied ophthalmic personnel training programs that would result in expanding human resource capacity.

Results: Current human resource capacity development and deployment is inadequate to provide the needed eye care services in Canada. A competency-based curriculum and accreditation model as the platform to develop formal academic training programs is essential. Access to quality eye care and patient services can be met by task-shifting from ophthalmologists to appropriately trained allied ophthalmic personnel.

Conclusion: Establishing formal training programs is one important strategy to supplying a well-skilled, trained, and qualified ophthalmic workforce. This initiative meets the criteria required for quality, relevance, equity, and cost-effectiveness to meet the future demands for ophthalmic patient care.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjo.2016.04.008DOI Listing

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