Hey, why not. It is legal until some court examines the situation and issues a cease and desist order. It appears to be a portable auto refractor and only tests for refractive error. You will probably have one of these gadgets in your store or near a mall food court near you real soon.
The times, they are a'changing.
so the rx is not finalized until they send it off to one of their network of doctors for approval?
I also love this on their replacement for the lensometer "...Replaces traditional Lensometers: also big, require constant electricity, difficult to use, and don't work on scratched lenses."
just found out how it's legal
"Third, in a short "Terms and Conditions" paragraph, individuals are asked to check a box indicating that they understand that this is not a comprehensive eye exam, what a comprehensive eye exam means and how thats different from what Blink provides, and that a comprehensive exam with an optometrist is recommended every two years. This box must be clicked before vision testing may proceed."
http://www.goblink.co/for-optometrist/
Revolutionary, amazing noone thought of it before.
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As an LDO can't I set one up in my office and have some of my OD friends sign off on the refraction via email or video-chat or whatever. This is interesting. I've heard they have things like this in local malls out in Cali. Not sure how true that is.Originally Posted by iD
I'm sure you can as long as you don't identify yourself as an practicing OD. I'm sure there's technical jargon they use to find the loop hole in order to do this. I would want to know how they presented this as a business but not a practice. If that makes sense.
https://vimeo.com/117414944
That doesn't make it legal.
The matter is being studied. There is the issue of using unlicensed people, not directly under the supervision of a license. If you operated your store with unlicensed people, and you only stopped in every so often to check on things, you would be disciplined by your state board (assuming you are in a licensed state).
In addition, separating the refraction from an eye exam...while it is something many here would like to see, it is not specifically authorized in NYS.
The future is here...
That paragraph and the patient acknowledging what they are receiving is a basic loop hole that lets blink off the hook. unless the court/government steps in and says that those terms and conditions doesn't relinquish blink of blame/fault. I know some states like California that don't need licenses for opticians if the doctor is licensed or something like that. I'm not too familiar with the language of that. I think this will quickly change once a few accidents happen (car crashes, falling down stairs, etc) because the blink member didn't do a thorough job.
Taking a look at the past, most doctor-opticals have separated the prescription from the eye exam for years. Although most will ask an 'ammetrope' when their last exam was before selling them Sunglasses, they never ask an emmetrope the same before fitting a new pair of Ray Bans.
Go figure.
B
This is going to be hard for you to understand, guys, but I'mma gonna take a crack at it. You'll learn something that even many ODs haven't thought through.
Statement: You can't "separate" a "refraction" from an "eye exam".
Explanation: An exam has three elements: history, exam, and medical decision making (which also involves patient education and answering questions, etc.)
Stipulation: Let's leave out the standard EXAM aspects of a comprehensive eye exam as defined by CPT: neurological evaluation (EOM, pupils, CVF), tonometry (only as needed, of course) and structure evaluation (usually via SLE and ophthalmoscopy). Let's leave off every per se "health test".
Contention: You still have an exam of some sort when you arrive at a spectacle prescription.
By way of illustration. Setting: The Old West.
History:
"Why ya here, Joe?"
"Need new double bar with double Ds for get-alooong-lil'-doggie duty."
"How you seein' with them old pups?"
"Fair-to-middlin', I reckon."
"Then, let's a-git 'er started."
Exam:
(BRAND SPANKING NEW I-PHONE AUTOREFRACTOR BABY! NOTHING BUT THE BEST FROM BEST BUY.)
"Now read the chart, Joe."
"I-W-E-A-R-C-H-A-P-S-W-I-T-H-O-U-T-T-R-O-U-S-E-R-S"
"Mighty fine."
Medical decision making:
("Shoot. Ole Joe ain't a-gonna like that extra buck cyl x 45. Better cut it down, some, or he'll buck like a cayuse when he puts 'em on!")
"Joe, I'm not changin' yer perscription all that much."
"Why not, doc?"
"Causin' you might get all wobbly like after a Saturday night at the Silver Dollar Saloon. You said yer seein' pert good already."
"Right. How about them extry-wide bifocals that go all the way across? And Photograys. And a Durango collection frame."
"High-tail it over to Miss Sally to talk about all that stuff."
Ok. All the elements of an eye exam are there. So you can't just refract and go.
Now, you opticians have given away all services since the beginning of time; that's your business. But if a service is provided (history, exam, and MDM), there should be a fare.
So, Barry, please...
Last edited by drk; 04-29-2015 at 10:11 PM.
Yep, if I took his approach why should I hire a trained optician or other experienced stylist/dispenser when all I need is some high school kids to come in and give "good enough" service? Good enough is not good enough.
Like this?
Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself. - Richard P. Feynman
Experience is the hardest teacher. She gives the test before the lesson.
Reserving this post for future comments as this is just the tip of what's coming....
I think this is a great example of disruptive technology. Remember, it is disruptive technology that makes the world better, not worse. We simply need to adapt as technology advances.
"Disruptive technology" is TV dinners instead of healthier food. It's a "+1" in one column and a "-10" in many others.
The most shocking part is the part that people consider this shocking, this is nothing new in medicine.
I considered doing this with an ophthalmologist over 10 years ago and have him sign off on an exam through emailed photos and an eyelogic type refractive system.
I decided I didn't want to start a race
to the bottom of the barrel, I valued my time and knowledge too much to waste it becoming a fast order taker.
Last edited by braheem24; 04-23-2015 at 08:59 PM.
Does involve a double billing thought. First a payment $75.00 Blink and should you need further examination, your opto visit (full eye exam) adds another $75.00 -$ 150.00 to the cost. Much easier to just go to the opto that is willing to understand that not all people can afford the cost of a full eye exam.
If eye exam costs keep becoming prohibitive, systems like this will start to gain hold in the optical world.
Some offices do offer patients an refraction only visit to obtain an Rx for glasses.
Also lets not overlook the fact that this company adds an additional 25% upcharge every time you use them after the first visit they perform and you do not get a comprehensive eye exam done between visits by them. So if you use them the first time, its $75 bucks. If you call them a second time and didn't get the eye exam done, they ding you for $93.75 after the 25% upcharge
Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity
BTW, I think it it a great idea, and can think of many ways it could be used. The one major drawback is finding a foresighted optometrist, willing to be invoved. Thw whole system balances on the optometric world accepting and mbracing this program. No opto no program.
Price-wise this is not competitive with comprehensive eye-exams by an OD in my city. The practice I'm with charges U&C $60 for a comprehensive eye-exam, I've seen lower. One still has to wait for the "blink OD" to review and sign-off on a refraction. This wouldn't fly in my town.
Clinton Tower
The intellect to live free is in short supply
ALT248=°
Sign off is only needed for dispensing.
There are laws coming against this.
"Smaller government"...why is it when people claim they want less regulation, and the results of less regulation come about, all of a sudden, more regulation is wanted?
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