Canberra Hospital and the University of Canberra (UC) have collaborated to help people with eye problems and chronic visual conditions, like glaucoma, receive the care they need.
The University said its state-of-the-art Optometry Clinic had been taking referrals from Canberra Hospital for the more regular types of clinical conditions and to help manage patients who required repeat visits or follow-ups.
“As one of the UC Health Clinics, the Optometry Clinic has the dual focus of equipping the next generation of optometrists with on-the-job skills and experience, while providing the Canberra community with high quality health services at an affordable cost,” the UC said.
“The clinic forms a bridge between practitioners of ophthalmology and optometry, so that patients’ conditions can be managed in a cooperative fashion,” it said.
Director of Territory-wide Surgical Services at Canberra Health Services, Andrew Mitchell said the collaboration was based on a synergy of purpose, to ensure better community eye health, and had been hugely beneficial to patients.
“The Canberra Hospital’s clinic is configured for surgery and acute care, rather than treating patients with more ‘regular’ eye problems or chronic conditions like glaucoma,” Dr Mitchell said.
“This collaboration helps to treat patients who present with these kinds of problems more quickly,” he said.
Dr Mitchell said the joint approach also helped with eye health monitoring by easing the demand for more common eye problems at Canberra Hospital.
Lead Clinical Educator and Clinic Manager at UC, Tina Jong said that under the collaboration, University clinicians conducted the assessments then consulted with Canberra Hospital ophthalmologists to find a management plan for patients.
