Oregon Board of Optometry

1900 Hines Street SE, Suite 290 Salem OR 97302 Phone: (503)399-0662 Fax: (503)399-0705 email: board@oregonobo.org

The Mission of the Oregon Board of Optometry is to Protect the People of the State of Oregon from the Dangers of Unqualified and Improper Practice of Optometry.

The Oregon Board of Optometry is a state agency responsible for the licensure of doctors of optometry (optometrists/optometric physicians) and enforcement of the statutes and administrative rules governing the practice of optometry in Oregon. Listed below is information concerning the Board and its activities that may be of interest to you.

NOTICE

CHANGE OF BOARD MAILING ADDRESS The Board is no longer using a Post Office Box for mailing purposes. We now receive mail at the office of the Board. The new address is: Oregon Board of Optometry 1900 Hines Street, SE, Suite 290 Salem, Oregon, 97302

Regular Meeting of the Board Scheduled ~ A regular meeting of the Board is scheduled for Friday May 11, 2012 in the second floor conference room at 1900 Hines Street, Salem, Oregon, 97302. The Notice and Agenda are available HERE and will be mailed to all interested parties.

Corporate Ownership of Optometry Practices ~ As of January 1, 2012, Oregon Administrative Rule 852-020-0045 - Business Entity Organization   requires that if you are part of a business entity organized to practice optometry, the majority of owners must be licensed optometrists. The exception is for multi-disciplinary practices with two or more health-related licensed professionals, where the majority ownership must be held by persons licensed in optometry or another health-related field in Oregon. If a holder or owner of an optometric or multi-disciplinary practice is found to have failed to comply with the provisions of this rule, the Board may subject that person to disciplinary action, including the assessment of the costs of the disciplinary proceedings as a civil penalty, and assessment of a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each violation. If you have questions, please contact the Board’s office.

Oregon PDMP System Goes Online ~ On September 1, 2011 the Oregon Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) system went online. The Oregon Health Authority grants PDMP system accounts to Oregon-licensed healthcare providers and pharmacists so that they may securely look up controlled substance information on their own patients via the Web. Healthcare providers and pharmacists must apply to the PDMP for an account to access information from the system. Access is granted to individuals only—not to clinics, hospitals, pharmacies or any other healthcare facility. To apply for an account, go to www.orpdmp.com, click on the Healthcare Provider link, and follow the account request procedure listed. Additionally, starting in mid-September the PDMP will be employing Outreach Specialists stationed throughout the state to promote the use of the system. To talk with an Outreach Specialist or have one come speak to a group, email pdmp.health@state.or.us or call 971-673-0741.

Dispensing and Use of Contact Lenses Without a Valid Prescription ~ Oregon Revised Statute 683.180 - Prohibited acts and practices - states: "A person may not: (9) Dispense or sell an ophthalmic contact lens without having obtained a valid, unexpired prescription from the person to whom the contact lens is dispensed or sold. As used in this subsection, "ophthalmic contact lens" means a contact lens with or without refractive power, including a plano lens or a cosmetic lens." This video provides additional information about the dispensing and use of contacts without a valid prescription.

Protected Health Information Release Form for Patients ~ Federal and state laws govern the confidentiality of protected health information. As licensed doctors of optometry, you may need to share patient information with other health professionals. The attached file refers to Oregon Revised Statutes and provides a sample release form you may use with your patients. You may download this form here.

ADMINISTRATIVE RULES ADVISORY COMMITTEE ~ The Oregon Board of Optometry is seeking interested parties to serve on their Administrative Rules Advisory Committee. If you are interested in participating on this committee, please contact the office of the Board for additional information and to submit your application.

BOARD MEMBERS SOUGHT ~ Members of the Oregon Board of Optometry are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The term of office of each member is three years. A member is eligible for reappointment. Candidates for member positions are currently being sought. If you have an interest in serving on the Oregon Board of Optometry please complete the Executive Appointment Interest Form or contact the Board's office. In selecting the members of the Board, the Governor shall strive to balance representation on the Board according to geographic areas of this state and by ethnic group.

Board of Optometry Information:
About the Board	Revised Statutes and Administrative Rules
Consumer Complaints	Proposed Administrative Rule Changes
Alphabetical Listing of Currently Licensed Optometric Physicians    May be used for license verification Disciplinary Actions and Medical Malpractice Reports	Oregon Optometry Negligence/Malpractice Claim Report Form    This form is to be used only by claim "reporters" as defined by ORS 742.400.
Information Requests	Questions About Optometry
Board Meetings	News and Newsletters From the Board
Minutes of Public Meetings	Board Financial Information
Using and Prescribing Contact Lenses    Information for consumers and eye health professionals.

Licensees and Applicants for Licensure:
Continuing Education Reviewed by the Board    (Course Review requirements)	Examination and Licensure Requirements    The Law and Administrative Rules Exam is available online through the NBEO.
Continuing Education Requirements	Applications and Forms in PDF Format
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse	Reinstating or Reactivating a License

Optometry Links:

American Heart Association BLS Healthcare Provider Online CPR Renewal Course

This course requires a "hands-on" skills assessment prior to receiving a CPR card, in keeping with Oregon Administrative Rule for optometric CPR certification.

A physician must maintain current CPR status in order to retain an Active Status license. A copy of the renewed CPR card should be forwarded to the office of the Board annually along with the other license renewal documents. The American Heart Association course has been reviewed by the Board and may be used for CPR certification to retain AT or ATI status. There may be other courses which meet the Board's requirement, which is the BLS Healthcare Provider standard, that have not been reviewed. Please submit any other courses to the Board for review prior to completion to avoid having to retake a CPR course. Contact the office of the Board if you have any questions.

ARBO (Association of Boards of Optometry) Home Page

You may report incidents of complications due to dispensing of contact lenses without a prescription at this ARBO site: Contact Lens Complications Reporting Form

COPE (Council on Optometric Practitioner Education) Home Page

NBEO (National Board of Examiners in Optometry) Home Page

The Law and Administrative Rules Exam is available online through the NBEO.

NPDB-HIPDB (National Practitioner Data Bank and Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank)

Physicians can perform a "self query" at this site.

OOPA (Oregon Optometric Physicians Association

If you have an interest in membership in the Oregon Optometric Physicians Association, which represents the professional interests of optometry in Oregon, you can obtain information by calling their office at (800)922-2045 or by visiting their website.

Links to On-Line Optometric Ethics and Oregon Optometry Law and Administrative Rules Courses that have been approved by the Board

PUCO (Pacific University College of Optometry - Online Continuing Education)

SCCO (Southern California College of Optometry - Online Continuing Education)- "Ethics in the Clinical Practice of Optometry".

Audio-Digest.org - Using their search engine, enter the words: "Ethics in Medicine", and filter the search by choosing "Ophthalmology". The approved courses on the resulting list are: “Ethical Concerns, Ophthalmology” (Vol. 49, Is.04). and "Ethical Challenges" (Vol. 50, Is.04). Please Note: Course title "Medicolegal Issues in Ophthalmology" is NOT approved for this requirement.

Links to Related Organizations:

AOA (American Optometric Association) Home Page

AOS (American Optometric Society) Home Page

OMB (Oregon Medical Board)

DEA (United States Drug Enforcement Administration/Practitioner Registration)

U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION - Mandatory Reporting Form

Report violations of dispensing products which require a prescription - such as contact lenses - at this site.)

Oregon DMV's Medically At-Risk Driver Program

Oregon Requirements For Tinting of Windshields

ORS 815.221 and 815.222 explaining the statutory requirements for prescribing the tinting of automotive windshields.

Liability Statement

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This page was last revised: APRIL 25, 2012

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