Abstract
The importance of soft skills such as communication is often overlooked by students in the fields dominated by science like optometry. Having scientific knowledge is simply not enough to be an exceptional optometrist. Communication skills are required in addition to scientific knowledge to effectively collaborate with members in the community and to provide quality eyecare. This paper aims to investigate forms of communication that are necessary to maintain a reliable and prosperous optometry community. To execute this, I conducted an interview with an optometrist at a private practice and analyzed scholarly articles regarding communication techniques and effects on patient satisfaction. In addition, I conducted a genre analysis on an electronic health record (EHR), MyVisionExpress, to examine how it contributes to efficiency in improving patient care and included my own experiences as an optometric assistant to give students another perspective. As a result, it was revealed that the optometry community upholds optimizing patient satisfaction through effective forms of written and verbal communication among its members and patients. With this knowledge, it provides students with a preview into the profession of optometry and a full understanding of how it functions as a discourse community. It can be concluded that strong communication skills within the private practice or hospital is required to accomplish the community’s goals successfully and prevent irresponsible mistakes from occurring.
Introduction
Eyesight is one of the most important senses of the body that allow us to perceive the world around us. Optometry is a field that focuses on maintaining the health of patients’ eyes, diagnosing abnormal conditions, and correcting vision loss with lenses. The ultimate goal in optometry is to give patients the opportunity to see the world with more clarity by catering to their needs and wants in addition to developing and implementing effective optometric care practices. It is essential that eyecare professionals (i.e. optometrists and optometric assistants) within a hospital or private practice establish interpersonal skills in order to achieve this goal for the benefit of patients. Like other medical professions, verbal and written communication is consistently utilized throughout optometry to interact with patients and document patient health information. Lacking sufficient communication, however, leads to health-related mistakes and patient misunderstandings that will result in negative patient health effects as well as a bad reputation for the optometrist and office. This paper will explore the significance of communication and the types of communication skills that students need to possess before deciding to pursue a career in this “discourse community”.
As John Swales, a professor of linguistics at the University of Michigan, defines in his book, Genre Analysis, the term “discourse community” is defined as a group of people who fulfill the following six criteria: shared goals, mechanisms of intercommunication, participation, genre of communication, specific lexis, and membership requirements and hierarchy (220-222). This paper will be analyzing four of the six criteria: common goals, mechanisms of intercommunication, specific terminology, and membership qualifications. Information regarding benefits of communication on patient satisfaction and requirements for becoming a potential member will be clearly outlined to lead students interested in the optometry discourse community towards success.
Methods
To gain an intuitive understanding on the significance of communication in the optometry discourse community, primary research was conducted with an interview with Dr. Bruce Chin O.D. Dr. Chin has been practicing optometry for thirty-six years at his private practice, Laguna Creek Optometry. I gained insights into daily work routines, goals, systems of communication, and terminology from a professional’s perspective to help students grasp the general responsibilities of an optometrist and optometric assistants. For secondary sources, I utilized a training book and research articles that discuss how communication contributes to the effectiveness of the community. I analyzed a study, “Involving Patients in the Development of Interpersonal Skills of Optometry Students” by Katrina L. Schmid, Shelley Hopkins, Tina Huynh. The authors all share a strong background in optometry with doctoral degrees and clinical work. In this study, a survey was conducted for patients to assess the extent to which optometry graduate students practiced professionalism and communication toward them during an exam. Since patients greatly value communication, results point out the common weaknesses students struggle on to improve for the future. I also examined the book, Training in Ophthalmology, that models sufficient communication techniques to utilize during interactions with patients and other healthcare professionals. The purpose of this book is to provide a detailed demonstration of exactly what patients expect from the optometry community and teach students behaviors to optimize patient satisfaction.
For my genre analysis, I will be analyzing an electronic health record (EHR), specifically MyVisionExpress, a software that is often used by optometry practices including Laguna Creek Optometry. This database is predominantly utilized since appointments can be made and it contains patient demographics, exam history, insurance, medications and allergies, treatment plans, prescriptions, etc. all in one location. The article “Efficiency of Automation and Electronic Health Records in Optometric Practices'' by Francis L. McVeigh O.D., Aaron K. Tarbett O.D., Aaron M. Betts O.D., Thomas R. Boal Ph.D. closely investigates the reliability, accessibility, and its benefits on overall patient care. Moreover, as a current optometrist assistant working alongside Dr. Chin and patients, I will share what I have learned from daily application of communication skills throughout the office and illustrate how MyVisionExpress is a vital documentation method. Through the interview, scholarly articles, and my experience, the major role that communication plays in the optometry discourse community will be displayed to advance student understanding.
Results and Discussion
Common Goals
Among the optometry community, there are a set of common goals that define a discourse community. According to Swales, this is the most important characteristic of the six criteria that is outlined in order to maintain and develop the community properly (1990, p. 220). The goal of an optometrist is to maintain the overall health of the eye, educate patients on their diagnosis effectively, and provide care that is respectful to patients’ choices. Dr. Chin views optometry as a community that also revolves around interpersonal skills. A central goal Dr. Chin tries to accomplish daily at his practice “[is] to put patient priority care first, making sure the staff and I take care of patients to the best of our ability, and creating an environment in the office where the staff and patients are happy”. The optometrist, patient, and optometric assistants all need to work together as a team to ensure patients are taken care of as best as possible. Creating a positive environment motivates patients to be more comfortable in sharing their personal concerns with the physician which in turn allows the optometrist to tailor their care accordingly. Dr. Chin explains his inquirous style with patients, “In order to do my job, I need to learn more about the patient in regards to lifestyle and needs”. With this method of getting to know the patient personally to build a relationship, optometrists can direct their examination and treatment plans to the demands and preferences of patients. As a result, patients feel understood and respected for their personal situations, decisions, and concerns.
Patients are the top priority for all members of the community. In hopes of eliminating weaknesses present in the community, Schmid et al. conducted a survey to examine patients’ judgements on optometry graduate students’ interpersonal skills. The results from the study showed, “Lower scores occurred for questions related to clarity of explanations, reassurance provided, confidence, and consideration of the individual personal situations of the patient” (Schmid, 2020, p. 363). It is transparent here that students lack confidence when speaking to patients, resulting in unclear explanations. With this critique, students can work to strengthen their confidence to communicate with patients more comfortably with empathy and clarity. The survey allows optometrists to reevaluate their methods, developing traits to successfully eliminate all potential miscommunication and feelings of doubt among patients. If communication is not successful, not only does it affect optometrists’ ability to achieve the community’s goals but it also affects the patients’ wellbeing and the reputation of the office. Thus, the ability of a student to communicate effectively is the backbone to accomplishing the central goal of providing exceptional care for patients.
Mechanisms of Intercommunication
Sharing common goals is only one aspect of a functioning discourse community, Swales also mentions that discourse communities should also share mechanisms of intercommunication to communicate with all members successfully (1990, p. 221). Within the optometry office, there exists crucial verbal and written communication among optometrists and optometric assistants. As an optometric assistant, I have performed pretest exams on patients to collect glasses prescription measurement, eye pressure, and ocular photos. Speaking skills are utilized to explain to the patient the purpose of each machine and the protocol to put patients at ease and maximize accurate results. If the results from the pretests are inaccurate, it can decrease the efficiency and productivity of succeeding appointments. Training in Ophthalmology, urges students to communicate with healthcare professionals by, “address[ing] the appropriate person, at the appropriate time, using appropriate language and the appropriate medium” (Sundaram, 2016). By verbalizing to the doctor the room the patient is located in, patient last name, and what tests have been performed, the optometrist avoids patient misidentification. This gives sufficient time for the optometrist to review the patient's health record, current issues, and results from the pretest before entering the exam room. I have learned that communicating with patients over the phone to make appointments or answer questions requires a positive attitude and tone. It makes it easier for me to comprehend what the patient needs and resolve concerns quickly. Clear verbal communication eliminates careless mistakes that affect the normal routine of the office and guarantees that there will not be any unpredictable negative outcomes.
Written communication includes electronic health records, emails and letters, and scientific research. Electronic health records allow optometrists to document every health concern or issue pertaining to a patient’s ocular health. All necessary history is recorded on one database for easy access to refer to when uncertainties arise. Treatment plans and diagnoses in the chart are straightforward and organized for other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehension. Letters and emails to patients and doctors are often written to transfer patients to other specialties such as ophthalmology or lasik, therefore appropriate language should be applied to successfully communicate with other physicians the patients’ needs. Dr. Chin believes it is also necessary for optometrists to stay updated on the types of research being done currently on eye conditions in the search for potential treatments and preventions for vision loss. Research is a very powerful communicative process that discovers breakthroughs, expands knowledge of the community, and implements improved patient care and protocols for a stronger optometry future. Therefore, all forms of written and verbal communication among members are essential in accomplishing the community’s responsibilities.
Specific Terminology
Specific lexis are used in the field of optometry; Swales defines these “lexis” as community-specific abbreviations and specific words (1990, p. 222). Dr. Chin lists a few terminologies that are consistently used in the community: “OD” is right eye, “OS” is left eye, “OU” for both eyes. These abbreviations are dominantly used when addressing each side of the eye for prescriptions and observations. “CEE” stands for “comprehensive eye exam”. During this exam, “DVA” and “NVA” are determined. This is “distance visual acuity” and “near visual acuity” respectively. “DFE” stands for “dilated fundus exam”. For this particular exam, dilating drops are placed into the eye to widen the pupil for a better visual of the inside and back of the eye. Without the drops, it is difficult to assess healthiness and identify abnormalities inside the eye. “CL” is short for “contact lenses”. “IOP” means “intraocular pressures” within the eye. As for eye drops and drug prescriptions, the following abbreviations direct patient usage: “QD” is once a day, “BID” is twice a day, “QID” is four times a day, and “QHS” is nighttime before bed. Presbyopic, myopia, cataracts, and glaucoma are the most common conditions that patients have. “Presbyopia” is defined as farsightedness, the loss of the eyes’ ability to focus on objects at near. In contrast, “myopia” is nearsightedness, objects at a distance are blurry. “Cataracts” are extremely common in older patients when the lens inside of the eye gradually becomes cloudy leading to vision loss. “Glaucoma” is a disease that affects the optic nerve due to high pressures in the eye which ultimately causes blindness. Since the terminology tends to be confusing for patients to acknowledge, optometrists such as Dr. Chin, slowly explain the patient’s condition by using analogies in terms of the patients’ favorite hobbies or sports or define the prognosis in simpler terms using visual demonstrations. Members should learn all the lexis frequently used in the community to quickly recognize the circumstances of the patient and how to approach the issue appropriately.
Membership Qualifications
In order to become a member in the optometry discourse community, there are several traits that are extremely necessary to possess. Swales requires that members have a degree of prior knowledge and experience to become a member in the community (1990, p. 222). It is crucial for students to possess a loving passion for the field in addition to effective communication skills. The optometry community cannot progress or accomplish their goals without constant striving to treat patients effectively and evaluate techniques to enhance patient care. All members in the community are required to have the same level of knowledge and capabilities for handling patients. According to Training in Ophthalmology, patients want doctors who will focus their attention on them, treat them as an individual, involve them in decisions and seek to eradicate concerns, and explain procedures without using complex jargon (Sundaram, 2016). The book outlines the high expectations that patients want to receive from optometrists and optometric assistants. Failing to practice these characteristics will result in poor quality patient care and contribute to inefficiency within the community. The eyes are a crucial part of our body. Therefore, patients need to feel safe before allowing optometrists to care for them. Students who plan to join the community need to be aware of and practice these necessary skills regularly. Studies have shown, “models of teaching communication skills in optometry [...] are required as they are not inherent but must be developed” (Schmid, 2020, p. 362). It is through constant practice with public speaking, evaluation of effectiveness, and creating a habit of asking for feedback that these communication skills can be developed to serve the community. Communication skills cannot be simply learned in a course; they need to be exercised and advanced overtime through working alongside patients and healthcare professionals.
The academic path to become an optometrist begins with four years of undergraduate school to complete the prerequisites required for optometry school and a Bachelor’s degree. Students take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) in order to apply and get accepted into an optometry school. Before or during optometry school, residency or internships could be done under experienced optometrists to develop more experience in working directly with patients and learning new techniques for quality patient care. To obtain a job in the community as an optometric assistant and an optometrist, the applicant must possesses a skill set that involves communication, honesty, respectfulness, empathy, positivity, and drive.
Genre Analysis
To provide an in-depth explanation on the importance of genre communications within the field, I will be analyzing the MyVisionExpress, an electronic health record (EHR) software. This section will navigate and show students how an electronic health record software is generally operated by the optometry discourse community.
The importance of soft skills such as communication is often overlooked by students in the fields dominated by science like optometry. Having scientific knowledge is simply not enough to be an exceptional optometrist. Communication skills are required in addition to scientific knowledge to effectively collaborate with members in the community and to provide quality eyecare. This paper aims to investigate forms of communication that are necessary to maintain a reliable and prosperous optometry community. To execute this, I conducted an interview with an optometrist at a private practice and analyzed scholarly articles regarding communication techniques and effects on patient satisfaction. In addition, I conducted a genre analysis on an electronic health record (EHR), MyVisionExpress, to examine how it contributes to efficiency in improving patient care and included my own experiences as an optometric assistant to give students another perspective. As a result, it was revealed that the optometry community upholds optimizing patient satisfaction through effective forms of written and verbal communication among its members and patients. With this knowledge, it provides students with a preview into the profession of optometry and a full understanding of how it functions as a discourse community. It can be concluded that strong communication skills within the private practice or hospital is required to accomplish the community’s goals successfully and prevent irresponsible mistakes from occurring.
Introduction
Eyesight is one of the most important senses of the body that allow us to perceive the world around us. Optometry is a field that focuses on maintaining the health of patients’ eyes, diagnosing abnormal conditions, and correcting vision loss with lenses. The ultimate goal in optometry is to give patients the opportunity to see the world with more clarity by catering to their needs and wants in addition to developing and implementing effective optometric care practices. It is essential that eyecare professionals (i.e. optometrists and optometric assistants) within a hospital or private practice establish interpersonal skills in order to achieve this goal for the benefit of patients. Like other medical professions, verbal and written communication is consistently utilized throughout optometry to interact with patients and document patient health information. Lacking sufficient communication, however, leads to health-related mistakes and patient misunderstandings that will result in negative patient health effects as well as a bad reputation for the optometrist and office. This paper will explore the significance of communication and the types of communication skills that students need to possess before deciding to pursue a career in this “discourse community”.
As John Swales, a professor of linguistics at the University of Michigan, defines in his book, Genre Analysis, the term “discourse community” is defined as a group of people who fulfill the following six criteria: shared goals, mechanisms of intercommunication, participation, genre of communication, specific lexis, and membership requirements and hierarchy (220-222). This paper will be analyzing four of the six criteria: common goals, mechanisms of intercommunication, specific terminology, and membership qualifications. Information regarding benefits of communication on patient satisfaction and requirements for becoming a potential member will be clearly outlined to lead students interested in the optometry discourse community towards success.
Methods
To gain an intuitive understanding on the significance of communication in the optometry discourse community, primary research was conducted with an interview with Dr. Bruce Chin O.D. Dr. Chin has been practicing optometry for thirty-six years at his private practice, Laguna Creek Optometry. I gained insights into daily work routines, goals, systems of communication, and terminology from a professional’s perspective to help students grasp the general responsibilities of an optometrist and optometric assistants. For secondary sources, I utilized a training book and research articles that discuss how communication contributes to the effectiveness of the community. I analyzed a study, “Involving Patients in the Development of Interpersonal Skills of Optometry Students” by Katrina L. Schmid, Shelley Hopkins, Tina Huynh. The authors all share a strong background in optometry with doctoral degrees and clinical work. In this study, a survey was conducted for patients to assess the extent to which optometry graduate students practiced professionalism and communication toward them during an exam. Since patients greatly value communication, results point out the common weaknesses students struggle on to improve for the future. I also examined the book, Training in Ophthalmology, that models sufficient communication techniques to utilize during interactions with patients and other healthcare professionals. The purpose of this book is to provide a detailed demonstration of exactly what patients expect from the optometry community and teach students behaviors to optimize patient satisfaction.
For my genre analysis, I will be analyzing an electronic health record (EHR), specifically MyVisionExpress, a software that is often used by optometry practices including Laguna Creek Optometry. This database is predominantly utilized since appointments can be made and it contains patient demographics, exam history, insurance, medications and allergies, treatment plans, prescriptions, etc. all in one location. The article “Efficiency of Automation and Electronic Health Records in Optometric Practices'' by Francis L. McVeigh O.D., Aaron K. Tarbett O.D., Aaron M. Betts O.D., Thomas R. Boal Ph.D. closely investigates the reliability, accessibility, and its benefits on overall patient care. Moreover, as a current optometrist assistant working alongside Dr. Chin and patients, I will share what I have learned from daily application of communication skills throughout the office and illustrate how MyVisionExpress is a vital documentation method. Through the interview, scholarly articles, and my experience, the major role that communication plays in the optometry discourse community will be displayed to advance student understanding.
Results and Discussion
Common Goals
Among the optometry community, there are a set of common goals that define a discourse community. According to Swales, this is the most important characteristic of the six criteria that is outlined in order to maintain and develop the community properly (1990, p. 220). The goal of an optometrist is to maintain the overall health of the eye, educate patients on their diagnosis effectively, and provide care that is respectful to patients’ choices. Dr. Chin views optometry as a community that also revolves around interpersonal skills. A central goal Dr. Chin tries to accomplish daily at his practice “[is] to put patient priority care first, making sure the staff and I take care of patients to the best of our ability, and creating an environment in the office where the staff and patients are happy”. The optometrist, patient, and optometric assistants all need to work together as a team to ensure patients are taken care of as best as possible. Creating a positive environment motivates patients to be more comfortable in sharing their personal concerns with the physician which in turn allows the optometrist to tailor their care accordingly. Dr. Chin explains his inquirous style with patients, “In order to do my job, I need to learn more about the patient in regards to lifestyle and needs”. With this method of getting to know the patient personally to build a relationship, optometrists can direct their examination and treatment plans to the demands and preferences of patients. As a result, patients feel understood and respected for their personal situations, decisions, and concerns.
Patients are the top priority for all members of the community. In hopes of eliminating weaknesses present in the community, Schmid et al. conducted a survey to examine patients’ judgements on optometry graduate students’ interpersonal skills. The results from the study showed, “Lower scores occurred for questions related to clarity of explanations, reassurance provided, confidence, and consideration of the individual personal situations of the patient” (Schmid, 2020, p. 363). It is transparent here that students lack confidence when speaking to patients, resulting in unclear explanations. With this critique, students can work to strengthen their confidence to communicate with patients more comfortably with empathy and clarity. The survey allows optometrists to reevaluate their methods, developing traits to successfully eliminate all potential miscommunication and feelings of doubt among patients. If communication is not successful, not only does it affect optometrists’ ability to achieve the community’s goals but it also affects the patients’ wellbeing and the reputation of the office. Thus, the ability of a student to communicate effectively is the backbone to accomplishing the central goal of providing exceptional care for patients.
Mechanisms of Intercommunication
Sharing common goals is only one aspect of a functioning discourse community, Swales also mentions that discourse communities should also share mechanisms of intercommunication to communicate with all members successfully (1990, p. 221). Within the optometry office, there exists crucial verbal and written communication among optometrists and optometric assistants. As an optometric assistant, I have performed pretest exams on patients to collect glasses prescription measurement, eye pressure, and ocular photos. Speaking skills are utilized to explain to the patient the purpose of each machine and the protocol to put patients at ease and maximize accurate results. If the results from the pretests are inaccurate, it can decrease the efficiency and productivity of succeeding appointments. Training in Ophthalmology, urges students to communicate with healthcare professionals by, “address[ing] the appropriate person, at the appropriate time, using appropriate language and the appropriate medium” (Sundaram, 2016). By verbalizing to the doctor the room the patient is located in, patient last name, and what tests have been performed, the optometrist avoids patient misidentification. This gives sufficient time for the optometrist to review the patient's health record, current issues, and results from the pretest before entering the exam room. I have learned that communicating with patients over the phone to make appointments or answer questions requires a positive attitude and tone. It makes it easier for me to comprehend what the patient needs and resolve concerns quickly. Clear verbal communication eliminates careless mistakes that affect the normal routine of the office and guarantees that there will not be any unpredictable negative outcomes.
Written communication includes electronic health records, emails and letters, and scientific research. Electronic health records allow optometrists to document every health concern or issue pertaining to a patient’s ocular health. All necessary history is recorded on one database for easy access to refer to when uncertainties arise. Treatment plans and diagnoses in the chart are straightforward and organized for other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehension. Letters and emails to patients and doctors are often written to transfer patients to other specialties such as ophthalmology or lasik, therefore appropriate language should be applied to successfully communicate with other physicians the patients’ needs. Dr. Chin believes it is also necessary for optometrists to stay updated on the types of research being done currently on eye conditions in the search for potential treatments and preventions for vision loss. Research is a very powerful communicative process that discovers breakthroughs, expands knowledge of the community, and implements improved patient care and protocols for a stronger optometry future. Therefore, all forms of written and verbal communication among members are essential in accomplishing the community’s responsibilities.
Specific Terminology
Specific lexis are used in the field of optometry; Swales defines these “lexis” as community-specific abbreviations and specific words (1990, p. 222). Dr. Chin lists a few terminologies that are consistently used in the community: “OD” is right eye, “OS” is left eye, “OU” for both eyes. These abbreviations are dominantly used when addressing each side of the eye for prescriptions and observations. “CEE” stands for “comprehensive eye exam”. During this exam, “DVA” and “NVA” are determined. This is “distance visual acuity” and “near visual acuity” respectively. “DFE” stands for “dilated fundus exam”. For this particular exam, dilating drops are placed into the eye to widen the pupil for a better visual of the inside and back of the eye. Without the drops, it is difficult to assess healthiness and identify abnormalities inside the eye. “CL” is short for “contact lenses”. “IOP” means “intraocular pressures” within the eye. As for eye drops and drug prescriptions, the following abbreviations direct patient usage: “QD” is once a day, “BID” is twice a day, “QID” is four times a day, and “QHS” is nighttime before bed. Presbyopic, myopia, cataracts, and glaucoma are the most common conditions that patients have. “Presbyopia” is defined as farsightedness, the loss of the eyes’ ability to focus on objects at near. In contrast, “myopia” is nearsightedness, objects at a distance are blurry. “Cataracts” are extremely common in older patients when the lens inside of the eye gradually becomes cloudy leading to vision loss. “Glaucoma” is a disease that affects the optic nerve due to high pressures in the eye which ultimately causes blindness. Since the terminology tends to be confusing for patients to acknowledge, optometrists such as Dr. Chin, slowly explain the patient’s condition by using analogies in terms of the patients’ favorite hobbies or sports or define the prognosis in simpler terms using visual demonstrations. Members should learn all the lexis frequently used in the community to quickly recognize the circumstances of the patient and how to approach the issue appropriately.
Membership Qualifications
In order to become a member in the optometry discourse community, there are several traits that are extremely necessary to possess. Swales requires that members have a degree of prior knowledge and experience to become a member in the community (1990, p. 222). It is crucial for students to possess a loving passion for the field in addition to effective communication skills. The optometry community cannot progress or accomplish their goals without constant striving to treat patients effectively and evaluate techniques to enhance patient care. All members in the community are required to have the same level of knowledge and capabilities for handling patients. According to Training in Ophthalmology, patients want doctors who will focus their attention on them, treat them as an individual, involve them in decisions and seek to eradicate concerns, and explain procedures without using complex jargon (Sundaram, 2016). The book outlines the high expectations that patients want to receive from optometrists and optometric assistants. Failing to practice these characteristics will result in poor quality patient care and contribute to inefficiency within the community. The eyes are a crucial part of our body. Therefore, patients need to feel safe before allowing optometrists to care for them. Students who plan to join the community need to be aware of and practice these necessary skills regularly. Studies have shown, “models of teaching communication skills in optometry [...] are required as they are not inherent but must be developed” (Schmid, 2020, p. 362). It is through constant practice with public speaking, evaluation of effectiveness, and creating a habit of asking for feedback that these communication skills can be developed to serve the community. Communication skills cannot be simply learned in a course; they need to be exercised and advanced overtime through working alongside patients and healthcare professionals.
The academic path to become an optometrist begins with four years of undergraduate school to complete the prerequisites required for optometry school and a Bachelor’s degree. Students take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) in order to apply and get accepted into an optometry school. Before or during optometry school, residency or internships could be done under experienced optometrists to develop more experience in working directly with patients and learning new techniques for quality patient care. To obtain a job in the community as an optometric assistant and an optometrist, the applicant must possesses a skill set that involves communication, honesty, respectfulness, empathy, positivity, and drive.
Genre Analysis
To provide an in-depth explanation on the importance of genre communications within the field, I will be analyzing the MyVisionExpress, an electronic health record (EHR) software. This section will navigate and show students how an electronic health record software is generally operated by the optometry discourse community.
Figure 1. A calendar showing Dr Chin’s typical weekly schedule consisting of a set of appointments indicating the type of exam for each time slot.
Figure 2. A sample patient exam chart where documentation of the patients’ ocular health and results are recorded. The tabs highlighted in red are mainly used by optometrists during the exam and terms highlighted in yellow are areas optometrists glance over for a brief summary.
As shown in Figure 1, the home page of the software consists of a calendar with a set of appointments for each day. Each appointment is color coded for easier distinction of what type exam will be constructed for each patient. This allows the staff to check in patients, work according to schedule, and book appointments months ahead. MyVisionExpress can be accessed by all staff with a computer to retrieve any patient information and is essential to maintain the productivity of the optometry community. Figure 2 shows a typical exam chart of a patient. The chart is divided into subcategories that include: a summary of the patient’s health, complaints, medications, internal and external health of the eye, refraction, contacts prescription, and lastly the assessment or treatment plan. The overall format of the system contributes to organization and convenience. The “summary” tab is extremely helpful for the doctor to briefly browse the information with minimal search and clicking. The information is also separated by boxes for faster recognition. Although all tabs are equally important, the “assessment” tab states the diagnosis and treatment plans that have been decided for the patient based on results obtained from the “refraction”, “internal”, and “external” tabs. When optometrists input diagnoses and plans, it should be factual, straightforward, and formal to ensure other physicians are able to comprehend the severity of the patients’ condition. Seen in Figure 1 and 2, abbreviations are primarily used throughout the chart to save space on the screen. For example, “Sph” and “Cyl” are used for vision correction meaning “sphere” and “cylinder”, respectively. This allows a larger view of the entire patient history on the screen. Students should be aware of the community's lexis to interpret the patient charts successfully. A major benefit of MyVisionExpress is that it reminds patients of their routine appointment each year through automated messages to ensure follow up with patient ocular health. This communication with the patient enables the optometrist to maintain patient care consistently each year.
The EHR’s main purpose is to promote structure and productivity. In comparison to using files in the form of paper, it greatly limits collaboration with doctors and staff. This method of record keeping is unreliable since it increases risk of miscommunication due to failure of recording information in charts and the possibility of loss or damage of files. In addition, offices have a lack of storage due to a high capacity of patients. A study explores how efficient EHR’s are in optometric practices. It was ruled that EHR’s are a better communication method than relying on patients for documents since, “patients [...] may lose the documents [medical record] or fail to bring them to their appointments. Patient care may be compromised if accurate past medical and ocular histories are unavailable” (McVeigh, 2008, p. 46). Without past medical history or prior information on the patient, optometrists are required to perform more tests to gather information for safe treatment. EHR’s contain all health information giving doctors the ability to have constant access to the patient chart and transfer information electronically to other offices for further treatment if necessary. Depending on the patient to bring information to the appointment is not practical due to forgetfulness and confusion. In addition, results conclude, “EHR’s have been shown to improve the legibility of clinical documentation” (McVeigh, 2008, p. 46-47). By completing patient charts on MyVisionExpress, it allows accurate and updated data of the patient. Concerns of not being able to interpret different handwriting and misplacement of files will be avoided with the utilization of an EHR. Thus, EHR’s contribute heavily to accomplishing the goals of optometrists and gives the opportunity to provide exceptional care for patients.
Conclusion
Students who are planning to pursue the optometry profession now have a full understanding of the optometry discourse community. Research of the optometry discourse community has revealed that a strong development of interpersonal skills and working as a team contributes to the community’s productivity and patient satisfaction. Through the examination of Swales’ criteria on the optometry discourse community, it is explicit in how the community functions through common goals, methods of communication, lexis, and membership qualifications. Hopefully, my experience as a member in the community gives students a better perspective of what to expect in order to decide whether they would like to pursue this career. Communication is an essential aspect in this community that requires constant practice, observation, and experience to master. Students can further develop the interpersonal skills outlined in this paper by shadowing optometrists or obtaining a job position as an optometric assistant at a hospital or private practice. Through rigorous training and schooling, optometrists become fluent in lexis, navigating the EHR software, and comprehending patient chart information to meet the communication standards of the discourse community. Optometry is a medical profession that requires a range of skills, most importantly passion, confidence, and communication, but the overall satisfaction of providing clearer vision for patients through a lens is what matters most.
The EHR’s main purpose is to promote structure and productivity. In comparison to using files in the form of paper, it greatly limits collaboration with doctors and staff. This method of record keeping is unreliable since it increases risk of miscommunication due to failure of recording information in charts and the possibility of loss or damage of files. In addition, offices have a lack of storage due to a high capacity of patients. A study explores how efficient EHR’s are in optometric practices. It was ruled that EHR’s are a better communication method than relying on patients for documents since, “patients [...] may lose the documents [medical record] or fail to bring them to their appointments. Patient care may be compromised if accurate past medical and ocular histories are unavailable” (McVeigh, 2008, p. 46). Without past medical history or prior information on the patient, optometrists are required to perform more tests to gather information for safe treatment. EHR’s contain all health information giving doctors the ability to have constant access to the patient chart and transfer information electronically to other offices for further treatment if necessary. Depending on the patient to bring information to the appointment is not practical due to forgetfulness and confusion. In addition, results conclude, “EHR’s have been shown to improve the legibility of clinical documentation” (McVeigh, 2008, p. 46-47). By completing patient charts on MyVisionExpress, it allows accurate and updated data of the patient. Concerns of not being able to interpret different handwriting and misplacement of files will be avoided with the utilization of an EHR. Thus, EHR’s contribute heavily to accomplishing the goals of optometrists and gives the opportunity to provide exceptional care for patients.
Conclusion
Students who are planning to pursue the optometry profession now have a full understanding of the optometry discourse community. Research of the optometry discourse community has revealed that a strong development of interpersonal skills and working as a team contributes to the community’s productivity and patient satisfaction. Through the examination of Swales’ criteria on the optometry discourse community, it is explicit in how the community functions through common goals, methods of communication, lexis, and membership qualifications. Hopefully, my experience as a member in the community gives students a better perspective of what to expect in order to decide whether they would like to pursue this career. Communication is an essential aspect in this community that requires constant practice, observation, and experience to master. Students can further develop the interpersonal skills outlined in this paper by shadowing optometrists or obtaining a job position as an optometric assistant at a hospital or private practice. Through rigorous training and schooling, optometrists become fluent in lexis, navigating the EHR software, and comprehending patient chart information to meet the communication standards of the discourse community. Optometry is a medical profession that requires a range of skills, most importantly passion, confidence, and communication, but the overall satisfaction of providing clearer vision for patients through a lens is what matters most.
Works Cited
Chin, B. (2021). In-person Interview.
McVeigh, F. L., Tarbett, A. K., Betts, A. M., & Boal, T. R. (2008). Efficiency of automation and electronic health records in optometric practice. Optometry - Journal of the American Optometric Association, 79(1), 43- 49. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1529183907006045
Schmid, K. L., Hopkins, S., & Huynh, T. (2020). Involving patients in the development of interpersonal skills of optometry students. Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 103(3), 361–367. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1111/cxo.12939
Sundaram, V., Barsam, A., Barker, L., & Khaw, P. (2016). Training in Ophthalmology (Oxford Specialty Training: Training In) (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
Chin, B. (2021). In-person Interview.
McVeigh, F. L., Tarbett, A. K., Betts, A. M., & Boal, T. R. (2008). Efficiency of automation and electronic health records in optometric practice. Optometry - Journal of the American Optometric Association, 79(1), 43- 49. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1529183907006045
Schmid, K. L., Hopkins, S., & Huynh, T. (2020). Involving patients in the development of interpersonal skills of optometry students. Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 103(3), 361–367. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1111/cxo.12939
Sundaram, V., Barsam, A., Barker, L., & Khaw, P. (2016). Training in Ophthalmology (Oxford Specialty Training: Training In) (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.