Collaborative Strategies to Address the Myopia Epidemic

by Heidi Wagner, OD, MPH, FAAO, FNAP
Cleveland Clinic

As defined by the American Optometric Association, Doctors of Optometry (e.g., ODs, optometrists) are primary eye care providers who examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases and disorders of the eye and visual system.¹  Their clinical expertise extends beyond vision correction and refractive error management; they also diagnose and treat ocular diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and dry eye syndrome.  In addition, optometrists play a critical role in the early detection of systemic health conditions—including diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune disorders, and neurological disease—by identifying ocular manifestations observable during routine eye examinations.  Early identification of these signs supports timely referral and coordination with other healthcare professionals, ultimately improving patient outcomes and contributing to public health.

How to be a Hear-O: 
Leveraging interdisciplinary partnerships to improve hearing healthcare

by Sarah A. Sydlowski, AuD, PhD, MBA, FNAP
Cleveland Clinic

If you live long enough, there is a nearly 100% chance that you will live with some degree of hearing loss. You probably already know and interact on a regular basis with someone who has hearing loss. Hearing loss is the third most common chronic health condition among older adults, currently affecting nearly 40 million people¹. Even more concerning, approximately 29 million are untreated – living with a condition they believe is just a “normal” consequence of aging. Yes, hearing loss in older adults is common. But that fact doesn’t mean that it should not be managed.

A Message from the NAP President
Anthony Breitbach

Dear Colleagues, I reach out to you this summer wishing you the best, but also realizing we are in a time of substantial change in policy and funding in the academic and health care sectors.

Each year at the National Academies of Practice (NAP) Annual Induction Banquet, NAP bestows awards to truly deserving candidates who are nominated by their peers.  This year’s awards were presented on March 5, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay at a black tie gala.

The Creativity in Practice & Education Award was established to recognize and encourage interprofessional programs, projects, and models which focus on the improvement of health care.  This year’s award went to Thomas Jefferson University’s Complex Care Curriculum – 3Cs.

NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF PRACTICE WELCOMES ATHLETIC TRAINING ACADEMY

The National Academies of Practice held their 2021 Virtual Forum on March 18-20 and as part of this momentous 40^th anniversary event, welcomed their newest academy – The Athletic Training Academy.

NAP believes that healthcare practice with an interprofessional foundation focused on the whole person is essential for effectively addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and other similarly complex and multisystem conditions that necessitate coordinated and comprehensive delivery of interprofessional collaborative care from multiple professions.

Many professional associations have requested telehealth provisions be included among acceptable and clinically appropriate services to facilitate truly patient-centered care (see addendum for a list of professional associations representative of the NAP membership). To provide quality interprofessional collaborative care during the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth services have been expanded for a number of professions, with positive outcomes. National advocacy organizations, such as the National Association for the Support of Long Term Care (NASL) and the National Association of Rehabilitation Providers and Agencies (NARA), have partnered with professional associations to advance the appropriate use of telehealth in an effort to assure universal access to health care.

NAP has published a Commitment Statement on Equal and Safe Access to Health Care and Individual Health and Well-Being. NAP is committed to do our part to end injustices and advocate for equal and safe access to health care, individual health, and well-being, and delivering person-centered evidence-based care through an interprofessional approach. 

Read our full statement here.

NAP submitted comments and recommended edits to the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) on their definition of "Omissions of Care."  View the letter and comments here.

As a key stakeholder to the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC), NAP had an opportunity to provide public comments to the ONC and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the 21st Century Cures Act: Interoperability, Information Blocking, and the ONC Health IT Certification Program.

View our comments to ONC here.

NAP submitted comments to the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) on Reducing Regulatory and Administrative Burden Relating to the Use of Health IT and Electronic Health Records (EHRs).

View the comments here.