Ohio Admin. Code 4725-5-16 - Display of name and office requirements

The name or all names of optometrists practicing at a location must be prominently displayed to the public. The minimum requirement is the licensee's name and O.D., or optometrist or doctor of optometry.

If optometrists are employed by another optometrist, the minimum requirement is to display the name of the employing optometrist responsible for the administration of examinations at each such location with the names of examining optometrists posted at the entrances to exam rooms.

The provisions outlined in the above two paragraphs are not required if an optometrist is in practice at a health maintenance organization, public health clinic, clinic affiliated with a school of optometry, a hospital, licensed health care facility, or as a consultant to industry or an educational facility. In these locations the optometrist will wear an identifying name plate badge which contains the designation of the licensee when in direct patient contact and give the patient a prescription with the required identifying information.

An optometrist has the responsibility to establish and maintain a safe and hygienic office adequately equipped to provide full optometric services within the scope of the licensure of the practitioner. The board requires the following minimum equipment needed to provide a full scope examination which shall include, but not be limited to, tonometer, slit lamp, and instrumentation to examine the retina and to perform visual fields. All optometric examination locations shall be equipped with adequate hand washing facilities on location for use by optometrists and patients..

(A) For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply to opticians and registered apprentices:

(1) "Licensed dispensing optician" means an optician who has met the requirements of sections 4725.47 to 4725.51 of the Revised Code and who holds a current valid license issued by the board.

(2) "Licensed ocularist" means an ocularist who has met the requirements of sections 4725.47 to 4725.51 of the Revised Code and who holds a current valid license issued by the board.

(3)(2) "Patient" means any recipient of optical or ocularistry care provided by a licensed dispensing optician, licensed ocularist. apprentice optician or apprentice ocularist.

(4)(3) "Apprentice", "registered apprentice" means a person registered with the board to engage in a learning experience under the direct supervision of the registered supervisor.

(5)(4) "Prescription" means the written or verbal directions or instructions as specified by a physician or optometrist licensed by any state for preparing an optical aid for a patient.

(6)(5) "Registered supervisor" means the licensed dispensing optician or ocularist registered with the board as the supervising licensed optician or the supervising ocularist, as appropriate, for the registered apprentice optician. or the registered apprentice ocularist

(B) A licensed dispensing optician shall provide opticianry care within the scope of practice of optical dispensing as set forth in division (C) of section 4725.40 of the Revised Code and the rules of the board.

(C) A licensed dispensing optician shall maintain current knowledge of the duties, responsibilities and accountabilities for safe opticianry care.

(D) A licensed optician shall demonstrate competence and accountability in all areas of practice in which the licensed dispensing optician is engaged, which includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(1) Consistent performance of all aspects of opticianry care; and

(2) When the opticianry care to be provided is in accordance with division (H) of section 4725.40 of the Revised Code, the licensed dispensing optician has a specific current prescription from a physician or optometrist licensed by any state for preparing an optical aid for a patient.

(E) A licensed dispensing optician shall:

Clarify and implement any appropriately authorized prescription for a patient when the licensed dispensing optician has reason to believe the prescription is:

(1) Inaccurate;

(2) Not properly authorized;

(3) Not current or valid; or

(4) Contraindicated by other documented information.

(5) A licensed dispensing optician shall maintain the confidentiality of patient information.

(F) At all times when a licensed dispensing optician or ocularist is are providing care to a patient all licensees shall:

(1) Wear an identifying badge with his/her first name and designation of licensee;

(2) Cause any apprentices under his/her supervision to wear an identifying badge with the name of the apprentice and the designation of apprentice licensee

(3) Appropriately document the care provided;

(4) Not falsify any client record or any other document prepared or utilized in the course of, or in conjunction with, opticianry or ocularistry practice;

(5) Treat each patient with courtesy, respect, and with full recognition of dignity and individuality; and

(6) Provide the appropriate direction, supervision and evaluation of all tasks performed by the apprentices registered under the licensee.

(G) When opticianry practice, as set forth in section 4725.40 of the Revised Code, is supervised, only a licensed dispensing optician shall supervise the practice of other licensed dispensing opticians or registered dispensing apprentices.

(H) A licensed dispensing optician shall not submit or cause to be submitted any false, misleading, or deceptive statement, information, or documentation to the board, to current employers, or to any future employers for positions requiring a license as a dispensing optician.

(I) A licensed dispensing optician, when functioning in a supervisory role, shall assure that:

(1) Each dispensing optician under the supervising licensed dispensing optician has a current, valid license and wall certificate to practice as a licensed dispensing optician, and that the license and wall certificate are displayed in a conspicuous place at the place of the practice of opticianry;

(2) Each apprentice optician has a current valid registration that is displayed in a conspicuous place at the place of the practice of apprentice opticianry; and

(3) Each dispensing optician and each apprentice optician under the supervising licensed dispensing optician wears an identifying badge with the licensed optician's or apprentice optician's name and the designation of either licensed dispensing optician or apprentice optician as appropriate.

(J) A licensed ocularist shall provide ocularistry care within the scope of practice of ocularistry as set forth in division (J) of section 4725.40 of the Revised Code and the rules of the board.

(K) A licensed ocularist shall maintain current knowledge of the duties, responsibilities and accountabilities for safe ocularistry care.

(L) A licensed ocularist shall demonstrate competence and accountability in all area of practice in which the licensed ocularist is engaged, which includes, but is not limited to, the consistent performance of all aspects of ocularistry care.

(M) A licensed ocularist shall:

(1) Clarify and implement any appropriately authorized prescription for a patient when the licensed ocularist has reason to believe the prescription is:

(a) Inaccurate;

(b) Not properly authorized;

(c) Not current or valid; or

(d) Contraindicated by other documented information.

(2) When clarifying a prescription, the licensed ocularist in a timely manner shall:

(a) Consult with the appropriate licensed practitioner; and

(b) Document that the licensed practitioner has been consulted and notified.

(N) A licensed ocularist shall maintain the confidentiality of patient information.

(O) When ocularistry practice, as set forth in section 4725.40 of the Revised Code, is supervised or evaluated, only a licensed ocularist shall supervise the practice of ocularistry by other licensed ocularists or registered apprentice ocularists.

(P) A licensed ocularist, when functioning in a supervising role, shall assure that adequate procedures are in place and implemented to verify that:

(1) Each ocularist under the supervising ocularist has a current, valid license and wall certificate to practice as a licensed ocularist and that the wall certificate and license are displayed in a conspicuous place at the place of the practice of ocularistry; and

(2) Each apprentice ocularist has a current valid registration that is displayed in a conspicuous place at the place of practice of the practice of apprentice ocularistry.

Notes

Ohio Admin. Code 4725-5-16

Effective: 11/30/2023
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 9/14/2023 and 11/20/2028
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4725.09, 4725.44
Rule Amplifies: 4725.09. 4725.19, 4725.44
Prior Effective Dates: 06/26/1992, 04/17/1995, 06/01/1999, 07/28/2008, 08/30/2019