Charles F. Mullen

Emerging Trends in Optometric Clinical Programs Governance

November 25th, 2007 | by Charles F. Mullen |

• Optometry colleges’ clinical programs will be reorganized into separate legal entities with their own governing boards and administrations. Creating a legal entity will provide for separation of risk - giving a degree of protection for College assets from risks associated with the provision of health care. For further information please read: Distinct and Separate Legal Structures for Clinical Programs of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
• Schools and colleges will establish accounting models that differentiate clinical program capital and operating costs from the costs associated with clinical education.
• Negotiated educational services payments will be made to the separately-organized clinical programs for educational services. The clinical entity will make administrative services payments to the school or college for any shared services.
• The ability for soliciting funds will be improved as foundations, patients, alumni and others who do not support educational institutions will find patient care a worthy cause to support. Free care pools provided through various organizations will become available to the clinical organization.
• Separation of the college and clinical programs Boards of Trustees/Directors and Administrations will facilitate the appointment of individuals with different skill sets appropriate to the mission, values and priorities of the respective organizations. Separation of the Boards and Administrations will encourage more focused attention to the priorities of the respective entities which are often different.