South Carolina Code of Regulations Chapter 95 - DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING AND REGULATION BOARD OF EXAMINERS IN OPTOMETRY
South Carolina Code of Regulations Chapter 95 falls under the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) and specifically pertains to the South Carolina Board of Examiners in Optometry. These regulations provide the detailed framework for the licensure, practice, and professional conduct of optometrists in South Carolina.
The core mission of the South Carolina Board of Examiners in Optometry, as reflected in Chapter 95, is to protect the public's health, safety, and welfare by:
Ensuring qualified practitioners: Licensing individuals who meet the necessary educational, examination, and ethical standards to practice optometry.
Defining the scope of practice: Clearly outlining the procedures and services that licensed optometrists are permitted to perform, including the use of diagnostic and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents, and certain surgical procedures as authorized by law.
Establishing professional conduct and ethical guidelines: Promoting competent, ethical, and safe delivery of optometric care.
Investigating and disciplining licensees: Addressing violations of the Optometry Practice Act or the Board's regulations to maintain public trust and protect patients.
Mandating continuing education: Requiring licensees to maintain and enhance their professional competence.
Here's a breakdown of the key areas typically covered in South Carolina Code of Regulations Chapter 95:
Section 95-1 - Prescribing Contact Lenses as Practice of Optometry: This section clarifies that prescribing contact lenses falls within the scope of optometric practice.
Section 95-2 - Advertisements: Regulations governing how optometrists can advertise their services, ensuring that advertisements are truthful and not misleading.
Section 95-3 - Licensure Requirements: This crucial section details the qualifications and procedures for obtaining an optometry license in South Carolina, including:
Education: Graduation from an optometry school or college accredited by the Accreditation Council for Optometric Education (ACOE).
Examinations: Passing the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) examinations (Parts I, II, and III, which often includes the Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease (TMOD) section) and a South Carolina Optometric Jurisprudence Examination.
Application Process: Procedures for initial licensure and may include provisions for licensure by endorsement for qualified optometrists from other states.
Restricted Volunteer License: Recent updates indicate provisions for a restricted volunteer license for qualified optometrists to provide services in specific clinics to underserved populations.
Section 95-4 - Continuing Education: Mandatory continuing education (CE) requirements for license renewal. For example, optometrists in South Carolina are generally required to complete 40 hours of CE every two years, with specific limitations on the number of hours that can be obtained through online courses (e.g., no more than 15 online hours, with further limits on pre-recorded online hours).
Section 95-5 - Licensure By Endorsement: Specific rules and criteria for optometrists who are licensed in other states to become licensed in South Carolina without having to retake all the initial examinations. This usually requires proof of good standing, equivalent scope of practice, and often a minimum number of years of clinical practice.
Section 95-6 - Professional Standards For Patient Records: Detailed requirements for maintaining accurate, confidential, and comprehensive patient records. This is crucial for patient care continuity and for legal/regulatory compliance.
Section 95-7 - Optometrists' Offices: General Requirements, Patient Records Handling, and Sanitary Standards: This section covers physical office requirements, proper handling of patient records, and maintaining sanitary conditions within the optometric practice to ensure patient safety and hygiene. This also includes proper cleaning and disinfection of instruments and equipment.
Section 95-8 - Ethics: This section outlines the ethical duties and responsibilities of licensed optometrists towards their patients, the public, and the profession. This often includes principles like patient paramountcy, informed consent, appropriate referrals, avoiding conflicts of interest, and maintaining confidentiality.
In conclusion, South Carolina Code of Regulations Chapter 95 provides the essential regulatory framework for the South Carolina Board of Examiners in Optometry to oversee the practice of optometry, ensuring that vision care professionals in the state are highly qualified, practice ethically, and deliver safe and effective eye and vision care to the public.
RELATED Blog
0 comments