As my time and tenure as State Board President (member
since 2000, president since 2005) and QEI Chair (member since
1995, chair since 2000), comes to a close, I find my self becoming
nostalgic. I have enjoyed the many people associated with the QEI
and State Board, as well as the many challenges and accomplishments
we faced in optometry over the years and would like to share a few
with you.
The QEI: Quality Enhancement & Improvement Committee was legislated in 1995
and the original team of optometrists, Beverly Miller, O.D. (chair), Shari Strier O.D., Rob
Stutman, O.D., Judy Goldstein O.D., Kevin Darcey O.D. , Jeff Jolly O.D., Jim Colgain O.D.,
and I spent hours developing the record review process (thousands of records reviewed over
the years) and the various CE items and CE project (2002) that went with the record review
process in order to educate and elevate our profession. It was a pleasure to travel to An-
napolis in 2002 and demonstrate before the legislature how optometrists in the State of
Maryland were proving competence and were leaders. In addition, we demonstrated how
we were the only profession and only the second state (South Dakota) that proactively re-
views its peers for quality control. It was a pleasure to stand there and welcome our ophthal-
mologic colleagues and other professions to do the same, this being long before the thoughts
of “maintenance of competence” and “board certification”. Optometry in Maryland should be
proud and realize how optometry in Maryland has changed over the past two decades.
I want to thank the State Board mentors, Cal Osterman, O.D. and Beverly Miller,
O.D., without whose example and guidance I would not have been as effective a leader for
our profession. I testified in Annapolis in 2004 regarding foreign trained optometrists and the
education that is required to practice and worked collaboratively with the Physicians Board in
2005-2006 for the implementation of the use of topical steroids legislated for TPA certified
optometrists in Maryland. The Board successfully implemented its first on-line license renewal
process in 2009 (see Online Renewal) and has dealt with numerous issues at each of its
meetings. These just name a few of the challenges that have helped to bring optometry, like it
or not, into the 21
st
century.
Optometry still has many additional challenges; healthcare reform, board certifica-
tion, rehabilitation programs, online services for license renewal (OE TRACKER), on-line CE,
on-line health care (telemedicine), new medications, and new procedures to deliver health-
care to our ever growing and ageing population. I feel good leaving the QEI and State Board
(May 2010) knowing that we are in good and capable hands. It is a wonderful thing to see
colleagues step up and lead us into the next decade. Thank you for allowing me the opportu-
nity to serve.
Sincerely,
David D. Reed, O.D., F.A.A.O.
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Final Presidential
Address
1
Welcome New
Licensees
2
Board Meetings /
Board Members
2
Welcome & Farewell
2
Board Election
3
Online Renewal 3
OE Tracker 3
CE Requirements 3
Disciplinary Actions 3
QEI Committee 4
Regulation Update 4
Consumer’s Eye 5
Medical Records 5
Change of Address 6
MARYLAND BOARD OF
EXAMINERS IN
OPTOMETRY
JANUARY 2010
Final Presidential Address
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Board Meetings
January 27, 2010
March 24, 2010
May 26, 2010
July 28, 2010
September 22, 2010
November 17, 2010
The Regular Session of Board meetings
is open to the public and held at
4201 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore,
MD 21215 in room #105,
at 9:30 a.m.
PAGE 2
There are 822 optometrists with
active license status and 312 with
inactive licensure status. The Board
welcomes the following licensees to
the state.
Bryce Appelbaum, O.D.
Jonathan Bondroff, O.D.
Pamela Brogden, O.D.
Andrew Chan, O.D.
Ying Chen, O.D.
Onah Cho, O.D.
Eric Conley, O.D.
Marietta Dawson-White, O.D.
Nahan Erfan, O.D.
Whitney Fahrman, O.D.
Iliana Garrido, O.D.
Craig Goren, O.D.
Linda Haider, O.D.
Brandi Hawthorne, O.D.
Tracy Hering, O.D.
Maria Higgins, O.D.
Jennifer Husack, O.D.
Syed Hussain, O.D.
Eric Jan, O .D.
Margaret Johnston, O.D.
Andrea Joseph, O.D.
Jena Jung, O.D.
Sona Karla, O.D.
Nagaraju Kemidi, O.D.
Jason Ludwig, O.D.
Eveena Mahal, O.D.
Alexis Malkin, O.D.
Kimberly Mark, O.D.
Michael McGrath, O.D.
Ronak Mehta, O.D.
Jonathan Nebb, O.D.
Myan Nguyen, O.D.
Thanh-Vi Nguyen, O.D.
Tony Nguyen, O.D.
Iva Nosi, O.D.
Shruti Patel, O.D.
Tuyet-Suong Pham, O.D.
James Revennaugh, O.D.
Francisco Richardson, O.D.
Sphear Seng, O.D.
Welcome New Licensees
Scott Song, O.D.
Suchi Sood, O.D.
Nadia Strucko, O.D.
Kathryn Thompson, O.D.
Steven Thurston, O.D.
Linh Trang, O.D.
Thien Van, O.D.
Rita Vekker, O.D.
Jessica Vincenzi, O.D.
Board Members
Thomas Azman, O.D., President
Continuing Education Committee
Legislative Liaison
Term Expiration 5/31/2012
Phyllis M. Strickland, O.D., Treasurer
ARBO Liaison
Term Expiration 5/31/2012
Kisha Fields Matthews, Secretary
Consumer Member
Term Expiration 5/31/2012
Jo Anne Brilliant, O.D., Board Member
Chair, Quality Enhancement & Improvement Committee
Continuing Education Committee
Term Expiration 5/31/2011
Stephen D. Kwan, O.D., Board Member
Term Expiration 5/31/2013
David D. Reed, O.D., F.A.A.O., Board Member
Term Expiration 5/31/2010
Frederick J. Walsh, Ph.D., Consumer Member
Term Expiration 5/31/2012
Farewell
Dr. Jeanne Murphy-Moore,
O.D.
The Board bid farewell to Dr. Jeanne
Murphy-Moore, O.D. at a luncheon in
her honor in September to recognize
her dedication and contribution to the
vision health of the citizens of
Maryland, Dr. Thomas Azman, O.D., is pictured presenting her with the
“ Board Plaque”, a specially designed plaque presented to outgoing Board
members and Board Administrators since 2000. In addition, she received
certificates from the Secretary of the Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene and the Governor. Jeanne completed 2 full terms on the Board
which expired on 5/31/09. She served as Board secretary for seven years
and ARBO liaison, where she represented the Board at the annual
business meeting of the association. Dr. Murphy-Moore was an active
and engaged participant with ARBO and was appointed to the
Contemporary Issues and International Affairs committees.
THE BOARD
WELCOMES
Stephen D. Kwan, O.D. has been a
Maryland resident for 29 years. He is a
graduate of the University of California
Berkeley School of Optometry and has
managed two Optometric offices. He is
also currently serving as a liaison be-
tween ODs at 18 different practices in Maryland and Virginia and
corporate offices based in Ohio. Dr. Kwan received his BS in ac-
counting from Indiana University and served as a CPA for a large
international accounting firm prior to becoming an Optometrist. He
is also fluent in Spanish. When not at work, Dr. Kwan enjoys spend-
ing time with his wife and three children.
Online Renewal 2009
PAGE 3
The Board successfully completed its first online license re-
newal process in June 2009. Some interesting statistics indicate
that 86% of all active licensees renewed online. Of that number,
86% renewed using a credit and the remaining 14% submitted
checks. Although, all licensees were required to post their con-
tinuing education activities online, there were 141 licensees
selected to submit documentation for the audit. There was a
96% compliance rate and the 4% who were non-compliant have
failed to submit verification of current CPR certification to
date. Thirty-three percent (33%) of licensees completed the
evaluation, which showed that the instructions for completing
the renewal application were clear; the online renewal website
was easy to use; the timeliness and efficiency of the process
was good; and there were very few who experienced technical
difficulties. The evaluation comments, however, demonstrated
overwhelmingly that the posting of the continuing education
activities was tiresome, labor intensive, cumbersome, and tedi-
ous. The Board has taken these concerns under advisement and
plans to work collaboratively with ARBO to ensure that Mary-
land Board approved programs that you take are uploaded into
the OE Tracker system. Consequently, licensees will not be
required to post CEs online during the renewal process.
Licenses for Maryland optometrists will expire on June 30, 2011. The following information summarizes Maryland’s continuing education require-
ments for optometrists to renew their licenses. According to COMAR 10.28.02.06 (A), each optometrist is responsible for obtaining proof of
hour credits and maintaining this documentation for inspection by the Board for 4 years after the date of renewal. Maryland requires up to 50
hours every two years. Hours taken must be within the time period July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2011.
TPA Certified optometrists are required to complete 50 hours and 30 of those hours must be in the use and management of therapeutic pharma-
ceutical agents.
DPA Certified optometrists are required to complete 36 hours and 6 of those hours must be in the use of diagnostic pharmaceutical agents.
Non Certified optometrists are required to complete 36 hours.
The Board approves continuing education programs and accepts all COPE approved programs. Programs are categorized as
either general or therapeutic. The following COPE codes are accepted as therapeutic: GL, PO, RS,AS, PS, NO, PH, PD, SD
General Continuing Education Requirements
OE Tracker and Online Renewal 2011
Effective July 1, 2009, continuing education sponsors
approved by the Board are required to submit their
attendance rosters electronically to the Board for
submission to ARBO so that licensee data can be
entered into the OE Tracker system.
OE Tracker, as
you are aware, is the service of ARBO that allows
licensed optometrists to have their continuing education maintained in
one central location. Generally optometrists use their OE Tracker
cards at COPE approved continuing education offerings.
As the Board
prepares for the 2011 online renewal process, licensees are required to
record their OE Tracker numbers at all continuing education offerings
whether COPE or Maryland Board approved. The Board’s plan is to
download the CE data from OE Tracker for all Maryland licensed
optometrists into the online renewal system. Therefore,
the Board
strongly recommends that all licensees contact ARBO directly at (704)
970-2710 or visit them on the web at www.arbo.org to get information
about getting and using the card. In addition, please know that the
Maryland Board does not require that licensees pay the $20 fee
assessed by ARBO to access their complete continuing education data
file in OE Tracker.
Due to extenuating circumstances, the Board is allowing licensees to apply any continuing education
hours taken between June 21, 2009 and June 30, 2009 toward meeting their CE requirement for license
renewal in June 2011.
At its meeting on November 18, 2009, the Board of Examiners in
Optometry elected officers to serve for the next two years. The
results of the election were as follows:
President– Thomas Azman, O.D.
Treasurer– Phyllis Strickland, O.D.
Secretary– Kisha Fields Matthews
Board members and staff congratulate these new officers and look
BOARD ELECTS NEW OFFICERS
Current Disciplinary Actions
Martin Tomko, O.D. – License was reinstated by Consent Order
dated January 14, 2009. Dr. Tomko’s license is on probation for 3 years
subject to terms and conditions.
Welcome to New Committee Member, Dr. Jo Anne Brilliant, O.D. - The Board wishes to welcome its newest QEI
Committee member, Board Member, Jo Anne Brilliant, O.D. Dr. Brilliant currently serves on the Board’s Continuing Education Committee and will
chair the QEI Committee upon the expiration of Dr. David Reed’s term on the Board in May 2010.
Committee Members Needed—The QEI Committee is continuing the development of a pool of TPA certified optometrists who are
interested in serving as members. The expectations of committee members are as follows: ability to attend scheduled evening meetings; complete
peer record reviews; draft educational topics and other related tasks. As a committee of the Board, QEI members receive a stipend for attending
meetings. Please submit your letters of interest and CVs to the Board office.
Record Review Program- As you are aware, on a yearly basis, the Board selects a percentage of the therapeutically certified
optometrists at random to send copies of TPA patient records for review by its quality assurance committee. The QEI Committee has completed
its annual record review for the period January 1, 2008—December 31, 2008, which included the review of 550 patient records furnished by 55
TPA certified optometrists. The committee conducts a TPA record review of each therapeutically certified optometrist not more than once every
4 years unless the committee determines that a TPA certified optometrist is in need of additional review.
Educational Topics and Exam– There will be two topics, “AMD” and “Contact Lens Complication & Management” to be
disseminated beginning of 2010 along with an exam. The Board will grant 2 therapeutic hours of continuing education for the 2011 renewal in
addition to the 20 hours now allowed for Correspondence/ Internet category.
2010 Continuing Education Project -The QEI Committee is developing an optional continuing education project with an exam
similar to the project in 2002. The project will include multiple choice questions, patient record reviews and adverse event cases. The Board will
allow up to 6 therapeutic hours for completion of this project that can be credited toward the 2011 renewal cycle. The projected date for this
project is the fall of 2010. More information will disseminated at that time.
Record Review –A Learning Experience
By: Jo Anne Brilliant, O.D.
OK, I know what you are thinking. Out TPA law was passed in 1995, so why 14 years later are we still having to send in our patients
records for review? Haven’t we proved that optometrists in Maryland are capable of treating patients without incident? That is what I thought.
But having the privilege and the pleasure to serve on the Board of Examiners and now the QEI Committee. I see things in a totally different light.
Yes, because our profession is a legislated one, it is necessary to comply with our regulations 110%. It was actually quite ingenious for
the developers of the QEI Committee to recognize the need for a systematic way of monitoring TPA licensed optometrists, to ensure our
privileges were not being abused and our standards were being upheld. My hat goes off to Dr. David Reed and the entire committee for
developing a concept that not only monitored the therapeutic patients we had already treated, but had the resourcefulness to make this an
opportunity to educate us and promote our standard of care. The QEI Committee provides us with very valuable information. We are given
educational topics which are timely and informative (which CE credit can be obtained for). The dreaded letters we get from the Board are in no
way to reprimand us, but to give us guidelines for being better optometrists. We should be grateful that we have colleagues that take the initiative
to steer us in the right direction.
Therefore, when you get the letter that it is your time to be audited, think of it as an opportunity to upgrade your practice policies and
skill level. Communicate with the QEI Committee if you have questions or unresolved issues. We are here to help!
PAGE 4
QEI (Quality Enhancement and Improvement) Committee News
The Consumer’s Eye
Greetings!!!
This past spring, I had the opportunity to attend the Health-
Care Disparities Forum held at Morgan State University. As
one of the Consumer members of the Board of Optome-
try, I felt it was my obligation to learn about some of the
challenges that our state is facing concerning healthcare
information and the overall administration of provider ser-
vices. Healthcare disparity is rising at an alarming rate state-
wide. As our communities grow more diverse in population,
it has become challenging to administer appropriate health-
care due to certain factors including language barriers as
well as socio-economic differences.
One of the key components to closing this healthcare gap is
to embrace the concept of Cultural Competence. We must
learn to acknowledge and respect the differences that exist
in our communities and then begin to help disseminate
proper information in order to ensure that every consumer
is receiving adequate care. It is our role to become advo-
cates of our communities and make certain that we keep
watch – with our CONSUMERS EYE.
Kisha Fields Matthews
REGULATIONS UPDATE
Medical Records:
Retention, Storage, and Disposal
The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s regulation, COMAR 10.01.16 - Retention
and Disposal of Medical Records and Protected Health Information is effective and applicable to all
health care practitioners. Each health occupation licensing Board is responsible for handling any com-
plaints and enforcing this regulation.
1. Medical Records Ownership. Medical records are the personal property of the entity providing the health care. Periodically,
patients argue that they own their medical record, and demand their original files. This is incorrect. Patients can demand, and
should receive, only copies of their medical record.
2. Retention Schedule. Every health care entity must have a medical record retention schedule that includes a list and descrip-
tion of the medical records, the retention period for each medical record, and destruction instructions. The schedule, as a matter
of good housekeeping, should include storage and maintenance procedures and disposal methods.
3. Storage. Medical records must be stored in an office that has access restricted to authorized staff. Electronic medical records
must be stored on an electronic medium with passwords or data encryption. Health care entities must keep current back-up cop-
ies of those electronic medical records. If medical records are stored at a commercial records storage site, that site must have
environmental and security access controls.
4. Paper Record Destruction. Medical records kept on paper must be destroyed by shredding, incineration, or pulping or any
other process that makes the record permanently unreadable.
5. Electronic or Other Media Destruction. Medical records stored in electronic media, such as computer hard drives, must
be destroyed by completely sanitizing the media with no possibility of recovery. For example, mere deletion of a file is not enough.
Medical records on other media, such as film or photos, must be destroyed without the possibility of recovery.
6. Other Laws. Medical records in Maryland cannot be destroyed until after five (5) years or, for a minor patient, the longer of
three (3) years after the minor turns 18 or five (5) years after the medical record was made. HIPPA regulations require that patient
documents must be kept a minimum of six (6) years.
7. Early Destruction. Before a health care entity can destroy a medical record prematurely, written notice must be sent to the
patient (or the patient's guardian in some cases) at least thirty (30) days before the destruction date.
8. Violations. Health care entities that violate the Medical Records Destruction law are subject to fines of up to $10,000 per day.
Individual health care providers or administrators may be fined up to $5,000 per day.
The Board proposed several regulatory
changes in 2008 that became effective
October 19, 2009. A few of the
changes were minor, but the most
noteworthy changes include provisions
to allow pro bono work as valid con-
tinuing education up to 6 credit hours;
increasing the number of acceptable
hours for professional journals with a
post test or Internet courses with post test to 20 hours per re-
newal cycle; increasing the number of acceptable hours for pub-
lished papers to 12 hours per renewal cycle; conducting the con-
tinuing education audit at the time of renewal and not after renewal;
and requiring the TPA Self-Assessment at the time of license re-
newal instead of on a yearly basis. The full text of the revised regu-
lations has not been printed as of this date in COMAR (Code of
Maryland Regulations). However, the Board has posted the changes
on its website. You can go to www.mdoptometryboard.org
to view
the changes.
4201 Patterson Avenue
Room 307
Baltimore, Maryland 21215-2299
Phone: 410-764-4710
Fax: 410-358-2906
optometry@dhmh.state.md.us
www.mdoptometryboard.org
Patricia G. Bennett, MSW, Administrator
Kecia Dunham, Licensing Coordinator
Delia Turano Schadt, AAG, Board Counsel
Dale Cranford, Board Investigator
Larry Schuyler, Board Investigator
Maryland Board of
Examiners in Optometry
Board Regulation, COMAR 10.28.03.08, requires that an optometrist report a change of address within 30 days of be-
ginning a practice in a new location. Please complete and mail or fax the following as required:
CHANGE OF ADDRESS NOTIFICATION
Name: ______________________________________________________________ License # ___________________
Old Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
City State Zip Code
Current Telephone Number: _____________________________________
New Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
City State Zip Code
Effective date of change:__________________
Optometrist Signature: _____________________________________________ Date __________________________
Mail to: Maryland Board of Examiners in Optometry
4201 Patterson Avenue, Room 307
Baltimore, MD 21215-2299
Fax to: (410) 358-2906
