To end Australian optometry’s “health data drought”, Optometry Australia (OA) is urging practices to participate in its nationwide data-collection drive.

After making its data collection technology available through the country’s most commonly used optometry practice management platforms, OA said its software will gather de-identified patient data in the background without affecting the optometrist’s workflow. The initiative is part of OA’s Optometry 2040 project and is being rolled out nationally after successfully completing a pilot programme.

OA’s chief clinical officer, Luke Arundel, said pearls of wisdom lie within optometry’s practice management systems which will translate to genuine improvements in advocacy, funding eyecare standards and patient wellbeing. “If we’re going to move our profession forward, big data needs to be in the picture,” he said.

To be involved, OA is asking practices to submit their expression of interest to policy@optometry.org.au, confirming whether the practice is supported by Sunix or Optomate.

For related story, see: www.nzoptics.co.nz/articles/archive/australia-launches-second-eye-health-survey