The College of Optometrists

can anyone point me in the right direction in domiciliary testing. i have grudgingly agreed to do one. (shoould i fear them that much???!!!)

i would appreciate some key pointers

thanks

Take a laptop and the city program. Indispensable.

Keep it simple, take it easy. Have a witness (don't go on yr own). I have only had one px in prof life who was a real dommi. The rest could get out if the wanted too. I used to charge a fee as call out to control this (you can always waive this if you feel later on.

Get a direct chart from Grafton. Never bothered with a bodyguard .. sorry, witness. Never thought about it actually. Yes some can get out if they wanted too.... but othered genuinely can't and appreciate the effort made.

I don't think the qualification for a domiciliary is that you "Can't get out". It is that you cannot get to the practice unattended. My 89 year old mum-in-law can get to the doctors, or her club, if my wife or a carer can assist her (although it takes a while!). Yet she would still qualify for a Domiciliary if I chose to claim for her (which I don't, by the way!) because she could not do it on her own.

Laptop & City chart is brilliant, btw, but a bit expensive if you are doing just the one.

I'd encourage you to try Dom's, I enjoy getting out of the practice a couple of times a week.

Be confident that you're doing a good job, for your own piece of mind. Dilate all Dom's - there's plenty of time to do a refraction, dilate, dispense then do Ophthalmoscopy.

Don't worry too much about the chart for your first Dom - something basic will do. Getting the acuity exactly right isn't that important - getting the refraction right and doing a thorough pathology check is much more so.

Don't take too many frames - especially if they are Income Support (as most elderly housebound folk are, at least near me!). 20 or 30 of the appropriate style (i.e. "traditional" Ladies/ Gents) will be more than enough.

Hope you go for it, and if you do - let us know how you got on!

Hi Palfi,

What fee did you charge?

I enjoyed Home Visits for a break;

Just take the right equipment ( every one uses differently) Just make sure you do a full test and you feel comfortable with the results.Don't forget the lensometer & Pd Ruler.

Good Luck

Xavier - it was twice the taxi fee.

Speaking of "Can't get out", I saw little old lady as a domi. When specs were ready, receptionist, unaware it had been a domi, made the usual call to advise. Hey Presto, son turns up in car with Mum Who Can't Get Out in the back. She made it through the practice door too !!

I once arrived 25 minutes late at the patient's home for a domicillary (couldn't find the block of flats). I was given hell by the woman, as she would now be too late to take the dog for a walk in the park before going to her luncheon club!

Did a dom visit this week and told her that I would take out glasses on the next Friday. Not suitable - that's the day she goes out to the hairdresser! Oh and Tuesaday is no good either - she goes out to Supermarket that day!

Also, most patients from local residential homes seemed to be able to come to the practice, but now "can't get out" since Dom Firms started visiting homes.

I think this is to do with can the patient get out alone/unattended. If they can get out and about by themselves why would they be in a residential home?

Also interesting, the niece who brings Uncle for his appointment was very concerned, as the residential home had made him an appointment for a dommi firm to test him there.. He knew nothing about it. I thought the request had to come from the patient for a test. Niece prefers to get him out or he'd just vegetate. What can we do about this? I have pointed out I will go to him if he wishes when he cannot be brought.

I find this happens a lot. Patient autonomy does not exist for many Residential Home patients who have to see whoever the home manager has set up a deal with.

Friend of mine was a nursing home manager and he was offered all kinds of incentives depending on number of eye tests he could provide.