How to properly update your MEDPROS for vision.

Hey everyone, I'm a staff optometrist at a TMC. I thought I'd give a little speech on how to to make sure everyone can efficiently get themselves green on vision since it seems to be a problem at our clinic right now. Patient flow at clinics is very cyclical, and during the summer we see a huge uptick in patients. Deployments, NTC in October, Korea tours are all things on the schedule that are making people call in for an appointment.

As a provider, my number one mission is making sure that soldiers getting on the plane have their 2 pairs of glasses and inserts.

If you are red on vision and you don't wear glasses: you can update your vision at your battalion aid station or SRP/SRC. Don't make an appointment with Optometry, even if 1SG says to.

If you wear glasses and have not been seen in a year: you need an appointment. Call and make an appointment. If you wear glasses and have been seen in a year (and are still red on vision) : call your MTF or TMC. We forgot to update your vision after your appointment. It happens sometimes.

If you have recently had refractive surgery : only follow up with the ophthalmology clinic. Don't come for your 6 month follow up at a different clinic. Also, make sure they have updated your vision. After refractive surgery you should be class 1 on vision.

As of right now, we have no available appointments for soldiers. So if PVT Snuffy is deploying in a month and just broke his last pair of glasses, and you don't wear glasses and call to schedule an appointment, a mistake has been made due to miscommunication and not enough education. The priority for appointments should be going to soldiers who wear glasses or fail the SRP chart and may need glasses. You don't need an appointment just to read a couple lines on a chart. That being said, if you feel like you're having an issue with your vision, all MTFs have some sort of walk in times for sick call.

Also, if you are in charge of soldiers, have them go in person to schedule the appointment so that they receive an appointment slip for proof. If they want to cancel the appointment, have them come in person to cancel it and get confirmation that the appointment was canceled. We still get a decent amount of no shows.

I'm sorry for formatting as I'm on mobile, but this really is an important topic. I'll probably add to it when I get home to clarify some things. If you have any questions, please ask.

Also, if you have any criticisms on ways that a clinic (not just optometry) could improve the system or reduce the no show rate, please tell me. Cheers!