Opioid Addiction Crisis Declared a Public Health Emergency in Virginia

On November 21, 2016 Governor McAuliffe issued a News Release stating that State Health Commissioner Marissa Levine has declared Virginia’s opioid abuse crisis a Public Health Emergency in the Commonwealth.

Visit the Virginia Department of Health for more information.
Download Commissioner Levine’s message to healthcare practitioners on dispensing Naloxone.

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2017 Spring Break Zika Awareness Toolkit

Primarily a mosquito borne disease, the Zika virus is most impactful in warmer seasons when illness can be transmitted by insects carrying the virus from one person to another. Maintaining a keen awareness for the transmission and treatment of Zika virus infection is an imperative for healthcare practitioners.

Along with their Zika Virus information page, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) now offers a Spring Break Toolkit featuring printable infographics and online resources to help Virginians spread Zika awareness on social media.

 

 

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Coats Disease Awareness Day

In its 2017 Session, the Virginia General Assembly passed House Joint Resolution 750 which establishes August 17th of each year as Coats Disease Awareness Day. Coats Disease is a rare eye condition that primarily afflicts young children and teenagers, but it can affect adults as well. It can cause blood vessels in one or both eyes to develop abnormally, causing exudative leakage in the back of the eye. Without early detection, treatment or surgery, these changes may progress to trauma, damage, partial or total blindness, or even require enucleation. Coats is sometimes hard to diagnose. To learn more about Coats Disease, go to this link for Rare Diseases Info from the National Institutes of Health: https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/6121/coats-disease It is hoped that early detection and research to find more effective treatments will lead to better outcomes for the citizens of the Commonwealth with this disease. Remember, August 17th is Coats Disease Awareness Day!

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Non-Prescription Decorative Contact Lens Advisory

The Virginia Board of Optometry and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issue annual warning against use of non-prescription decorative contact lenses. Read more about it by clicking here.

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FDA News Release

April 2, 2015 - FDA alerts health care professionals and patients not to use products from the Prescription Center pharmacy in Fayetteville, N.C. - Read the full news release.

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News You Need: Regulatory Update

On January 15, 2015, changes to the following sections of the Regulations of the Virginia Board of Optometry became effective:

• 18VAC105-20-10. Licensure by examination.
• 18VAC105-20-15. Licensure by endorsement.
• 18VAC105-20-20. Fees.
• 18VAC105-20-45. Standards of Practice.
• 18VAC105-20-60. Renewal of licensure; reinstatement; renewal fees.

To review the specific changes, please go to the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall. The newly effective regulations are posted Laws and Regulations page.

Message from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB):

NTSB has recently adopted a safety study about the risk of impairment in transportation accidents. As a result, it has made several recommendations including publication and dissemination of a reminder to all prescribers and pharmacists of the importance of routinely discussing with patients the effect their diagnosed medical conditions or recommended drugs may have on their ability to safely operate a vehicle in any mode of transportation. Click here to read an excerpt from the study.

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Virginia Board of Optometry supports the US Food and Drug Administration’s efforts to Alert Consumers of Risks Associated with Non-Prescription Decorative Contact Lenses

As consumers prepare for Halloween, the Virginia Board of Optometry is working to amplify the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) efforts to raise public awareness regarding the hazards of non-corrective decorative contact lenses sold without prescription. The FDA has partnered with the American Optometric Association and the Entertainment Industry Council to provide consumer education materials to people nationwide online at http://www.contactlensart.org.

The FDA collects information on adverse outcomes related to decorative contact lenses sold without a prescription. Optometrists are advised to submit an online report following the treatment of a problem linked to the use of cosmetic lenses to MedWatch, the FDA’s voluntary reporting program, or by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Pursuant to § 54.1-3204(8) of the Code of Virginia, the sale and dispensing of contact lenses is limited to authorized entities. For information on filing a complaint regarding unauthorized sales of decorative contact lenses in Virginia, go to Department of Health Profession, Enforcement Division. Read the full media advisory here.

Extension of renewal requirements for deployed military and spouses
Virginia law allows active duty service people or their spouses who are deployed outside the U.S. to have an extension of time for any requirement or fee pertaining to renewal until 60 days after the person’s return from deployment.  The extension cannot last beyond 5 years past the expiration date for the license.  For more information, please read attached policy and contact the applicable board for your license.

Address of record
Section 54.1-2400.02.B of the Code of Virginia requires the Department of Health Professions (DHP) to collect an official address of record from each health professional to be used by DHP for agency purposes. The Code also requires DHP to provide an opportunity for a health professional to provide a second address for the purpose of public dissemination. If there is no second (public) address provided, the official address of record will be used as the public address for the purpose of public dissemination. If the health professional would prefer that his/her address of record remain confidential, then an alternative public address must be provided to DHP. (Note: the License Lookup feature on the DHP public website does not contain the full address. However, public addresses are available by contacting Virginia Interactive Premium Service or the Board.) An individual is not required to submit a place of residence for either the official address of record or the public address. A post office box or a practice location is acceptable.

Changes to either address may be made at the time of renewal or at any time by written notification to the Board. Changes to the address of record may also be made at any time by accessing your licensure information through the online system. Any change that is made to one of the addresses does not automatically update the other address. Address information should be kept current for the address of record and the public address (if different from the address of record) at all times.

NOTE: Clarification Regarding License Verifications (Word .doc)

Online Licensing - Licensees can renew a license, change an address and request a duplicate license online.

Duty to Report Adult Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation - More information...
The Adult Protective Services Program at the Virginia Department of Social Services is pleased to announce the availability of a new online educational opportunity for mandated reporters of abuse, neglect and exploitation of older or incapacitated individuals. This online training course has been developed for, and with the assistance of, mandated reporters and APS professionals to assist mandated reporters in understanding adult abuse and their responsibilities as mandated reporters. Read More...(word .doc)