Mr. Ike Johnson
(Optometrist Testimony)
MR. JOHNSON: Thank you for allowing me to appear before you today. I’m not an optometrist, I’m an attorney. And I’ve served on the Board of Optometry as a public member for a number of years, probably going on eight years.
Since serving on the board, I have been impressed with the medical acumen and professionalism exhibited by the optometrists, with whom I have probably served over the years. I have been impressed with the seriousness in which the board members exhibit their duties as serving on a volunteer board. I have also been impressed with their concern for the citizens of South Carolina, and the patients that they serve, not only in serving for their eye care needs, but in their concern for minimizing the expense of proper eye care for the less fortunate citizens of our great state.
Since serving on the board, I have come to realize that there is a dearth of medical professionals in our state, particularly ophthalmologists. There are various pockets in our state where there are four counties where there are no ophthalmologists in any of those four counties. These areas often are rural areas and people in these rural areas have meager means. And considering the proposed legislation, I trust that you will consider the safety of our citizens, but also consider the potential savings and increased accessibility to professional eye care would be afforded to our citizens with the passage of this legislation.
As a public member of the board, I have witnessed the optometrists and I have seen a safety…I have seen their concerns that they have for the safety of our citizens, and that concern is paramount in their decision-making. The board’s commission is always, “How can we improve our profession and improve the treatment and care for our citizens?” The board has carefully and conscientiously always considered the medical care, the medical procedures and the codes presented to it, with the overriding concern being, “Will they improve our profession, and will they assist in taking care of our patients?” Above all else, I have been most impressed with the manner in which the board members have overseen the profession of optometry. I have witnessed them carefully consider the educational requirements and mandates of the profession. I have seen them disapprove educational courses when they have felt the course or the sponsor did not meet the educational mandates of our state. I have also witnessed the board, with my participation, in adequately and equitably meeting out sanctions and discipline upon fellow optometrist when the need arose.
Since serving on the board, I have attempted to maintain my objectivity and remain cognizant of my role as the eyes and ears of the public. When I have raised my concerns to the board, never have I been rebuffed by any member of the board. On the contrary, my concerns have always been welcomed and seriously considered by the board. I
Mr. Ike Johnson
(Optometrist Testimony)
Page Two
believe a public member of a professional board is vital and necessary because it serves a vital role in allowing the public input and participation within a profession. I submit to you that such governance of a board is vital because it allows the public to observe the ways and manners in which a profession governs itself. And because of my participation, I can tell this subcommittee that I am satisfied with the manner in which the Board of Optometry conducts its business and the manner in which it oversees its profession.
CHAIRWOMAN PARKS: Mr. Johnson, we need to wrap it up.
MR. JOHNSON: Okay. I am also comfortable with the proposed legislation because I know the board will ensure that all of our state’s optometrists will be properly trained in performing the procedures within this legislation under consideration. I appreciate your time, thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN PARKS: Thank you Mr. Johnson. Dr. Raymond Bynoe…and I also would like to tell any members that are sitting in with us, if you have any questions, (Inaudible).
MALE PARTICIPANT #1: Yeah. Madam Chair. I had a question for Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson?
MR. JOHNSON: Yeah.
MALE PARTICIPANT #1: You said you were an attorney.
MR. JOHNSON: I am an attorney.
MALE PARTICIPANT #1: Okay. (Inaudible)
AUDIENCE: (Laughter).
MR. JOHNSON: A pilot? Okay (laughing). Any time an attorney can get a compliment, it’s always welcome.
AUDIENCE: (Laughter).
MALE PARTICIPANT #1: You stated that there were four counties that didn’t have optometrists…
MR. JOHNSON: An ophthalmologist.
Mr. Ike Johnson
(Optometrist Testimony)
Page Three
MALE PARTICIPANT #1: An ophthalmologist.
MR. JOHNSON: Yes sir.
MALE PARTICIPANT #1: What are the four counties?
MR. JOHNSON: I believe there are a couple of areas. I believe one area is an area of Allendale, Barnwell, and there are two other counties within this area that I’m talking about. There is also an area…Barnwell, Allendale, Hampton and Bamberg. It is my understanding, there is not a single ophthalmologist in that four-county area and, as a public member of the board, that concerns me, when I know that there are optometrists in those areas, and there are people that are in those areas of meager means. And they would have to travel great distances for eye care services, and this legislation can aid them in receiving eye care services in those areas. There is another area. It is actually a five-county area…Lee, Chesterfield, Darlington, Marlboro, Dillon and Marion…that is actually six counties where it is my understanding there is no ophthalmologist in those six counties. Again, another area where there are citizens of our state that have meager means and, certainly, these people are just as deserving and need eye care attention as any other citizens within our state, and I think that optometrists can certainly…
MALE PARTICIPANT #1: I don’t want to give you no more minutes this…
MR. JOHNSON: Oh, I understand.
AUDIENCE: (Laughter)
MALE PARTICIPANT #1: (Inaudible) So it’s a total of six… that’s right… six… that’s what you stated, right?
MR. JOHNSON: Six counties within that area. There is also another area…and I’ll be brief…Clarendon, Williamsburg and Berkeley where there’s not a single optometrist in that area… I mean ophthalmologist…excuse me, ophthalmologist…in that area as well. But there are others. And I’m sure that other speakers will speak on those areas, and I don’t want to take up any more of your time.
MALE PARTICIPANT #1: Thank you sir.
MR. JOHNSON: Thank you very much.
MALE PARTICIPANT #2: Excuse me.
Mr. Ike Johnson
(Optometrist Testimony)
Page Four
CHAIRWOMAN PARKS: I would like to recognize Representative King for Mr. Johnson.
REPRESENTATIVE KING: Mr. Johnson, I have a question for you.
MR. JOHNSON: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE KING: Being a board member, can you tell me of any identified cases where there has not been an optometrist or ophthalmologist in an area where care was not given and there has been some type of adverse effect?
MR. JOHNSON: As I said, I have served on the board about 8 years. There have been a few cases that have come to our attention, but none that I can recall that would address the issue that you’ve just raised. But I’m sure, just because there hasn’t been a presentation of a case of that nature does not mean that there aren’t issues that exist.
REPRESENTATIVE KING: I’m just trying to understand and be fair to both sides. You all have come before the committee asking for this, and that is one of your claims…is the lack of care. And I wanted to make sure that, if there is a lack of care, if we have any noted cases…I guess someone can answer that if possible. And then, the distance between the doctors…do you know what the distance is in those counties where there is no ophthalmologist. What is the travel time?
MR. JOHNSON: You know, I don’t know the exact distance, but if one looks at a map, you could see that one would have to travel a great distance to visit the office of an ophthalmologist in these areas. Some of these areas are huge in nature from a geographical standpoint. There is also another area of Abbeville, McCormick, Edgefield, Saluda, Newberry where there is not a single ophthalmologist. And just by looking at a map…and we’re all familiar with our state…those are geographical areas where the counties are really large.
Okay? Thank you.
CHAIRWOMAN PARKS: Thank you Mr. Johnson.