Professional accountability when utilising new diagnostic technologies is to be addressed by the Optical Suppliers’ Association (OSA) to ensure that all suppliers meet universal standards wherever possible. The OSA’s E-Health Focus Group is to provide a crucial role in defining the parameters and standards for accountability at this pivotal time –

“We need to form a collective view as to where the industry is going and the role that software can play in supporting the profession. There are many issues to be addresses and we need to ensure the right trajectory for adoption. Regulations and manufacturing standards are quite rightly being tightened but there is a distinct difference between hardware and software life cycles. We need to understand the best way to implement these, with a clear strategy for validation processes, updates and testing. Nothing should deter new innovation, but we need to all understand that there are real challenges that each provider now faces.” said Karl Jeebaun, Chair of the OSA E-Health Focus Group.

The group is expected to draw members from across the optical supply chain including contact lens and dry eye treatment providers as well as those in the surgical field supplying ophthalmologists.

www.osa-uk.co.uk