Representative Chris Crawford



Dr. Lonnie Randolph, Jr.

(Optometrist Testimony)

DR. LONNIE RANDOLPH, JR.: Members of the committee, good afternoon and thank you for this opportunity. My name is Lonnie Randolph, Jr. I am a proud, private practicing optometry here in Columbia, South Carolina and have been for the last 33 years. That gives me senior status in my profession and has allowed me to be a part of most of the major changes that have taken place within this profession over the last 33 years. All of our changes have been about the business of insuring that quality eye care is affordable to all citizens in the state of South Carolina. Of course, we have addressed earlier some of the challenges in South Carolina of course.

Geography is a challenge, the quality due to the number of practitioners as well as the inability to provide adequate healthcare to all of the citizens of this state, primarily because of the poor and inadequate educational funding system that we have in South Carolina. Not because of the students failing, but because the system failing the students. But what has amazed me more than anything else over the past 33 years in practice and 37 years beginning with my freshman year in school, is that it didn’t matter what the incident was that optometry came to address, it was opposed. Didn’t matter how simple, how complex, the same individuals that are opposing us today in this effort comes as no surprise. They opposed us in 1978 when we asked to use just drops to diagnose the conditions. I sat in these very hearings and listened to the number of horror stories about the number of people that had died on the way to the drug store while we purchased the drops. And, reminded me of a book written some 30 years ago, 25 years ago, by a physician by the name of Dr. Thomas Preston. And the book was entitled The Clay Pedestal. And Dr. Preston was a surgeon and was a pretty good surgeon. He also taught at a medical school and he spoke quite candidly about the attitude that existed in healthcare. Didn’t matter what the group was or who they were, there are certain people you are not supposed to ask questions of. There is a so-called professional supremacy that exists in this country with certain healthcare groups, pretty much similar to the same thing that we experienced in America with the gender supremacy that we have in this country where men in particular, even though there is only a 5% difference in the bodies anatomically and we know what those difference are, that it makes men superior to women. Again, I mention a professional supremacy. At one time, everything we have talked about in here today only one group was able to do it. Privileged groups don’t give up privileges. They must be demanded by those individuals, groups and organizations seeking equal privileges. Racial supremacy exists still today in this country. But I want to tell you today, I am proud to stand before you as a 33-year practicing optometrist providing general eye care to people who often would not be seen by others. Several of the representatives mentioned earlier about the 20 counties. That is not quite accurate. With the 10.4% unemployment rate, all 46 counties people are doing poorly in. And we must have an organization or groups of organizations who are sincere in providing healthcare for all of those individuals.

Dr. Lonnie Randolph, Jr.

(Optometrist Testimony)

Page Two

In my last 30 seconds madam chair, there were a couple of points that were mentioned that I want to clear up. There were some amendments that were presented. My group did make an attempt to meet with those persons who are in opposition to this group… I mean to the bill and the amendments…and ,for whatever reason, there was a phone call made just prior to the meeting starting. The meeting was canceled, it was suggested that they do it by conference call. No such meeting took place. Also, and I am sorry I can’t remember the representative that asked the question regarding…there was another question that was asked…I can’t remember the…anyway, something to do with…someone brought up the question of what we are trying to do. We are not trying to be anything other that what we are. Anytime you try to be what someone else is, you end up being second best. We can be the best at what we are doing, what we have been trained to do and, again, I stress to you…where do we come up with this idea that only certain people…sounds like so many of the arguments that I have heard throughout my life, you know, only certain people from certain neighborhoods can learn. That same thing applies professionally.

There are over 200 and some odd health professions in this country. Over 200. And in each of those health professions I would hope that every individual in those professions are working to ensure first that patient care is number one on the list. Patient care is number one on the list. If there are any questions that any of you have…last thing very quickly madam chair, the fear factor. That has been the most effective tool that has taken place. Talking about what is going to happen… and I think you have seen here today based on the testimony and based on our records…both in the state that you have access to…that the untruths and the lies just haven’t panned out. They have been based on just the fear factor and, unfortunately, it is an effective tool and it is unfortunate that it has to be utilized in that manner, but it is the same fear factor that has been used in those other forms of supremacy that I spoke of earlier. If there are any questions, I would be more than happy to entertain them at this time.

CHAIRWOMAN PARKS: Are there any questions? Mr. Charles?

MR. CHARLES: Thank you madam chair, I just sat here and tried to listen and be quiet but and I wanted to ask you one question, I think I have probably asked all of the optometrists. Have you had an occasion to…because of what you do…when you said most people will go to the Optometrist first. That’s the primary level of care for eyes and most people appreciate that, but have you had an occasion to have a patient that you needed to refer to have a procedure done that you were not currently permitted to do that you were not able to get somebody in a timely window to take care of that patient for you?

Dr. Lonnie Randolph, Jr.

(Optometrist Testimony)

Page Three

DR. LONNIE RANDOLPH, JR.: Well, I practice in Columbia and so I don’t have a problem here in Columbia, but I also practice in an area here in Columbia where I see a large number of people who have no insurance and don’t have…shouldn’t have to wait 6 hours in an emergency room to be seen to have a foreign body removed, and I see those

individuals whether they have money or not. From a human standpoint of view, I see them. I don’t know what others might do, but I see them regardless, but I am very familiar with situations in some of the outlying counties where individuals had to wait an extremely long period of time. There is no such thing as a simple eye injury. Any form or any type of eye injury can be serious and that is they way I treat all calls that I have to receive or that I have received and, you know…its…I thought about not pulling this out, but I am going to pull it out. I got this in the mail today just before I came here and I have heard all of this stuff about incompetence and can’t diagnose. Well, I probably get 4 or 5 of these a week asking me for patients. Well if I don’t know what I am looking at, how do I know what to send? Isn’t it amazing that, when it comes to seeing these very people that we don’t know what they have, we can diagnose those conditions in our offices and, on the other end, they are happy to get them. I have a very good working relationship with all of the ophthalmologists that I work with. All of them know that I am here today and pretty much know what I am going to say because I have an excellent professional working relationship. They are secure in what they do. Most of them don’t want to do what I do and refer back and forth and, professionally and morally, when the need arises, you don’t have any choice but to refer. I have worked in the federal prison system where I was the only general eye care provider there for eight years. I did that in Estill Federal Prison. I have also worked at the state prison system where I worked very close with an ophthalmologist there who does the surgery and treats most of the glaucoma cases there. So, this problem doesn’t exist when the working relationship is as it should be, a professional one. As I stated, after 33 years, it is real surprising to me to hear the same old thing, same old song just a different feeling. Are there any other questions? Yes sir? Representative Guillard?

REPRESENTATIVE GUILLARD: First of all, I want to complement you, you have articulated that very well…uh…if you had to prioritize this whole bill, suppose one misconception, what would that be?

DR. LONNIE RANDOLPH, JR.: Well, I think I said it earlier, that one group has a patent on good sense. Not the case. Nobody, an untrained person you mentioned about being an embalmer and undertaker, you have…when you take an oath or you trained and you are…regardless of what the profession is, you have a moral and ethical right to do what you are trained to do. And to sit here and say…there have been several comments made about what the ophthalmologists…I don’t want to do what they do. I am not

Dr. Lonnie Randolph, Jr.

(Optometrist Testimony)

Page Four

trying…I am proud, 33 years and I hope I can do it 33 more years with the love and intensity that I have done in the past 33 years. I know, I have helped; I know I have helped people to continue to enjoy what is described as God’s greatest gift to man, which is the gift of sight.

REPRESENTATIVE GUILLARD: How is this gonna really benefit the patient?

DR. LONNIE RANDOLPH, JR.: That is what this is for. We have 4.4 million people in this state. Forty percent of those have no healthcare, and probably another 40% of them are outside of the so-called mainstream of the metropolitan areas. I don’t think those individuals because of their zip code should be ______ no healthcare.

REPRESENT GUILLARD: I was mainly referenced the ______.

DR. LONNIE RANDOLPH, JR.: Yeah…no…I am just saying…

REPRESENTATIVE GUILLARD: Yeah…

DR. LONNIE RANDOLPH, JR.: I just don’t think that an _________ is the lack of access is poor healthcare.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download