Practitioner Information

1. Name

• Source: This information is gathered from the practitioner’s initial credentialing application.
• Frequency of validation: This information is verified at the time of initial credentialing and at recredentialing, every 3 years.
• Limitations: Self Reported

2. Gender

• Explanation: Whether the practitioner is female or male.
• Source: This information is gathered from the practitioner’s initial credentialing application.
• Frequency of validation: This information is verified at the time of initial credentialing and at recredentialing, every 3 years.
• Limitations: Self Reported

3. Specialty

• Explanation: The type of vision specialist such as ophthalmologist (M.D.), optometrist (O.D.) or licensed optician (OP).
• Source: This information is gathered from the practitioner’s initial credentialing application and verified via the American Medical Association (AMA) or American Osteopathy Association (AOA) for board certified physicians or through primary source verification from the school in which the provider received specialty training.
• Frequency of validation: This information is verified at the time of initial credentialing and at recredentialing, every 3 years.
• Limitations: None

4. Practice Group Affiliations

• Explanation: The practice group affiliations are the various practices in which a practitioner participates.
• Source: This information is gathered from the practitioner’s initial credentialing application.
• Frequency of validation: This information is verified at the time of initial credentialing and at recredentialing, every 3 years. It is also updated upon notification from the practitioner that he/she is moving or adding a practice group affiliation.
• Limitations: This information is self-reported.

5. Board Certification with Expiration Date

• Explanation: A certification recognizing a physician (M.D. or D.O.) has met the requirements/standards of a nationally recognized specialty board.
• Source: This information is gathered from the practitioner’s initial credentialing application and verified through either the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the American Medical Association (AMA) or the American Osteopathy Association (AOA).
• Frequency of validation: This information is verified at the time of initial credentialing by searching the ABMS, AMA, or the AOA website for board eligibility and expiration date, and again at recredentialing, every 3 years. Limitations: None.

6. Acceptance of New Patients

• Explanation: Whether or not a practitioner will see new patients in their practice.
• Source: All Block Vision providers are required to accept new patients.
• Frequency of validation: All Block Vision providers are required to accept new patients.
• Limitations: Self reported and required notification from the practitioner of changed in status (i.e. leave of absence).

7. Language spoken by the Practitioner, or Clinical Staff

• Explanation: This is the language spoken by the practitioner, or clinical staff.
• Source: This information is gathered from the practitioner’ at the time of initial credentialing.
• Frequency of validation: It is updated upon notification of change by the practitioner.
• Limitations: This information is self-reported.

8. Office Location

• Explanation: This is the street address of where the office is located.
• Source: This information is gathered from the practitioner’s initial credentialing application.
• Frequency of validation: It is updated upon notification of change by the practitioner.
• Limitations: This information is self reported.