Cataract clinical care standard indicators: 5 - Evidence of a locally approved protocol to prioritise patients for cataract surgery according to clinical need

Collection and usage attributes

The protocol should specify the process to prioritise patients according to clinical need using a systematic, transparent method that takes into account the patient’s:

• Visual impairment and vision-related activity limitations 
• Co-morbidity 
• Potential harms from delayed surgery, and
• Potential to benefit from cataract surgery.

This protocol should apply where there is a waiting list for cataract surgery. 

Use of the National Elective surgery prioritisation criteria reference alone is not sufficient evidence, as even within those categories, prioritisation should apply.

A healthcare setting where surgery is provided to patients with cataract which has a documented process should record ‘Yes’. Otherwise, the healthcare setting should record ‘No'.

Representational attributes

Yes/No

Accountability attributes

Applicable settings: public and private ophthalmology clinics and practices, and public and private hospitals.

Source and reference attributes

Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care