| Brent Hanson - LasikFraud.com 2005-04-19, 10:51 am |
| http://www.lasikinfocenter.net/Webp...s%20Webpage.htm
Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance (CRSQA) was founded by
Executive Director Glenn Hagele (an individual who, by the way, reportedly
wears glasses). Despite its pretentious name, CRSQA is in reality a cynical
marketing ploy. CRSQA "certifies" a few dozen refractive surgeons who pay
it the enormous fees of $7,000 in the first year and $5,000/year thereafter.
In exchange, they receive CRSQA's dubious seal of approval in the apparent
hope that this will help them promote their Lasik practices. In contrast,
the prestigious American Board of Ophthalmology charges only $300 every 10
years for re-certification, requires ABO-certified ophthalmologists to take
periodic exams, and requires them to obtain an average of 30 Continuing
Medical education credits per year.
CRSQA's pitch to prospective member-surgeons demonstrates its crass
commercial purpose. It justifies its huge annual fees by noting that "For
most surgeons, that will total a little less than the amount charged two
refractive surgery patients per year. It is very reasonable to expect that
your listing on our website alone will provide significantly more patients."
CRSQA's quality "standards," if they can be called that, are pathetic. A
doctor can become CRSQA-certified even if he reports a 3% incidence of
"debilitating refractive surgery complications such as glare, haze, halo,
etc." in his practice. Indeed, Hagele's primary concern is to help
refractive surgeons market themselves - not to raise their standards of
medical care. There is plenty of talk at CRSQA about market segmentation
analysis, but almost nothing about concrete measures to improve surgical
outcomes.
CRSQA's "certification" is worthless from a medical perspective. For
example, CRSQA at one time certified Glenn A. Kawesch as meeting its quality
standards. Yet Dr. Kawesch was considered such a dangerous doctor that on
6/25/04 the California State authorities revoked his medical license, a
sanction reserved for the very worst physicians. Dr. Joseph Dello Russo is
another CRSQA-certified doctor who has had a fair amount of legal trouble,
as well. Using a CRSQA referral to find a refractive surgeon makes about as
much sense as thumbing through the yellow pages.
Finally, any argument that CRSQA's not-for-profit status confers upon it a
mantle of legitimacy is spurious because Hagele draws a salary as CRSQA's
Executive Director. His livelihood is therefore directly linked to CRSQA's
financial success. Not-for-Profit status does not confer legitimacy, and is
often used by sham organizations trying to garner undeserved credibility.
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