Washington, D.C. – The Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety (HCAPS), in partnership with the American Optometric Association (AOA), will host a congressional briefing on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, to highlight the vital role of the doctor–patient relationship in protecting patients, ensuring quality care, and advancing vision health policy.

The briefing, entitled “Safe Vision, Trusted Care: Protecting the Doctor–Patient Relationship,” will bring together lawmakers, congressional staff, and health care leaders to examine challenges threatening patient safety and to discuss policy solutions that keep patients at the center of their care.

“Vision care is about far more than correcting sight—it’s about safeguarding long-term health through the trusted doctor–patient relationship,” said Dr. David Cockrell, Chairman of the Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety. “When that relationship is undermined, patients are put at risk. This briefing is an opportunity to reinforce why protecting patients must always come before profits.”

Event Details:
📅 Tuesday, September 30, 2025
🕛 1:00-2:00 pm
📍 2060 Rayburn House Office Building
🍴 Lunch will be provided

“Protecting the doctor–patient relationship is not only common sense—it’s essential to patient safety and the delivery of high-quality health care,” Dr. Cockrell added. “We look forward to engaging with members of Congress and their staff on solutions that put patients first.”

The event is open to all congressional staffers and interns.

About the Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety (HCAPS):
The Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety is a coalition of health care providers, industry leaders, and patient advocates working to advance high standards of care, protect the doctor–patient relationship, and ensure patient safety in the use of medical devices.

Contact:
Ralph E. Kohl
Executive Director, Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety (HCAPS)
[email protected] | (202) 631-0208