During this holiday season, we are grateful to all of our Certificants for delivering the highest quality patient eye care available in the world. It is in this spirit that we’d like to send our best wishes for a very Happy Holiday Season and New Year!
As 2017 comes to a close, I am excited for all we have accomplished. We are transitioning to our new name,
“IJCAHPO
”, and continuing to provide the services that formed our organization’s foundation: education and certification. IJCAHPO is deeply committed to delivering the highest-quality resources and continuing education for Allied Ophthalmic Personnel so that all of our certificants worldwide reach their full potential.
As we announced in November, at our Annual Continuing Education (ACE) program, we are expanding our international outreach and growth in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region by entering into a partnership with the Singapore National Eye Center to provide a certification testing center in Singapore. This partnership will increase the education and certification of Allied Ophthalmic Personnel in the region. With our focus on Allied Ophthalmic Personnel worldwide,
you
are joining a professional community that crosses distances, borders, and governments. We now have more than 26,300 certificants who are part of a global profession that is dedicated to quality and expanded access to patient care.
We were pleased to celebrate AOP last month during National Allied Ophthalmic Personnel Week. We had great participation with numerous clinics submitting photos and participating in our contests online. It was great to see the many creative ways that AOP were recognized and celebrated. In our efforts to tell the story of this profession and to attract new people into it, we are publishing a new AOP Career Video that you can access on YouTube.
Coming soon in 2018 we will offer several new educational resources – such as new Pocket Guides, a New Employee Hire Track online course package, new Refinements topics (text-based articles), and of course, new monthly webinars and e-learning courses. If you have not yet subscribed to our Clinic CE subscription, we encourage you to subscribe for the low price of $349 and provide your entire clinical staff with unlimited access to more than 160 online courses. This is an exciting time for us, and thank you for your support!
William F. Astle, MD, FRCSC, Dipl. ABO, President
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Career Development
IJCAHPO and ATPO created a video to introduce the ophthalmic assisting field to individuals seeking a new, rewarding career in healthcare. This career video speaks to potential AOP candidates about opportunities in this field, including key aspects of daily work, paths to becoming an ophthalmic assistant, relevant certifications, and professional associations. The video features testimonies from actively certified AOP at various career levels who speak about the importance of profession. Look for the video in early 2018.
Education and E-Learning
Highlights from the 45th Annual Continuing Education (ACE) Conference
Thank you to the Allied Ophthalmic Personnel (AOP), faculty, and speakers who attended JCAHPO’s 45th Annual Continuing Education (ACE) Program November 10-12, 2017, in New Orleans and made the event a success. We were pleased to welcome 2,086 registered participants to more than 270 enriching courses and workshops.
For pictures of the event, please visit our
ACE 2017 Photos page
.
Some of the courses with the highest number of registered attendees included the following:
- Harold A Stein Lecture, Retired US Army Colonel Donald A.Gagliano, MD, MHA, FACHE, CPE
- Optimizing Clinic Flow Without Compromising Care, Jacqueline K. Pullos, COMT, OSC
- You Saw What? A Curious Compendium of Ocular Oddities, William H. Ehlers, MD
- What is This? Ocular Findings in Systemic Disease, Michael W. Stewart, MD
- Leading Your Tech Team, Savory A. Turman, COMT, OCS
CE Credits Posted
ACE course credits have been posted to attendee accounts several weeks early this year. No statements will be mailed. You must submit written correction requests to JCAHPO by January 31, 2018.
Save the Date: October 26-28, 2018:
Join us for ACE 2018! IJCAHPO’s 46th Annual Continuing Education (ACE) Conference and Scientific Session will take place October 26-28, 2018, in Chicago, IL. We look forward to seeing you there!
Coming Soon: EyeCareCE New Hire Training Package
Give your new employees the tools to be successful with IJCAHPO’s New Hire Track training package. This New Hire Track costs only $99 and provides your new employees with 10 online courses that promote consistency and cross training across your eye care team. Compared to classroom-based options, IJCAHPO’s New Hire Track courses offer the most convenient, highest-quality, and best-priced training available 24/7 on the EyeCareCE website. Visit our
EyeCare CE page
in early 2018 to purchase this package.
Purchase Clinic CE Subscription Now for Only $349
Train your eye care team with IJCAHPO’s annual Clinic CE Subscription, a cost-effective way for all staff at a practice location to access more than 160 online courses.
Buy a subscription now
before the annual fee for new subscriptions increases to $549 in early 2018. Please note that for current subscribers the annual renewal fee will remain $349. Registrants can access the courses at their convenience using a coupon code and earn CE credits from IJCAHPO, AOC, OPS, and CA-BRN. The annual subscription is valid from the date of purchase.
Regional Events
Regional Continuing Education programs are a convenient and cost-effective way to earn continuing education credits at a location near you.
Upcoming Regional events in 2018 include the following:
- Kansas City, KS, KCSEE (ATPO): February 2
- Salt Lake City, UT, Regional Program (in cooperation with UOS): March 2
- Costa Mesa, CA, Regional Program: March 10
- Little Rock, AR, Program (ATPO): March 10
- Rochester, MN, Regional Program, (in cooperation with the Mayo Clinic): April 7
- Washington, DC, Program (in cooperation with ASCRS/ASOA): April 13-16
- Vancouver, BC, Canada, Regional Program (in cooperation with BCEPS and CSOMP): May 11
- San Antonio, TX, Regional Program: May 19
Distance Learning Opportunities
Earn CE credits online! IJCAHPO hosts monthly live webinars on a variety of eye care topics. Upcoming webinars include:
- January 2: Fundus Autofluorescence Imaging: Timothy Bennett, CRA, OCT-C, FOPS
- January 9: We See it All in the Triage Clinic: Jacqueline Pullos, COMT, OSC
- January 16: History Taking in a Retina Specialty Practice: Susan Busch, BA, COMT
- February 6: Pediatric Oculoplastic Surgery: Richard Allen, MD, PhD, FACS
- February 13: For the Love of Lensometry: Faith Race, COT, OSC
- February 20: Imaging in Ocular Tumors: Miguel Materin, MD
Visit our
events
page for additional information.
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Certification News
Important: New Core Certifications Examinations Coming in August
Beginning in August of 2018, updated multiple-choice examinations will be offered for the Certified Ophthalmic Assistant® (COA), Certified Ophthalmic Technician® (COT), and Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist® (COMT) certifications.
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Foundation News
The JCAHPO Education and Research Foundation provided the following notable recognitions at ACE 2017:
- Dr. Tyree Carr was presented with the Commissioner Statesmanship Award for his many professional accomplishments and support of technician education and certification.
- Bianca Blaha from Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, was awarded the Harold A. Stein, MD, FRCSC, Prize, for her paper, “Fixation Preference and Visual Acuity Testing in Non-Verbal Children.”
- Susan Busch, BA, COMT, was recognized by the Foundation’s Legacy Society for her generous donation in honor of her mother, Jennie Bowers Busch, to support IJCAHPO and ATPO certification and education.
The JCAHPO Education and Research Foundation provides scholarships and grants in support of students enrolled in accredited ophthalmic training programs and AOP working to advance their certification or increase skills through continuing education. Please see our
Scholarships, Grants, and Awards page
for application details.
Upcoming Scholarships/Grants Application Deadlines
- Harold A. Stein, MD, FRCSC, Prize for Best Scientific Paper: Accepted January 1 to July 31
- American Glaucoma Society Certification Grant: Accepted January 1 to April 30
- Barbara Cassin Scholarship: Accepted January 1 to April 30
- Virginia S. Boyce Humanitarian Award: Accepted January 1 to April 30
- Continuing Education Grant: Accepted January 1 to July 31
- Local Eye Site Certification Grant: Accepted August 1 to November 30
‘Tis the Season For Year-End Giving
As you
“wrap up the year”,
consider making a
gift
to the JCAHPO Education and Research Foundation by December 31. Your contribution
supports
the Foundation in its mission to expand and strengthen the delivery of eye care. Your donation can also be given as a gift to honor the memory of a loved one. All contributions are tax deductible and donors will be recognized in the Foundation’s annual report
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ATPO Corner
ATPO COA/COT/COMT Exam Review Sessions
ATPO provides comprehensive review sessions at regional and national meetings for ophthalmic technicians preparing for the IJCAHPO COA, COT, and COMT certification exams. ATPO plans to add Exam Review Sessions at several new locations this year. Please watch the IJCAHPO and ATPO websites for more information.
2017 National Salary & Compensation Report
ATPO and
I
JCAHPO conduct a national salary and compensation survey every two years. The
2017 Salary and Compensation Report
is now available. This report is designed to give employees and employers an informative analysis of salary, wages, and benefits for Allied Ophthalmic Personnel across the nation. If you are an ATPO member, log in to the
ATPO Members-Only Page
for a free copy. The 2017 Salary and Compensation Report with also be available for purchase at IJCAHPO’s
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AOP Week Photos
Thank you to the many clinics who submitted photos during Allied Ophthalmic Personnel (AOP) Week in November. We appreciate that you were willing to share photos of how your practice celebrated your eye care team during AOP Week. We’ll be sharing more photos throughout the year!
The Eye Consultants of Northern Virginia, PC, in Springfield, VA, celebrated with a red velvet eyeball cake, JCAHPO eyeball pens, and notepads for staff.
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The cake was made by Gwynn Stevens from Waldorf, MD. She is a neighbor of Shannon Roberts, an optician at The Eye Consultants of Northern Virginia, PC.
Thank you, Wendy Ford, COMT, OSA, FCLSA, and Clinical Administrator from The Eye Consultants of Northern Virginia, PC, for sending in the photo!
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Tech Corner
This group of proud ophthalmic techs and photographers work in the ophthalmology department at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Health Care System clinic in Northern California.
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“Working at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Hospital and Health Care System gives us the privilege to ‘serve those who served.’ As allied ophthalmic personnel, along with helping veteran patients with medical/technical support in testing and exams, our team often encounters situations where emotional support is also needed. It is rewarding to be a part of an organization where we get to acknowledge and help those who don’t always get the recognition they deserve.”
Thank you, Hong Kim Nguyen, COA, for submitting this photo and quote.
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Please Note: The IJCAHPO office will be closed December 25-29, 2017. Product orders placed after December 22 will be processed after January 2
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International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology
2025 Woodlane Drive · St. Paul, Minnesota 55125-2998
Phone: 651-731-2944 · Toll Free: 800-284-3937 · Fax: 651-731-0410 ·
www.jcahpo.org
Copyright © 2017 IJCAHPO. All rights reserved.
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