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Feature Article |
Surf's Up |
17,000 Strong |
JCAHPO/OMIC Specialty Courses |
OCS Exam |
Web Launch |
Performance Test Reminder |
2008 Scholarship Recipients |
Planned Giving
The Importance of Certification: Strengthening Your Eye Care Team
Following the 2007 publication of the groundbreaking scientific study titled, “A Comparative Study of the Impact of Certified and
Non-Certified Ophthalmic Medical Personnel on Practice Quality and Productivity,” leading physicians and researchers established concrete,
physical data that illustrates the benefits of certification for ophthalmic personnel. Certified personnel outperformed non-certified
personnel in virtually every category of measurement. In the end, the study concluded that an overwhelming four out of five physicians
agreed that certified personnel rendered their practice more effective than their non-certified counterparts.
The findings of the study have opened an important dialogue on the value of certification for personnel in the field of ophthalmology.
Statistically, the benefits of employing certified personnel cannot be refuted, but for many practices, supporting certified personnel
means more than simply giving them a place to work. The career support many practices give to their staff is an establishment of trust and
validation of the contributions personnel make to a practice.
Many practices have begun to take important steps to ensure their personnel are both highly trained and highly appreciated.
For Suzi Martin, PhD, and the practice team at the Cape Coral Eye Center in Cape Coral, FL, the value of certification is a message
they have been actively promoting for over 25 years. Using “Knowledge is Power” as their practice motto, Cape Coral Eye Center has
managed to transform the quality of care, practice unity, and overall practice productivity. For the first time in the organization’s
28-year history, 100% of their personnel are JCAHPO-certified. Practice administrators discovered early on that certified staff helped
positively shape the image of the practice in the community, and the overall eye care experience patients receive.
“Patients repeatedly tell us that the main reason they keep coming back to Cape Coral Eye Center is because our ophthalmic personnel
are highly trained. Technicians and assistants are typically the first encounter patients have with our practice, and if personnel are
knowledgeable and well-trained, an immediate trust is established between the patient and our practice,” states Martin.
She added that “Knowledge is Power” is an adage they integrated based on patient feedback. In her experience, patients have been
overwhelmingly impressed with staff training and certification, to date.
As important as it is to create lasting relationships built on trust with patients, a significant part of practice success can be
directly linked to the relationships within the practice. At the end of the day, associations and morale among employees affect future
interactions with patients. Practices that foster the development of trust and respect reap the long-term rewards. “We encourage our
personnel to invest their time and efforts in training, certification, and on becoming career-minded,” says Martin. “It’s very simple:
when they make the effort, we make the effort.”
Like many clinics around the country, Cape Coral Eye Center is using certification to get employees excited about a career as a
certified ophthalmic assistant or technician. The organization achieves this through several supportive enterprises. They encourage personnel using a
staff newsletter to highlight career excellence, framing certification credentials on the practice’s lobby walls, and issuing name tags
and pins that denote certification levels. These small actions establish practice-wide pride, and send a message to patients that
personnel are passionate, valued, and highly qualified. In the end, simple displays of appreciation and respect have resulted in a more
efficient, unified practice. “Now that everyone in the practice is certified at some level, morale is higher than it’s ever been. Most
importantly, patients see personnel working hard to maintain certification and they feel safe in the care of trained professionals,” she adds.
The level of morale Martin speaks of is only amplified when a greater percentage of staff are certified. Another added benefit of
employing certified personnel is that it creates a level of trust and confidence among all clinical staff. Members of a clinic can work
together more constructively because certification is a representation of training and job proficiency. To patients, personnel, and
physicians, JCAHPO designation is a mark that carries respect and trust.
The importance of certification for ophthalmic personnel is a message JCAHPO actively promotes. Certified personnel contribute positively to
the productivity of a practice and help physicians more effectively manage clinic time and resources. JCAHPO certification guarantees that
personnel will have the technical knowledge and training to perform at optimum capacity and positively contribute to the success of a
practice. Supporting certification is a way for physicians to demonstrate commitment to their staff and create a professional relationship
that benefits the practice, employees, and most importantly, the patient.
For information on a career as a certified ophthalmic technician, visit
www.jcahpo.org or
www.myeyecareer.org.
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Surf’s Up Maui
Personnel seeking continuing education credit in retina-related sub-specialties will have the opportunity to do so this fall with a
continuing education (CE) program in tropical Hawaii. JCAHPO, in cooperation with the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS),
will host a unique specialty CE program October 11-13, 2008, in Maui, HI. The event will give personnel the opportunity to earn CE
credit, enhance training, and learn from a selection of internationally prominent retina specialists. A total of 18 JCAHPO credits
will be available to attendees at the two-and-a-half day program in October.
Some of the courses available for JCAHPO credit in Maui include:
- AMD TechTraxSM
- B-Scan Protocol
- Inflammatory Diseases of the Retina
- OCT Imaging, Spectral Domain, and many more!
The focus of the Maui program will be on important new treatment innovations in the area of retina specialty, but the program is open to
personnel of all experience levels and eye care backgrounds. In addition to courses on diabetic retinopathy and inflammatory retina
infections, the program will also offer several general ophthalmology courses for credit, including the exclusive JCAHPO
specialty program, AMD TechTraxSM. A total of 17 courses will be available to personnel at the event. Attendees will also
have the opportunity to experience an onsite Exhibit Hall devoted to the latest in retina-related field and instrument developments.
We encourage you to join us in Hawaii for this unique CE program. Get involved and help support continuing education for ophthalmic
medical personnel.
Click here for additional information on
JCAHPO Continuing Education programs.
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17,000 Strong - Number of Certified Personnel Reaches All-Time High
JCAHPO is pleased to announce the crossing of an important milestone in the organization’s history. Late this spring, the number of
JCAHPO certificants officially surpassed 17,000 personnel worldwide. The number of JCAHPO certificants continues to grow despite
the current pernonnel shortage in ophthalmology.
Studies have shown that certification is a personally rewarding and lucrative career path. Certification increases practice productivity,
enhances the quality of care, and gives personnel the confidence and training to perform effectively in a clinical setting.
As an organization, JCAHPO has come a long way since the day a small collection of ophthalmologists met in Chicago for what would prove
to be the start of a groundbreaking movement in American eye care. Today, after 39 years of certifying ophthalmic medical personnel
worldwide, JCAHPO and its 19 member organizations have helped shape the field of ophthalmology and improve the overall quality of care
for patients around the world.
Reaching this milestone is a remarkable feat, and we certainly could not have done it without the dedicated efforts of physicians and
personnel from around the world. We look forward to maintaining quality, global CE resources, and certification for personnel in
ophthalmology in the years to come!
For information on JCAHPO or a career as a certified ophthalmic assistant or technician, visit
our Web site or call (800) 284-3937.
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JCAHPO, OMIC to Offer Specialty Courses Online
In an effort to expand JCAHPO’s online course catalog, we are proud to announce a new partnership with the Ophthalmic Mutual
Insurance Company (OMIC®). In the coming months, JCAHPO will work with OMIC to launch a series of online risk management courses to
address liability and practice protocol for ophthalmic personnel. Three courses have been developed for continuing education
(CE) credit on JCAHPO’s independent study Web site
www.myjcahpoce.org, with plans for additional risk-management
courses.
Personnel will have the opportunity to study and earn credit for the three initial risk management-related courses:
“Responding to Unanticipated Outcomes,” “Documentation of Ophthalmic Care,” and “Ophthalmic Anesthesia Liability.” Supported by an
unrestricted educational grant from Allergan Inc., JCAHPO’s online course Web site
www.myjcahpoce.org offers a broad range of additional
courses for personnel in several specialty areas.
The JCAHPO/OMIC courses highlight the importance of communicating with patients honestly, appropriately documenting practice procedures,
and understanding the current regulatory boundaries of practice liability. These courses expand the catalog of existing quality CE
courses that JCAHPO currently offers, and we are excited about the opportunity to begin training personnel to help manage this
increasingly relevant issue in modern practice management.
Visit www.myjcahpoce.org
for updates regarding new and existing course information.
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OCS Exam Measures Coding, Billing Knowledge
JCAHPO and the American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives (AAOE) are partners in providing ophthalmic professionals with the Ophthalmic
Coding Specialist (OCS) exam. The OCS exam is designed to help assess the competency of ophthalmic personnel with regard to coding and
billing. In modern eye practices, appropriate coding and billing have become a central part of effective practice management, yet due to
consistent changes, their importance often remains overlooked by physicians and clinic administrators. As American Academy of Ophthalmology
Coding Executive, Sue Vicchrilli, COT, OCS, observes, it is a core issue many clinics need to address on a more consistent basis.
“Statistical data from third-party audits places the number of incorrectly submitted claims in practices as high as 40 percent,” says
Vicchrilli. “As a result, physicians are being forced to focus less on the practice of ophthalmology and more on the business of
resubmitting incorrectly submitted claims. This issue is relevant and vital because it directly affects practice success and efficiency.”
Personnel who study and earn this ophthalmic designation have an opportunity to directly affect economic health, and help clinics take
the appropriate steps to exact positive change. As Vicchrilli notes, documentation and claim submission are a germane, fundamental
part of practice management. Poor execution and improper procedure in this sector can ultimately be detrimental to a practice’s
survival. The biggest hurdle for practices in this area appears to be rather simple: lack of information.
“Many ophthalmic personnel simply learned coding inappropriately or have not remained current on new procedures,” says Vicchrilli.
“This behavior prohibits maximum reimbursement and it is reflected in the bottom line."
The OCS exam is designed to assess the tools personnel are using in a practice setting, and reeducate or reintroduce them to proper coding
and billing methods. It is also a way for clinics to improve efficiency, demonstrate a commitment to staff, and expose ophthalmic
personnel to suitable coding and billing techniques.
JCAHPO is pleased to work together with AAOE in examination development and administration to help practices improve efficiency and
maximize accountability. By providing even a single representative from a practice with up-to-date, proper coding and billing procedure,
practices can influence the tendencies of all employees and make necessary progress.
“As ophthalmic personnel, this is core competency and a task we do every day. We need to do it better,” adds Vicchrilli.
The examination is an open-book test consisting of 105 multiple-choice questions covering 18 aspects of ophthalmic coding. Participants have
10 working days to complete the exam. The OCS designation is valid for three years and is worth a total of 4 JCAHPO Group A continuing
education (CE) credits.
Click here to view the JCAHPO & ATPO order form online for additional testing information.
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Web Launch a Success!
The new interactive face of JCAHPO was officially launched late this spring, and the response received from users has been
overwhelmingly positive. The new appearance, navigation convenience, and up-to-date news links are just some of the changes to
www.jcahpo.org.
We are grateful to personnel who helped us test-run the site prior to launch, to ensure that online resources were useful, and relevant
to ophthalmic personnel. The redesign is making an impact and will be highlighted in the August 2008 issue of Ophthalmology Management
magazine. We are pleased with the positive feedback we continue to receive from users worldwide, and are excited about the new
opportunities now available for personnel online.
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Performance Test Reminder
A reminder that the upcoming COMT Full Performance Test, scheduled for September 20th, 2008, is the last opportunity for new candidates to
participate in the closing installment of the hands-on Performance Test. The fall examination is the final opportunity to begin the
performance-testing portion of certification until later in 2009, when we begin exclusively offering a computer-simulated version of the
COMT Performance Test.
As a prerequisite, candidates wishing to participate in the September 20th Performance Test are required to have passed the COMT
multiple-choice examination and applied for the Performance Test by August 8, 2008.
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2008 Scholarship Recipients
Certification Scholarships
Congratulations to the following individuals who have demonstrated commitment
and/or excellence in the field of ophthalmic assisting. Each received a voucher
to offset expenses of certification examinations.
Barbara Bailes, COT, Cumming, GA
Donna Caron, Kent, WA
Jane Colli, COT, Lodi, CA
Chandra Franse, COA, Stockton, CA
Gail Grundy, New Bedford, MA
Cathy Maxwell, COA, Hurricane, UT
Mimi Mazuk, Belton, TX
Angela Palermo, Chapel Hill, NC
Amanda Saternus, Cheektawaga, NY
Continuing Education and Training Program Scholarships
Continuing Education and Training Program Scholarship recipients will be announced in the next issue of Eye Lights.
Scholarship guidelines and applications will be available in January 2009 at the
JCAHPO Education and Research Foundation Web site.
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Planned Giving
A planned gift to the JCAHPO Education and Research Foundation reinforces a lifetime of professional commitment to the field of
ophthalmology. Your gift to the Foundation will help support JCAHPO’s mission, the educational opportunities of ophthalmic personnel
worldwide, and the development of high standards and innovation in patient care. Through a planned gift, let the Foundation guarantee
that your service and heritage live on.
Click here
to visit the JCAHPO Education and Research Foundation
and read more about planned giving opportunities.
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