Using the Facts and Making a Difference
Late last year, the number of JCAHPO certificants worldwide approached the 18,000 mark - its highest to date. As exciting as that is, there are still many eye care personnel who are not certified. Estimates place this number at anywhere from 30 to 45,000 non-certified ophthalmic personnel in the
United States alone. There are a variety of contributing factors to this problem, many of which spawn from basic misinformation.
Unfortunately, even in the age of free information and internet search engines, the lines between fact and myth get blurred. It’s clear that in ophthalmology today, complete with personnel shortages and rising patient demand, communicating the facts about the profession and the state of the eye care field needs to be a critical ingredient for success. Below are some important professional facts that you should know and their larger implications.
Certified OMP Are More Productive
Four out of five ophthalmologists surveyed agree that certified OMP are more productive than non-certified personnel. As both health care providers and as small business owners, ophthalmologists want the best, brightest, and most-qualified personnel serving the needs of their patients. When certified, you stand a greater chance of finding employment at a clinic that values the skills and training you received during the process of certification.
Average COT Salary = $56,623
Naturally, average salaries vary by certification level, experience, training, and geographic location. But regardless of those factors, working in eye care provides you with a viable and lucrative career pathway with a relatively small amount of training and in a short period of time.
Medical nurses, for example, spend anywhere from 3-5 years in college and sometimes graduate school before they can legally begin working. As a certified eye care professional though, you can enter the field in 1/4 the time, and begin working immediately. It's pretty simple: the higher your certification level and experience, the better your chances of advancing professionally.
Certified Personnel Change Jobs Twice & Average 8 Years in the Same Position
This is an amazing statistic considering that 2009 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the average American employee changes jobs pretty often - every 5 years. Certified OMP are happier in their job, enjoy their employer, and are fiercely loyal employees. One of many employment myths is that eye care professionals are apt to quickly gain experience and switch clinics, but these numbers show otherwise.
71% of Employers Encourage Certification - 21% Require It
We often hear from personnel how their employers aren't supportive of their professional development and certification as eye care professionals. Generally, this is not enough to stifle their efforts to continue learning and training in the least. Take a look at the numbers though: most employers (nearly 3/4) ARE supportive. Even if you think yours isn't, they may just be waiting for you to take the initiative as an employee. You may be surprised at what you find.
Peer Pressure
It’s no secret that certification for eye care assistants and technicians in the United States is not mandated by state or federal laws. In fact, you might be a
technician or assistant who is certified working alongside personnel who are not. While frustrating, there is still much that can be done. Start by encouraging your colleagues to get certified. Relay to your employers, friends, and co-workers the difference that certification makes in your productivity and
job satisfaction.
More importantly, emphasize the impact that being certified has in your career. There may be a colleague
considering whether or not certification is right for them and your encouragement could give them the needed incentive to pursue it.
The Big Picture
Imagine if every single JCAHPO-certified ophthalmic assistant/technician encouraged just one colleague to get certified, or, if your words and actions persuaded just
one more person to enter the eye care profession as a certified professional. How might that change the eye care profession?
Even though it can feel overwhelming, real change starts through small actions. Ultimately, the goal is simple: to
improve the availability of quality patient care one individual at a time.
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Stein Lecture - ACE 2010 
Add two parts educational address and one part comedy and you have the entertainment mixings of James F. McDonnell, MD. He'll present the Harold A. Stein Lecture on Sunday October 17, at the 2010 Annual Continuing Education (ACE) Program in Chicago, IL.
Dr. McDonnell is currently a Professor of Ophthalmology at Loyola University Health System specializing in neuro-ophthalmology, pediatric ophthalmology, and surgery.
His Chicago lecture, "OD or OS - Which One is Right?", will humorously present anecdotes from his experience as one of the nation's leading pediatric and neuroophthalmologists.
Be sure to watch for updates and registration information in the coming months and join us in Chicago for this exclusive educational and professional development event. Visit the 2010 ACE Pages for a list of important dates and program details.
Wanted: Faculty for ACE 2010 workshops.
We are currently seeking faculty instructors and co-instructors for the 38th Annual Continuing Education (ACE) Program in Chicago, IL. This is an opportunity to establish yourself as a leader in the eye care field and gain valuable experience in the process. Contact jharvey@jcahpo.org for more information.
Volunteer faculty will receive a $15 voucher for every hour they instruct. |
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Understanding Medication Access to Maximize Patient Care
| For more information on glaucoma-related products, click below. |
 |
| This is a paid advertisement. The content and views expressed within do not represent or reflect the official policies or positions of JCAHPO. |
Glaucoma is a chronic and progressive disease, which if left untreated, can lead to irreversible blindness.
1 It is therefore important that patients remain adherent to the
treatment regimen prescribed by their eye care professional to avoid further damage to the optic nerve and permanent vision loss.
One of the key barriers to accessing their prescribed treatment may be the patient’s understanding of his or her pharmacy benefits.
In many cases, the medical coverage plan may be entirely different from the prescription benefits plan. Alternatively, the drug prescribed by the patient’s
eye care professional may not be included on a drug plan’s formulary or could be available with restricted access, which could result in the patient paying higher
out-of-pocket costs, leading to frustration at the pharmacy.
In today’s economic climate, this issue of restricted access to prescription drugs is becoming more prevalent. As a trusted eye care professional, patients
will look to you for guidance on accessing their medications and understanding prescription drug coverage and pharmacy benefits. Sometimes patients may confuse their
medical coverage benefits with their prescription drug benefits, so you may want to explain the difference.
Navigating the Formulary Maze
Formulary drug status for various health plans seems to be ever-changing and keeping up with the formularies can seem daunting.
Online resources such as Fingertip Formulary®, a simple-to-use tool that allows you to determine formulary drug status for health plans in the area, are
available that include formulary information on the most commonly prescribed drugs.2
How to Access Formulary Information
Users may access information on the most commonly prescribed drugs on Fingertip Formulary by taking the following steps.2
- Visit www.fingertipformulary.com
- Select your patient’s drug either alphabetically or find it in the “Featured Drugs” section.
- Click on the state name
- Check the patient’s prescription benefits card and choose the health plan from the options given
- Click on the health plan to display the results automatically with an option to print
Fingertip Formulary is also available for use via portable devices.2
Using "Exceptions and Prior Authorization"
It is important to remember that in some cases, the most appropriate therapy may not be included on a drug plan’s formulary or may be available with restricted access.
In such cases, technicians can help patients gain access to the drug by utilizing exceptions and prior authorization, which enables physicians or qualified staff to
request the most appropriate medication for patients, regardless of its availability on formulary.3,4 To help patients gain access, qualified professionals
should fill out “prior authorization forms” or "exception request forms." If the drug plan sponsor does not approve the request, an appeals process is available.3
Note: for additional information please refer to the July 2009 issue of Eye Lights.
Should You Consider Switching Medications?
Drug plans often restrict the type of medication covered by their formulary, and the pharmacist may recommend switching the patient’s medication from the
prescribed therapy to another drug with a similar indication. For example, with the prostaglandin analogs (PGs) medications, which are generally considered first-line
therapy for the treatment of intraocular pressure (IOP)5, physicians may be inclined to switch the patient to another PG.
Switching medications midstream might complicate the patient’s care and compliance6, and it is important to consider efficacy, systemic safety, ocular tolerability
and patient acceptance before making a switch. While all PGs have demonstrated equivalent efficacy in lowering IOP, some differences have been noted with regard to
safety and tolerability.7,8
Patient Assistance Programs
Another important thing to keep in mind is that financial assistance programs are available for patients who may have difficulty paying for their medicines. Programs
such as EyeCare America (1-800-391-EYES), Pfizer Helpful Answers (1-866-706-2400)10 and Vision USA (1-800-766-4466) may help qualified patients get access to
prescription drugs. For a list of other resources, visit the Partnership for Prescription Assistance Web site: www.pparx.org.
As eye care professionals, it is important to gain a good understanding of issues such as access to medications and managed care to ensure that patients are given
optimal care that will ultimately give them the best outcome.
The above article was written and funded by Pfizer Ophthalmics.
1. National Eye Institute. Glaucoma Defined. What is glaucoma? Available at:http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/glaucoma/glaucoma_facts.asp#1a. Accessed March 9, 2010.
2. Fingertip Formulary. Health Plan Formulary and Drug Tier Status. Available at: http://www.fingertipformulary.com/.
Accessed March 9, 2010.
3. Texas Medical Association. Questions on implementation of the preferred drug
list and prior authorization process. http://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=2193.
Accessed March 9, 2010.
4. Medco.com. Physician Services, Clinical Management Programs. Available at:http://www.medcohealth.com/medco/corporate/home.jsp?articleID=CorpPhysMedicare. Accessed March 10, 2010.
5. Weinreb RN, Khaw PT. Primary open-angle glaucoma. Lancet. 2004; 363(9422):1711-1720.
6. Murphy, J. Switching Meds When the Formulary Says ‘No’. Review of Optometry. 2010.
7. Zimmerman T, Hahn SR, Gelb L, et al. The Impact of Ocular Adverse Effects in Patients Treated with Topical Prostaglandin Analogs: Changes in Prescription Patterns
and Patient Persistence. Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2009:25(2).
8. Charnock C. Are multidose over-the-counter artificial tears adequately preserved? Cornea. 2006;25(4):432-437.
9. EyeCare America. Medication Assistance. Available at: http://www.eyecareamerica.org/eyecare/care/med-assist.cfm. Accessed March 10, 2010.
10. Pfizer Helpful Answers. Patient Assistance Programs for Prescription Drug Medicines. Available at: http://www.eyecareamerica.org/eyecare/care/med-assist.cfm. Accessed March 10, 2010.
11. VISION USA. Available at: http://www.aoa.org/x5607.xml. Accessed March 10, 2010.
Retina TechTraxSM
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This program is available thanks to an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech.
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The newly titled, TechTraxSM Retina and Imaging Symposia: Improving Patient Care for Retinal Neovascular Disease will be available at two programs in the first half of 2010:
- Saturday, May 22, 2010 – Los Angeles, CA - The Beverly Hilton
- Friday and Saturday, June 11-12, 2010 – Memphis, TN - Memphis Marriott Downtown
The popular series returns in 2010, providing participants with cutting-edge, clinically-relevant news about common retina diseases. The series features hands-on workshops where participants will learn how to provide quality images for retinal diseases.
Both programs will also feature three additional workshops on OCT Imaging, Slit Lamp Techniques, and Ultrasound Biometry. Equipment for workshops will be provided by Zeiss, Haag-Streit, and Ellex, respectively.
Ophthalmic personnel with various levels of expertise will benefit from the program. The courses presented will provide a platform for educational exchange
between leading retina specialists, expert technicians, and ophthalmic technical personnel to provide more efficient and effective patient care.
Visit the JCAHPO Events page to register and view the program brochure.
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OMP Poster Awarded Top Prize
Ophthalmologist John T. LiVecchi, MD, FACS, and JCAHPO CEO Lynn D. Anderson, PhD,
were honored at the 2010 ASCRS/ASOA Symposium for their poster “Ophthalmic
Medical Personnel.”
The poster, a virtual slide show presentation detailing the measurable value of
ophthalmic medical personnel in eye care was awarded the 1st Prize
Winner in the Supplementary Practice Management Category. The poster highlights the value of education for technicians to bring
professional and productive values to an eye care practice.
View poster highlights from their recent RSS post.
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In the News
JCAHPO recognizes that ophthalmic personnel contribute greatly to the eye care profession in varied and remarkable ways. In each issue of Eye Lights, we’ll feature ophthalmic personnel In the News who are making a difference in the world of eye care.
Florence Mae de Vera
When I take a look back at my childhood years, I can still remember the important events that happened in my life. However, I cannot recall the faces of people or the
beauty of the sceneries. Initially, I thought that it was because I was young and didn’t pay attention to the house we lived in for ten years or the face of the lady who
took care of me for six years. When I was in fourth grade, our school did a vision testing and I found out the reason. It was because I couldn’t see those details when I
was young. I couldn’t see the big "E" on the eye chart; the nurse had to stand four feet from me in order for me to see the “E” on the small card she was holding.
When I began seeing 20/20 with my glasses, I was so excited, and it still amazes me today, and to be working in a field that helps others see and to be part of that
help would be great. Some of my relatives have had eye problems, and I know how difficult it can be to live with those complications. The Ophthalmic Technology program at
Old Dominion University is preparing me to achieve my goal of passing board examinations and working in an ophthalmologist’s clinic someday.
When others hear about my goals for the future, they are amazed and encouraged. However, when some of them find out that my parents help our relatives in the
Philippines financially and that I am the 5th daughter for my parents to finance to go to college, they think that I will have a hard time finishing my education.
However, I believe that if I set my mind on something, with the help of others, I can achieve it.
Congratulations to Florence Mae de Vera,
who is also the recipient of a 2009 Virginia Society of Ophthalmic Medical Personnel Scholarship. Ms. Mae de Vera is a 2nd year student at Old Dominion University.
If you know of an individual who is impacting eye care, please nominate them. We would like to consider them for a future article. Click here to e-mail your candidate or story submission.
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2010-11 CE Programs
Look for these upcoming continuing education (CE) program opportunities near you:
| Date |
Location |
| May 14, 2010 |
Kiawah, SC |
| May 22, 2010 |
Beverly Hills, CA |
| TBD
| Memphis, TN |
| June 25, 2010 |
Orlando, FL |
| August 28, 2010 |
Vancouver, BC, Canada |
| September 10, 2010 |
Pinehurst, NC |
| October 1, 2010 |
Amherst, NY |
| October 15-18, 2010 |
Chicago, IL (ACE) |
| November 5, 2010 |
Norfolk, VA |
| January 7, 2011 |
Kansas City, MO |
| February 25 , 2011 |
Sandy, UT |
Dates and topics are subject to change
Visit the JCAHPO Events pages for more information and to register.
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Webinars
In September, JCAHPO & ATPO launched a series of continuing education Webinars as the newest way for personnel to earn
JCAHPO credits. To date, the popular series has had over 1,200 participants.
Short for Web-based Seminar, Webinars are courses or lectures transmitted over the internet from a remote location to
registered attendees. The series features one lecture every month, and may be viewed by anyone with a high-speed internet connection. Join us for one of these upcoming Webinar events:
| Date |
Topic |
Speaker |
| May 11, 2010 |
E-Rx & PQRI: Clinical Perspective
(a course on E-Prescribing) |
Joy Woodke, COE |
| June 8, 2010 |
Disaster Relief for an Ophthalmology
Practice and the
Technician’s Role
|
Natalie M. Loyacano, COMT,
ROUB, OCS
John Massare, PhD |
| July 12, 2010 |
Refractive Surgery Case Discussion |
David R. Hardten, MD
|
| August 10, 2010 |
Oculoplastics |
Amjad M. Ahmad, MD |
Dates and topics are subject to change
Visit the new Webinar pages for more information and to register.
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Attention GED Graduates
JCAHPO is teaming with the GED Testing Service to inspire prospective and current GED candidates to join the eye care profession.
GED Profiles of Success is a new campaign created for GED graduates to speak directly to future GED graduates. As GED graduates and
working ophthalmic professionals, this is an opportunity to give back and tell your personal success story.
If selected, your video or text submission will be posted on an exclusive ophthalmic career page on the GED Testing Service Web site.
Better yet, it could encourage GED graduates to become an ophthalmic assistant/technician.
E-mail mevans@jcahpo.org or call (651) 731-7245 for submission details.
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2010 Scholarships Available
Guidelines and applications for each scholarship are available on the Foundation Web site, along with the Release Form granting the Foundation permission to quote from the application or essay.
Program Scholarships
These are available for students accepted in accredited training programs* for ophthalmic medical assistants, technicians, technologists, and orthoptists. Deadline for receipt of applications is June 1, 2010. Assistant programs may submit at any time during the year.
*Assistant, Technician, and Technologist programs must qualify with the Foundation prior to students submitting applications.
Scholarships
Scholarships of up to $500 each are available for registration fees and travel to JCAHPO's ACE Program. This competition is open to all ophthalmic medical personnel who have not received Continuing Education Scholarships from the Foundation between 2006 and 2008. Receipt of Certification and/or Disaster Relief/Katrina Scholarships are not included in this guideline.
Essay or videos may be submitted on any or all of the following titles:
“Certification – A Stepping Stone to My Future”
“Why I Would Choose Ophthalmic Medical Assisting as a Career Again”
“Why Eye MDs Need Certified Ophthalmic Medical Personnel”
Deadline for receipt in the Foundation office is July 23, 2010.
Harold A. Stein, MD, Prize for Best Scientific Paper
A $1,500 cash prize, plus $500 travel and lodging reimbursement. All ophthalmic medical personnel are invited to submit an ORIGINAL written scientific presentation on any ophthalmic topic of their choice, i.e., glaucoma, contact lenses, dry eye, animal eyes, cataracts, macular degeneration, etc. Go to the Foundation Web site to print guidelines and an application. Deadline for receipt in the Foundation office is June 26, 2010.
Disaster Relief Scholarships
These may be used for annual or regional programs and continuing education credits using JCAHPO Refinements or audio/video presentations listed on the JCAHPO order form.
ATPO
Up to two $500 scholarships are available for essays titled, "How Has ATPO Enhanced My Career?". Applications and guidelines are available here.
Foundation News
Legacy Society
The JCAHPO Education and Research Foundation established the Legacy Society in 2006 to honor individuals who have included JCAHPO in their
planned giving, a part of estate planning that allows you to make contributions to organizations you want to support long-term, either in your
lifetime or after your death. Bequest, cash, life insurance, IRAs, and securities are just some of the ways you can include JCAHPO in your
estate plans. Talk to your legal counsel or financial advisor about special opportunities that allow you to give. The total number of
Legacy Society members is currently 13.
Experience peace of mind by taking control of your future in a way that benefits you, your loved ones, and the world around you.
A planned gift to the JCAHPO Education and Research Foundation will ensure a continuation of your commitment to the values of our profession
for years to come, and will enable the Foundation to continue to provide valuable support to JCAHPO and ophthalmic medical personnel.
Contact the Foundation office at (800) 284-3937, ext. 249, or e-mail jboyne@jcahpo.org for free brochures,
including, "Easy Ways to Remember the Foundation in Your Estate Planning."
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