Allied Health Recruitment and Training Tool Kit; Educational Training Resources; American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives

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ALLIED HEALTH RECRUITMENT & TRAINING TOOL KIT
IV. OPHTHALMIC EDUCATIONAL TRAINING RESOURCES

Ophthalmic Educational Training
> The Allied Health On-the-Job Training Kit
> JCAHPO Learning Systems
> Distance Learning
> On-the-Job Training
Techniques Newsletter
CODEquest Coding College

Ophthalmic Educational Training

Educational training for beginning students as ophthalmic assistants can include one or a combination of the following:

Formal educational training through an accredited program/school
Available for candidates who choose to attend a program accredited by a national accrediting agency. Provides a progressive training experience that prepares students for highly competent technical support. Additionally, the structure and environment is conducive to learning that utilizes realistic training, state-of-the-art equipment, evolving professional standards of care and may include a clinical component. Classes are designed to give a focused educational experience within a small group size allowing for a high level of student-teacher interaction. Many educational organizations have job placement programs to assist graduates in finding more immediate employment upon completion of their coursework.

The Commission on Accreditation for Ophthalmic Medical Programs (CoA-OMP) provides a listing of Ophthalmic Assistant Programs and Ophthalmic Technician/Medical Technologist Programs.

Independent or self-study
Primary method of training for individuals who are already working in the field:

Allied Health On-the Job Training Kit Easily and thoroughly train new allied health personnel. Contents:
Ophthalmic Medical Assisting: An Independant Study Course, 4th Edition Text and Exam: The core text for beginning ophthalmic allied health professional. Includes two new chapters and updated content. The course consists of a full-color textbook and an examination booklet. NEW! Fundamentals of Ophthalmic Medical Assisting DVD: Enhance your allied health staff's patient care skills with this updated DVD. It provides step-by-step instruction for the various procedures an ophthalmic medical assistant needs to perform and demonstrates how to use equipment and execute many of the diagnostic tests described in the Ophthalmic Medical Assisting: An Independent Study Course text. Topics include history taking, visual acuity testing, confrontation visual fields, pupil evaluation, slit-lamp assessment, applanation tonometry, clinical optics, ocular motility, and more. The Primer: Introduces beginning clerical and clinical staff to basic concepts in ophthalmology and to working in an ophthalmology office. JCAHPO Learning Systems Software: Interactive software offers benefits beyond traditional classroom training. Text-based instruction includes an interactive glossary to explain unfamiliar terms and video demonstrates actual procedures. The interactive functions allow ophthalmic professionals to manipulate equipment and view patient response as if it were a real life examination. Six multi-media courses on the CD. Ophthalmic Medical Personnel On-the-Job Trainers' Guide and Curriculum: A detailed guide that physicians and administrators can use to train new and current allied health personnel.
Ophthalmic Medical Assisting: An Independent Study Course, 4th Edition - Text & Exam Long recognized as the core text for beginning ophthalmic allied health professionals, Ophthalmic Medical Assisting: An Independent Study Course is also an essential office reference. Packed with practical information for on-the-job use, this fourth edition provides ample illustrations and includes two new chapters important to ophthalmic assistants: Refractive Surgery Concepts, and Procedure and Understanding Practice Management. Other enhancements include: Revised chapters and glossary incorporating new evidence-based information and ground breaking technologies 37 procedures explained in detail Reorganization of chapters to establish a path for learning, moving from concepts of ophthalmic science in the early chapters to practical techniques and office interactions in later chapters The course consists of a full-color textbook and examination booklet.
JCAHPO Learning Systems® CD-ROM Interactive six course set includes: Keratometry, Lensometry, Ocular Motility, Retinoscopy/ Refinement, Tonometry & Visual Fields: Provides innovative approach to learning with animation and video Six complimentary JCAHPO Group A CE Credits
JCAHPO & ATPO offer continuing education opportunities through participation in non-traditional, non-classroom instructional activities such as: Audio Lectures, Articles, Internet Based Courses, Videotapes and Refinement Print-based Modules. Visit http://www.jcahpo.org/

Distance Learning
Provides a means for individuals to expand their knowledge base while pursuing other educational coursework, on-the-job training, or work. Educational materials and courses provide a means for a pre-determined curricula and pathway designed to teach specific skills at a reasonable cost.

Centennial College Ophthalmic Medical Personnel Program Accredited by JCAHPO - Program enables students to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to function as an ophthalmic assistant, providing quality care under the supervision of a registered eye care practitioner.416-289-5000, ext. 2555
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Ophthalmic Assistant & Distance Learning Program Students study the theory and skills essential to practice. Included are: anatomy and physiology of the eye, pathology of the eye, visual fields, diagnostic techniques, optics and history taking. All candidates must be employed by an ophthalmologist. 403.284.8456
You and the Telephone is an online basic training and refresher course developed by the AAO & JCAHPO for front office staff. This course provides you with the skills you need to be successful in an Ophthalmology practice. You will learn how to communicate with patients, doctors, and other staff as well as learn some basic ophthalmology terms, anatomy and physiology. By gaining these skills, you will be able to be an active part of the team helping patients improve their eye health.

On-The-Job training
Most significant to individuals seeking alternatives for training other than formal academic programs and offers flexibility to individuals who have financial obligations and need to begin working immediately. Physicians extend opportunities to train staff increasing the potential for better long-term retention. The individual is supervised during the term of the training by medical professionals in the physician's office. As satisfactory progress in both On-The-Job Training and related self-study is achieved, staff is advanced in accordance with the employers’ wage schedule.

View handout of the April 30, 2008 Web conference On-the-Job Training (OJT) Strategies for Your New Ophthalmic Assistant (PDF 1.55 MB)

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Techniques Electronic Newsletter

Techniques features articles written to help member administrators and physicians enhance the capacity of their ophthalmic technical personnel and support the practice’s training and retention activities. The focus of this newsletter is to enhance the capacity of practices to provide on-the-job training for technicians, and to increase the pool of qualified technician in the marketplace.

	2009
July 2009	Developing an In-House Tech Training Program
May 2009	Techniques: Technician Retention: Strategies for Today and Tomorrow
March 2009	Understanding the Technician's Role in PQRI and Special Testing Services
January 2009	E-Prescribing: The Role of the Technician
	2008
September 2008	Preparing Your Clinical Staff for Electronic Medical Records
July 2008	Using Templates to Improve Technician Efficiency
May 2008	Office Culture
March 2008	Efficiently Using Ophthalmic Medical Personnel
January 2008	Salary Trends of the Ophthalmic Technical Team
	2007
November 2007	Hiring & Keeping Great Staff
September 2007	Optimizing Your In-House Training
July 2007	Recruitment Techniques for Ophthalmic Medical Technical Staff
May 2007	Management of Patients with Permanent Vision Loss: The Academy’s SmartSight™ Vision Rehabilitation Program
March 2007	OSHA Bloodborne Infection Issues
January 2007	Caring for Our Elderly Patients
	2006
August 2006	Allied Health Personnel and the Issue of Ethics
June 2006	The Ophthalmologist’s Role in Emergency Care: On-Call and Follow-up Duties Under EMTALA
May 2006	Color Vision
April 2006	Pupil Evaluation
March 2006	Interpreters for Deaf Patients
February 2006	Interpreters for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Patients
January 2006	Ophthalmic Abbreviations
	2005
December 2005	The Art of Patient Communication
November 2005	Vendors’ Gifts to Physicians: Is it True That Nothing in Life is Free?
October 2005	Medicare’s New Prescription Drug Benefit - What You & Your Patients Need to Know; Electronic Prescription for Part D Drugs Announced
September 2005	What Every Tech Must Know About Coding and Documentation, Part Two
August 2005	What Every Tech Must Know About Coding and Documentation, Part One
July 2005	Dealing with Difficult People
June 2005	The Role of Ophthalmic Medical Personnel in Informed Consent: PC-IOL's
May 2005	Observers Present During Surgical Procedures
April 2005	Premiere Issue Noncompliance: A Frequent Prelude to Malpractice Lawsuits

Additional Articles:

Finding, Hiring and Keeping Great Technicians (PDF 108K)

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CODEquest Coding College

Take advantage of convenient half-day seminars sponsored with your state or specialty society to get up-to-date, state- and specialty-specific coding information. Four hours JCAHPO Category A CEUs Offered.

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Tool Kit Index:

I.	NEW WAYS TO THINK ABOUT RECRUITMENT
II.	JOB APPLICANT SOURCES & HOW TO FIND THEM
III.	RECRUITMENT TOOLS
IV.	Current Page OPHTHALMIC EDUCATIONAL TRAINING RESOURCES
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