President's Message

Greetings,

I am honored to serve as JCAHPO’s 24th President, and continue its legacy of providing high quality education and exceptional standards in awarding the professional certification credentials at JCAHPO’s three core certifications and four specialty credentials. JCAHPO has many new, interesting learning and assessment programs available. Three programs that you won’t want to miss are: the upcoming Annual Continuing Education (ACE) program in Las Vegas in November, JCAHPO’s new Ophthalmic Scribe Certification (OSC), and the soon to be launched new online course on ICD-10. I invite you to check out JCAHPO’s many regional programs, online and distance education programs that are available. With the continuing changes in our health care environment and demands for improved treatments and technologies, I encourage you to embrace your profession and lifelong learning through JCAHPO’s continuing education programs and assessments. Our patients deserve our best care possible with top skilled eye care professionals.

Best regards,
Eydie Miller-Ellis, MD

Visit our website to view our new JCAHPO Board of Directors.

Education and E-Learning

2015 Annual Continuing Education (ACE) Program

NOW! Registration is Open! - Save up to $140 when you register by Sept. 4th! NOW! Housing is Open! - Special room block just for Techs at Planet Hollywood! Sept 5 Registration fees increase! Oct 4 Deadline for pre-registration, changes, and cancellations Nov 13-16 Onsite Registration at Planet Hollywood

The meeting website will keep you updated on important information you'll need to ensure a worry-free experience. Find housing links and answers to most of your questions at: http://www.jcahpo.org/ace2015/.

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A handy collapsible water bottle is the perfect accessory for a busy Technician. It holds up to 18 oz. of water and folds flat for easy storage. For a $5 donation to the JCAHPO Foundation, plus the cost of shipping, the water bottle can be yours and your donation will be matched by JCAHPO. You can double your donation to support grants and scholarships for Technicians’ continuing education and certification exams, and to advance their careers. The water bottles will be available for sale at the bookstore at ACE and attendees can purchase one when they register. A great way to stay hydrated in the desert.

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Can’t make it to Las Vegas? No problem! JCAHPO also holds monthly regional CE Programs throughout the year at various locations across the country. This quarter, we will be hosting programs in Myrtle Beach, SC, and New York City, NY. Regional meetings are a fun, convenient, and cost-effective way to earn continuing education credits at a location near you.

Certification News

NEW! Ophthalmic Scribe Certification

Since its debut in April, more than 2,800 OMP have earned the Ophthalmic Scribe Credential! The new OSC certification meets the CMS Rule with its 125-item Ophthalmic Scribe Certification examination. The open resource examination content covers History Taking, Ophthalmic Patient Services and Education, Ophthalmic Terminology, Medical Ethics and Legal Issues, and Medical Notes/Records. Once passed, scribes are certified for three years.

The OSC examination can be accessed on EyeCareCE – cost is $20 for JCAHPO certified candidates, $40 for non-certified candidates, but who are ATPO, ASRS and AAO/AAOE member sponsored, or $60 for non-certified candidates.
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ATPO Corner

The 2015 National Salary & Benefits Survey

The 2015 National Salary & Benefits Survey for Ophthalmic Personnel, which is compiled by the Association of Technical Personnel in Ophthalmology, Inc. (ATPO®) in collaboration with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology, Inc. (JCAHPO®), has been completed.

Your responses and participation helps us to provide a comprehensive analysis of YOUR profession’s salary and benefits! The full compilation of the report will be available for purchase this fall in JCAHPO’s Marketplace.

ATPO is pleased to introduce our new Board of Directors, including President Christine McDonald, COA, COE, ROUB. The new board took effect on August 1st.

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Tech Life: Dianna Graves, COMT

After graduating from the Regions Hospital School of Ophthalmic Medical Technology in St. Paul, MN, in 1983, I worked at a busy Level I Trauma Center for almost ten years as a General/Corneal and Diagnostic Technologist. During this time I also trained ophthalmology, ER, and Primary Care residents, as well as worked various OR/ER cases. My life was MACH 7 with my hair on fire – but I wanted more! I wanted to be a Supervisor/Manager!

I got the chance at a supervisor position at the VA and then as a supervisor back at the Level I Trauma Center for almost eleven years. Since 2003 I have been a manager in a large private practice group. WHAT was I thinking?! Being “just a technician” was a piece of cake compared to my days now!

I currently have a staff of 50+ technicians in an eight-office, fourteen ophthalmologist, and two optometrist practice in Woodbury, Minnesota. I am in charge of the technical schedules (vacation, clinical, diagnostic), as well as the Laser Vision Center. I am also involved with the doctor’s out-of-office schedules. The hiring, and unfortunately sometimes firing, of staff, discipline, and guidance of the technicians, is never ending.

But my primary role is the education and development of not only the technicians we have here already, but with the new technicians that join our practice. It has been a goal of mine to ensure that all of the technicians are (or get) JCAHPO certified. We currently have 47 technicians with JCAHPO COA, COT, & COMT certifications and the rest are in training. I teach continuing education classes to the technicians after hours during the year, as well as coordinate their CPR training and any other training in OSHA safety, as well as anything else we deem the technicians need to become excellent care providers and solid clinical teammates.

I have a lot of help from my technicians. Each one of us has a strong role in the development of ourselves, as well as each other. We realized a long time ago that ALL of us need to be working as a TEAM to succeed as a group.  

Because I am so passionate about education, training, and certification, between 15 and 20 times a year I also travel all over the country conducting CE courses for other clinics, hospitals, and conferences - both in ophthalmology and Optometry.

Oh…I also write for Ophthalmology Times (a standing monthly article “Putting It Into View”) and Administrative Eyecare magazines.

When people ask me to describe my work day – I stop to think where I have “been” and all that I still would like to achieve as a manager, as I realize that it is a never-ending task! I think fondly of the “old days” when I was “just a tech” and realize that everything I learned back then has made me who I am today. Knowledge is the strongest tool you have as a technician. Keep going - and keep growing !
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