Product: Video about ophthalmic assisting careers
Top Line: The International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (IJCAHPO) and the Association of Technical Personnel in Ophthalmology (ATPO) have released a video that introduces ophthalmic assisting careers to potential employees and highlights the benefits and rewards of working as part of the ophthalmic health care team.
Close Up: Allied Ophthalmic Personnel (AOP) include Ophthalmic Assistants, Technicians, and Technologists (with sub-specialties in surgical assisting, imaging, biometry and ultrasound), and other mid-level eyecare team members. They provide patient care and assistance under the supervision of an ophthalmologist and assist in the evaluation, management, treatment, education, and care of patients with medical and surgical conditions affecting the visual system.
“The video introduces potential AOP candidates to possible career opportunities and helps them discover how to become an ophthalmic assistant,” said William F. Astle, MD, FRCSC, Dipl. ABO, president of IJCAHPO’s board of directors. “There is an increasing demand for allied ophthalmic personnel as practices aim to see more patients, screen for and treat eye diseases, and work to prevent vision impairment and blindness worldwide.”
Vital Stats: The video includes key aspects of daily work, an overview of relevant certifications, paths to certification (academic and on-the-job training), and information about relevant professional associations. It also features testimonies from actively certified AOP at various career levels who speak about the importance of the profession. To watch the video, visit http://bit.ly/CareersInSightForYou.
www.jcahpo.org; www.atpo.org