Practice Development

Plenty of opportunities for staff to Create A Career Path

Jane Shuman, Co-Editor-In-Chief

Room for advancement exists for those ready to follow their passions.

“The opportunities are endless.” As a child, you likely heard this phrase repeatedly when considering what you wanted to be when you grew up. Did you aspire to work in an ophthalmology practice or did you, like many others, just end up here? Now that you are here, you may be thoroughly content in your current position or you may be wondering if this phrase still applies to you.

Carving Out Your Niche

The first step is to determine that you are committed to the ever-changing business of healthcare, specifically helping patients preserve their vision and, with it, their independence. As a result of the aging population and the Baby Boomer generation reaching seniority, we are seeing an increased number of patients. Even in difficult economic times, people need doctors and doctors need staff to assist them.

Once you understand the complexities of your job, you will likely find some areas you enjoy more than others. It is by no means coincidental that these are the tasks at which you excel. There is certification available for almost every position in an ophthalmic practice. Certification indicates that you take pride in the job you do and have a desire to continue learning in your area of expertise.

Certifying agencies

The newest credential is the Certified Patient Service Specialist (CPSS); offered through BSM Consulting. This program establishes a national standard of excellence that recognizes and promotes the professionalism of nonclinical staff by providing certification and continuing education focused on increasing the quality of patient care. For the billing staff, the Ophthalmic Coding Specialist (OCS) designation is indicative of general coding principles, and more appropriate, the specifics of ophthalmology coding. This is offered as a joint partnership between the American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives (AAOE) and the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO).

Clinical Certifications

JCAHPO offers three levels of certification for clinical staff: Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA), Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) and Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT). Once you obtain the first level, you can choose from three subspecialties—Ophthalmic Surgical Assisting, Registered Ophthalmic Ultrasound Biometrist, and Certified Diagnostic Ophthalmic Sonographer—all of which qualify levels of expertise in additional areas. (See “ ree Subspecialties” on this page.)

For those who aspire to set the tone for the practice that embraces education and certification, there is the Certified Ophthalmic Executive (COE) administered by the National Board of Ophthalmic Executives.

This exam focuses on seven knowledge areas:

1. Finance and accounting.
2. Marketing.
3. Business operations.
4. Risk management and regulatory compliance.
5. Management information systems.
6. Human resources.
7. Basic ophthalmic knowledge.

Pride of a Job Done Well

When coupled with a limited number of new doctors, the influx of Baby Boomer patients means more tasks will need to be handled by competent, certified paraprofessionals. The doctors who provide eye care to this population are under pressure to see a larger volume of patients in the same amount of time. To do so successfully, they must have trustworthy staff who view their positions as a career and not just a job.

Staff members may take many pathways to success. In each case, they begin with pride in their job and the service they provide. No matter what the job description is, the commonality that remains is the desire to help people retain both their vision and their independence.

In subsequent issues, we will share the career paths of various industry leaders. Their stories should demonstrate that the opportunities are, indeed, endless. OP

Ms. Shuman, president of Eyetechs, is a nationally recognized authority on clinical flow, scheduling and technician education. Prior to founding Eyetechs, she worked as an ophthalmic technician and clinical manager.