Philadelphia Regional Ophthalmic Society
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Sean Patrick Murphy

 

 

PROS Message Center: 215-825-4725, Ext. 317, Email: pros@eyetechs.org

Items of Interest

American Academy of Ophthalmology
Annual Meeting
Atlanta, GA
November 8 - 11, 2008
Subspecialty Days
November 7 and 8, 2008
AAOE Practice Management Program
November 7 to 8, 2008


COA®/COT®/COMT®
Certification Review Courses

The Association of Technical Personnel in Ophthalmology, Inc., (ATPO®) would like to invite you to attend the COA/COT/COMT Certification Review Courses, which will be offered in conjunction with the ASCRS Meeting on Friday, April 4, 2008, in Chicago, Ill.

Registrations for the ATPO Review Courses must be made through JCAHPO. The ATPO Review Course registration deadline is March 21, 2008. Space is limited so be sure to register early! Click on the link below for a registration brochure or you may also use the link to register online.  http://imisweb.jcahpo.org/registration/

Registration for the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) meeting itself must be made directly through ASCRS. Click here for ASCRS registration, housing, travel, and other information. Meeting Location: McCormick Place West, 2301 S. Indiana, Chicago, Ill. 60616.

We look forward to seeing you in Chicago. If you have questions, call ATPO at (800) 482-4858.


COA Examination to Change in 2008

The content of the COA examination has been revised.  The exact implementation date has not been announced but it is expected to happen in 2008.

Category                                                                                                          Percentage
Administrative and Clerical Duties                                                                     14%
Color Vision, Basic Skills, Pupil Function, History Taking                                  12%
Communication Skills/Interpersonal Communications/
Psychology of Communication                                                                          14%
Contact Lens                                                                                                     3%
Equipment Maintenance and Repair                                                                    3%
Medical Ethics and Legal Issues                                                                         7%
Microbiology and Pharmacology                                                                        6%
Ocular Motility                                                                                                   3%
Ophthalmic Patient Services                                                                              19%
Ophthalmic Photography                                                                                    3%
Optics/Opticianry                                                                                               5%
Specialized Ophthalmic Testing                                                                           3%
Tonometry                                                                                                          5%
Visual Fields                                                                                                       5%

For more information about the changes and categories visit the JCAHPO website:

http://www.jcahpo.org/newsite/coaexamchanges.pdf

The COT and COMT examinations will be revised in 2009


The Eyes Have It
An interactive educational website designed for medical students but the videos are excellent basic training for new ophthalmic assistants. The quiz mode is an excellent way to test your knowledge in preparation for the certification exam or for your own benefit. Some of the information may not be relevant for technicians.
www.kellogg.umich.edu/theeyeshaveit

 


The Glaucoma Service Foundation to Prevent Blindness at Wills Eye Hospital offers a glaucoma patient support group, which meets monthly from September through May on Sunday afternoons in the Wills Eye Hospital auditorium.

The foundation's newsletter, Searchlight on Glaucoma, is published three times a year, and mailed to approximately 20,000 glaucoma patients and their families. All issues are archived on its website (Glaucoma Service Foundation at Wills Eye Hospital). Subscriptions to the Searchlight on Glaucoma newsletter is free.

Every Wednesday night, from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm a Wills Eye Hospital glaucoma specialist hosts an online Question & Answer session on scheduled topics. Edited transcripts of these sessions are available on the website.


For information on glaucoma and macular degeneration,
please visit the following two links:

Glaucoma
Macular Degeneration


Links

Online Portal for Ophthalmic Technicians

Wills Eye Hospital® 61st Annual Alumni Conference Technicians' Program

American Academy of Ophthalmology

Glaucoma Service Foundation at Wills Eye Hospital

HIPAA Privacy Rules Guidelines

American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery and American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators

The National Eye Institute

Macular Degeneration Foundation

American Printing House for the Blind

The Glaucoma Foundation

The LASIK Institute

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
(formerly Healthcare Finance Administration - HCFA)

JCAHPO

American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators


Associated Services for the Blind

Our thanks to Diane Brash of the Associated Services for the Blind, our speaker at the September meeting. Diane has provided us with resources to assist our visually impaired patients:

Associated Services for the Blind
919 Walnut St
Philadelphia,PA
215-627-0600 ext 3254

Library for the Blind, GED programs: 
215-683-3213

PA Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services:
215-560-5700

PA Association for the Blind:
Bucks County: 215-968-4731
Chester County: 610-384-2767
Delaware County: 610-874-1476
Montgomery County: 215-661-9800

The PA Association for Blind Athletes needs volunteers to assist visually impaired participants. Visit their website for more information:
www.pablindsports.org

PROS Message Center: 215-825-4725, Ext. 317, Email: pros@eyetechs.org