What is a COA? COT? COMT? Encourage your staff to become certified
By Anne Dwyer, COMT
Obtaining certification as an ophthalmic allied health professional is a significant achievement. In ophthalmology, we are fortunate enough to have the Joint Commission of Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) as the regulatory agency overseeing certification. This organization certifies individuals as certified ophthalmic assistant (COA), certified ophthalmic technician (COT), certified ophthalmic medical technologist (COMT), and corporate certified ophthalmic assistant (CCOA). The agency also certifies registered ophthalmic ultrasound biometrists (ROUB) and ophthalmic surgical assistants.
In order to achieve certification, ophthalmic medical personnel must either graduate from a formal ophthalmic assistant program or perform a specific number of hours of on the job training, under the direct supervision of an ophthalmologist. Once a candidate has satisfied these requirements, he or she may apply to take a written test. For COT and COMT certification, both a written test and a practical exam are necessary in order to achieve certification. In order to maintain certification, ophthalmic medical personnel must earn continuing education credits, which must be JCAHPO approved. More credits are required at the higher certification levels.
Certification as a registered ultrasound biometrist shows that an individual possesses extensive knowledge and skills in ophthalmic ultrasonography. Ultrasound biometrists perform both A-scans and B-scans. They are responsible for accurately measuring axial lengths prior to cataract surgery, as well as performing diagnostic A-scans. They also perform B-scans, allowing physicians to diagnose ocular tumors, retinal detachments, vitreous hemorrhages, and a variety of other ocular conditions. Ophthalmic surgical assistants must possess a comprehensive knowledge of ophthalmic surgical procedures, surgical instrumentation, and operating room sterile technique.
As a physician or practice manager, it is essential to encourage ophthalmic medical personnel to achieve certification. It takes many hours of study and a practical knowledge of ophthalmic testing in order to become certified. Technical staff who strive for this certification gain knowledge of optics, pharmacology, ocular anatomy and physiology, visual fields, and many other aspects of ophthalmology, and become invaluable to a practice. With this knowledge, they become more skilled in obtaining patient histories and performing appropriate testing in order to assist the physician in arriving at a diagnosis. The value of skilled ophthalmic technical personnel cannot be underestimated. They help assess best corrected visual acuity, pupillary function, color vision, peripheral vision, and perform a host of other essential ophthalmic tests.
In order to encourage technical staff to become certified, ophthalmic practices should offer attractive incentives. These can include monetary bonuses and pay rate increases, along with reimbursement for certification testing fees. Non-monetary incentives may include company recognition, such as displaying employee certifications on a “wall of fame” within the organization.
Certification gives ophthalmic technical staff pride in their jobs. It enables increased physician productivity and efficiency, and tells patients that the practice employs highly skilled workers who care about their profession. There are many resources available to help ophthalmic staff prepare for these exams. JCAHPO has many education tools, including an on-the-job training kit for ophthalmic medical personnel, certification study guides, flash cards, and continuing education quizzes. Slack books has an entire bookshelf of valuable books, including Optics, Retinoscopy, and Refinement, Ophthalmic Medications and Pharmacology, the Slit Lamp Primer, and A Systematic Approach to Strabismus, along with many other topics. Educational resources are also available through the Association of Ophthalmic Technical Personnel in Ophthalmology (ATPO).
Obtaining certification as an ophthalmic allied health professional is a significant achievement. In ophthalmology, we are fortunate enough to have the Joint Commission of Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) as the regulatory agency overseeing certification. This organization certifies individuals as certified ophthalmic assistant (COA), certified ophthalmic technician (COT), certified ophthalmic medical technologist (COMT), and corporate certified ophthalmic assistant (CCOA). The agency also certifies registered ophthalmic ultrasound biometrists (ROUB) and ophthalmic surgical assistants.
In order to achieve certification, ophthalmic medical personnel must either graduate from a formal ophthalmic assistant program or perform a specific number of hours of on the job training, under the direct supervision of an ophthalmologist. Once a candidate has satisfied these requirements, he or she may apply to take a written test. For COT and COMT certification, both a written test and a practical exam are necessary in order to achieve certification. In order to maintain certification, ophthalmic medical personnel must earn continuing education credits, which must be JCAHPO approved. More credits are required at the higher certification levels.
Certification as a registered ultrasound biometrist shows that an individual possesses extensive knowledge and skills in ophthalmic ultrasonography. Ultrasound biometrists perform both A-scans and B-scans. They are responsible for accurately measuring axial lengths prior to cataract surgery, as well as performing diagnostic A-scans. They also perform B-scans, allowing physicians to diagnose ocular tumors, retinal detachments, vitreous hemorrhages, and a variety of other ocular conditions. Ophthalmic surgical assistants must possess a comprehensive knowledge of ophthalmic surgical procedures, surgical instrumentation, and operating room sterile technique.
As a physician or practice manager, it is essential to encourage ophthalmic medical personnel to achieve certification. It takes many hours of study and a practical knowledge of ophthalmic testing in order to become certified. Technical staff who strive for this certification gain knowledge of optics, pharmacology, ocular anatomy and physiology, visual fields, and many other aspects of ophthalmology, and become invaluable to a practice. With this knowledge, they become more skilled in obtaining patient histories and performing appropriate testing in order to assist the physician in arriving at a diagnosis. The value of skilled ophthalmic technical personnel cannot be underestimated. They help assess best corrected visual acuity, pupillary function, color vision, peripheral vision, and perform a host of other essential ophthalmic tests.
In order to encourage technical staff to become certified, ophthalmic practices should offer attractive incentives. These can include monetary bonuses and pay rate increases, along with reimbursement for certification testing fees. Non-monetary incentives may include company recognition, such as displaying employee certifications on a “wall of fame” within the organization.
Certification gives ophthalmic technical staff pride in their jobs. It enables increased physician productivity and efficiency, and tells patients that the practice employs highly skilled workers who care about their profession. There are many resources available to help ophthalmic staff prepare for these exams. JCAHPO has many education tools, including an on-the-job training kit for ophthalmic medical personnel, certification study guides, flash cards, and continuing education quizzes. Slack books has an entire bookshelf of valuable books, including Optics, Retinoscopy, and Refinement, Ophthalmic Medications and Pharmacology, the Slit Lamp Primer, and A Systematic Approach to Strabismus, along with many other topics. Educational resources are also available through the Association of Ophthalmic Technical Personnel in Ophthalmology (ATPO).
posted by MedRounds Publications at 9:38 PM
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