[optimal] Re: OPS Salary Survey
- From: "Bennett, Timothy" <tbennett1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "'optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'" <optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 13:46:03 +0000
Well said John. Yes our profession is evolving. I really like the fact that you
suggest that these changes present an opportunity to redefine our profession.
Recently I’ve heard predictions of doom and gloom for the future of ophthalmic
imagers, but I don’t buy it. Like you, I see this as an opportunity to define
and strengthen our role in ophthalmology.
Utilization of imaging is on the rise. Over ten million ophthalmic imaging
procedures were billed to Medicare Part B in 2011. Of those, over six million
were OCT procedures. That’s two years ago and doesn’t include other insurance
carriers! Who knows how many procedures are being done in the US and worldwide?
That creates a huge need for high professional standards, education, and
certification, and we can lead the way.
The OPS remains committed to providing the best education, certification and
professional development resources to the ophthalmic imaging community. I
believe there is a place for both the full-time imaging specialist and the
tech/imager hybrid in our field and the OPS is a strong advocate for both
roles. We want to provide resources for ALL imagers and our volunteers are
working hard to do so. We’ve increased our collaborations with physician groups
to provide combined imager/MD educational symposiums, image banks and photo
exhibits. We are building a strong social media presence through
Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/theopsociety?sk=app_106171216118819#!/theopsociety>
and Pinterest<http://pinterest.com/theopsociety/> , as well as blogs and
forums through the OPS website<http://www.opsweb.org/>. The resources offered
through our website are extensive and changing almost daily.
We hope to reach well beyond the core group of the “usual suspects” (longtime
OPS members) and expose new imagers to high professional standards and the
resources to achieve and maintain those standards. Collectively, our online
venues are creating a new and expanding community of ophthalmic imagers. Our
membership is growing, certification numbers are on the rise, we have over 800
followers (and growing) on Facebook. Our efforts to expand our reach are
working.
Like the profession itself, the OPS is evolving, but we haven’t abandoned the
past. While reaching out to new imagers in new ways, we also continue to
produce the traditional educational products and programs that have defined the
OPS for decades: Annual and Mid-Year Educational Programs, the Journal of
Ophthalmic Photography, etc.
There is strength in numbers…
tim
From: optimal-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optimal-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of John Gerty
Sent: Friday, August 30, 2013 1:40 AM
To: optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optimal] Re: OPS Salary Survey
Tim, et al,
That slug of 20 year plus experience respondents to the salary survey indicates
there will be some good possibilities for advancement in our field as this
group starts to retire. One of the risks our profession faces is that it gets
devalued should it become perceived as a generalized ophthalmic tech type of
activity. This could be caused by the misperception that digital imaging is
simply button pushing with computerized equipment.
I believe a majority of retinal specialists perceive ophthalmic
photographers/imagers as distinct specialists. This differentiation is being
blurred as more general ophthalmology offices adopt imaging equipment and place
a COT or COA in charge of the instrument(s). These people need the support of
the OPS. Mastery of this equipment is a significant expansion of both their
skills and scope of practice. Such increases in responsibility should be
compensated as they represent a distinct professional as well as revenue
producing activity.
IMHO we need to present, define and refine the concept that ophthalmic imaging
remains a specialized professional activity. The advent of EMR, OCT and new
imaging modalities with funds cameras, such as fundus autofluorescence imaging,
provides our profession the opportunity to increase our scope of practice.
I am just pondering the future of where our profession is going. This just as
I and many others are stepping away from ophthalmic photography with retirement.
John Gerty, CRA
________________________________
From: "Bennett, Timothy" <tbennett1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "'optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'" <optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2013 2:18 PM
Subject: [optimal] Re: OPS Salary Survey
Survey results are coming in and early demographic responses show that women
currently outnumber male respondents by a 60/40 split. In practice setting
results, University Hospital is running neck-and-neck with Private Retina
Practices for the most responses. The largest age group is 45-54 and
respondents with more than 20 years experience outnumber all other groups by a
huge margin.
We expect to see those numbers change as more responses come in. If your
demographic isn't well represented in these numbers, make sure you participate
in the survey. Encourage your colleagues to do the same!
tim
Timothy J. Bennett, CRA, FOPS, OCT-C
Penn State Department of Ophthalmology
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
500 University Drive, Suite 800 UPC
Hershey, PA 17033
Office: 717 531-5516
Cell: 717 381-5595
From: optimal-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optimal-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Kirsten Locke
Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 11:56 AM
To: optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optimal] Re: OPS Salary Survey
I cannot stress how important this is, both for us and for our employers. It is
a great tool for them too.
Don’t forget to spread the word about the survey and remember those techs that
do photography only once in a while. This is for everyone that performs any
type of imaging of the eyes; fundus photography, OCT, ultrasound, adaptive
optics… You name it!
Also, don’t forget those people at remote offices that you do not see on a
daily basis. We like to hear from them too.
It would be cool if we could be more than 500 entries and we are already over
half way there.
Keep them coming.
Thanks,
Kirsten
Kirsten Locke, RN, CRA, FOPS.
Senior Research Associate and Clinical Trials Coordinator
Retina Foundation of the Southwest
9600 N. Central Expressway, Suite 200
Dallas, TX 75231
214-363-3911 x114
Fax: 214-363-4538
Email: kglocke@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:kglocke@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
From: optimal-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optimal-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Hess, Ditte
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2013 8:40 AM
To: 'optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'
Subject: [optimal] OPS Salary Survey
[http://www.opsweb.org/resource/resmgr/marketing_committee/salary_survey2013.jpg]
The OPS is conducting a Salary Survey. Please take a few minutes to complete
this very important survey. Your responses will contribute to providing the
most accurate and comprehensive information in our profession. This
information has the potential to benefit YOU and all of our colleagues. It
should take no more than 10-15 minutes of your time. Be sure to complete each
question of the survey.
All survey responses are anonymous. Please share this link for the salary
survey with your colleagues that do photography/imaging.
Please click here
<http://www.opsweb.org/link.asp?e=dhess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx&job=1013496&ymlink=1650942&finalurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eopsweb%2Eorg%2Fsurveys%2F%3Fid%3Dsalary%5Fsurvey2013>
to complete the survey. We need everyone's cooperation!
Thank you!
OPS Board of Directors
If you wish to stop receiving email from us, you can simply remove yourself by
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Ditte J. Hess, CRA
Dir. of Photographic Educational &
Research Training Programs
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
900 NW 17th Street
Miami, FL 33136
Phone (305) 326-6000 x6280
EMail dhess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:dhess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Web http://www.bascompalmer.org<http://www.bascompalmer.org/>
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