[optimal] Re: Ophthalmic Technician training & certification
- From: Ray Gardner <raygardner99@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 23 May 2011 06:20:45 -0700 (PDT)
I have worked with 7 different retinal specialists over the years and all have
wanted their staff to be cross trained. They, including myself started as a
tech
and then moved up to photography. I have always trained new staff as a tech
first so they get a basic understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the
eye. We usually have someone work as a tech for about 6 months to a year,
before
training them as a photographer depending on their eagerness to learn. I have
coworkers that are working on their CRA and others who just don't care. The
quality of their work shows in the doctors frustration and the anger of the
patients. They ether don't get what is needed, don't know how to, and really
don't care. Anyone can be a monkey and push buttons. A CRA is an artist how
cares about their work at the highest level and cares about the people they
serve.
G. Ray Gardner, CRA, OCT-C, COA, OSA
Southwest Retina Specialists
7411 Wallace Blvd.
Amarillo, Texas 79106
office (806)351-1870
fax (806)351-1690
cell (806)676-9793
email: raygardner99@xxxxxxxxx
________________________________
From: Beth Koch <bethkoch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Mon, May 23, 2011 5:31:59 AM
Subject: [optimal] Re: Ophthalmic Technician training & certification
VERY TRUE, I HEVE TECHS IN MY OFFICE THE SHOOT AND DO JUST THAT (THEY SHOOT) UT
AS FAR AS RECOGNIZING WHY AND WHAT THEY AE SHOOTING (FA,FUNDUS, ICG OR AF) OR
EVEN GETTING AN OCT IMAGE OF IS A WHOLE OTHER STORY. I DO POST SEG SONOGRAPHY
AND HAVE SEEN SOME HORRIFIC SCANS (ESPECIALLY OF NEVI ( OR WHAT THEY THINK ARE
NEVI). I AM A COT ROUB AND ALSO DO IMAGING AND IT SEEMS IN THESE TIMES OF
SPEED, QUALITY CAN BE SHOVED TO THE WAYSIDE AT TIMES BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME
DOCS OUT THERE WHO DO VALUE GOOD QUALITY IMAGES IN ALL MODALITIES SO THERE IS
HOPE.
Beth Koch COT, ROUB
Retina Consultants of WNY
bethkoch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
bkoch@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
(716)908-4105
What we have done for ourselves, alone dies with us,
What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal....
~Albert Pike
________________________________
From:optimal-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optimal-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Lori Guerette
Sent: Sunday, May 22, 2011 9:39 PM
To: < optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >
Subject: [optimal] Re: Ophthalmic Technician training & certification
It seems that offices are asking photographers to do more than just taking
pictures. Being COA helps.
But offices are also 'training' some techs to cover photography tasks - 'just
get an image.' Learning to recognize pathology is not as appreciated. Some
just want a photo, some want detail. Not enough of the latter.
Frustrating.
May you find your marbles -
And the joy you remember with them ; )
Sent via Iphone
On May 22, 2011, at 8:19 PM, "Stuart Alfred, B.S., C.R.A., OCT-C"
<stuart.alfred@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Alexis,
>I would tend to lean toward Jennifer's view. I don't want to get into a long
>diatribe about it but with one vendor of SD-OCT posting videos stating that
>the
>new instruments are easily operated by the front office staff, and seeing that
>some of these instruments are simple to get an image with, it seems that
>skilled
>and experienced ophthalmic imagers are not valued like they were just a few
>years ago. Note: getting an image is a far cry from documenting the accurate
>pathology. I've personally taken on more technician skills to secure future
>employment opportunities. In fact, while reimbursements for some special
>tests
>may have gone down fractionally, the increasing volume of patients should
>warrant valued demand for skilled clinicians - but I'm not seeing that in the
>offices I've visited over recent years. Salaries are being squeezed to the
>point wiser folks are heading into other certification areas; Registered Nurse
>etc.
>
>Only my two cents, hope I'm wrong.
>stuart
>On Sun, May 22, 2011 at 4:51 PM, Alexis Smith <alexis@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
>Hi Jennifer,
>
>Those prior years can be used for your work requirement to sit for the
>Certified
>Retinal Angiographer (CRA) exam. You would just need a letter from you past
>employer on official letterhead stating that you worked as a retinal
>angiographer for at least two years.
>
>
>You would still need to complete the portfolio component in order to qualify
>to
>sit for the exam. You could always call a few local clinics or hospitals to
>see
>if they would let you intern or shadow so that you could complete your
>portfolio.
>
>Details for the CRA exam can be found here:
>http://opsweb.org/Certif/CRACertif.html
>
>Please feel free to contact me directly with any other questions regarding
>certification with the Ophthalmic Photographers' Society.
>
>But, I'm curious why you would say that just being a photographer is no longer
>a
>viable option without also being a technician? There are LOTS of out out
>there
>that only perform ophthalmic photography as our job. Any one else on Optimal
>with thoughts on this?
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Alexis Smith
>OPS Board of Certification
>
>
>
>
>On Sat, May 21, 2011 at 12:06 PM, JH <jennyhartigan@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>Hello
>
>I have a few questions regarding acquiring ophthalmic technician
>certification.
> I have worked in the Ophthalmology field as a photographer for nearly 8
>years.
>However I have been out of the field for almost 5 years now. I did some
>investigating online to find out how I can get trained and certified. However,
>I
>am finding several different options but most of them say that I have to have
>worked in the field a year prior to apply for COA or COT. Is this true? Does
>my
>prior experience count at all? I realize that just being a photographer is no
>longer a viable option without also being a technician. I really want to get
>back into the field. I appreciate any advice or direction that you all could
>provide. Thank you
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Jennifer L. Hartigan
>jennyhartigan@xxxxxxxxx
>West Palm Beach, Florida
>
>
>
>
>--
>Stuart Alfred, CRA, OCT-C
>http://stuartalfred.com
>317 517-9455
>
>528 N. Bauman St .
>Indianapolis , IN 46214-3618
>
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