[optimal] Re: Ophthalmic Technician training & certification
- From: Lydia Dimmer <lydiadimmer@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 23 May 2011 10:02:36 -0700
I'm totally in agreement with Denice on this...
As manager, I see that some people want to learn and they actively pursue the
knowledge to get good at what they are doing. Others want to be spoon fed.
When I see that people are pusuing training only because they think it will get
them more money, but are not truly interested in the quality of their work, it
is usually the end of training - The "Teach me, but don't ask me to do
reading on my own", "teach me, but don't ask me to volunteer my time", "teach
me and give me a raise, but don't ask me to do anything more or better than
what I've done before" are the attitudes I'm talking about....
On the other hand, some people are driven to not only learn something new but
master it. Those are the folks that I like to invest my time into. For
instance, three of the volunteers for the Midyear Meeting didn't know much of
anything about imaging, but were intersted enough to volunteer their time - a
significant amount of weekend time - because they wanted the knowledge! Who do
you think I will choose to begin cross training for photography?
People tend to forget, but it's true - Knowledge is Power!
Lydia Dimmer, COT, CRA, OCT-C
Eye Associates Northwest, PC
Seattle, WA
206/342-6140
Subject: [optimal] Re: Ophthalmic Technician training & certification
Date: Mon, 23 May 2011 09:13:29 -0700
From: cpmceyelab@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Desire to excel and achieve mastery must come from within. You can teach
ophthalmology; you cannot teach the will. This is why I always hire to the
personality, not the skill set. I can teach the latter. A curious
tech/photographer or photographer/tech ( semantics are not important here)
will always rise to the top. I can generally within a short time of talking
with someone , assess their will to master.
Our entire lives should be spent in the process of learning. Remember, it’s
the journey, not the destination…..
Denice Barsness, CRA, COMT, ROUB, FOPS
Ophthalmic Diagnostic Center
CPMC Department of Ophthalmology
2100 Webster Street Suite 212
San Francisco CA 94115
(415) 600-3937 FAX (415) 600-6563
From: optimal-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optimal-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Beth Koch
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2011 3:32 AM
To: optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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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