2008 OAL ANNUAL CONVENTION JUNE 12-15, 2008
PARAOPTOMETRIC PROGRAM
Hotel & Conference Site Information:
Hilton Lafayette
1521 West Pinhook Road,Lafayette, Louisiana, United States70503-3158
Tel:1-337-235-6111 Fax:1-337-237-6313
Room Rates: $129.00 two doubles, $139.00 King
Cut off date: May 22, 2008 Be sure to ask for Optometry Association Rates
***For complete information regarding the AOA’s paraoptometric certification process and to register for certification exams, please log onto:
FRIDAY, JUNE 13{Lunch on your own}
NOON-2:00PMRegistration
Our featured speaker, Sharon L. Carter, is proudly sponsored by:
OFFICE MATE SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS
Track 1 (basic): for those interested in CPO certification or entry level paras
***SPECIAL NOTE: THIS TRACK IS APPROPRIATE FOR ALL ENTRY LEVEL PARAS, EVEN IF NOT TAKING THE WRITTEN CPO EXAM ON SUNDAY MORNING; HOWEVER, THE OAL AND THE AOA ENCOURAGE ALL PARAS WHO ARE NOT YET CERTIFIED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS FIRST LEVEL CERTIFICATION EXAM.
1:00-4:00PMCPO Review Course
Ashland Room Lynn E. Lawrence, CPOT
This preparation course is designed for the paraoptometric seeking to begin the process of certification. Descriptions and definitions will be provided in the eight areas covered on the CPO examination. This includes basic science, clinical principles and procedures, ophthalmic optics and dispensing, and professional issues.
Track 2 (intermediate / advanced) for all other paras
***SPECIAL NOTE: THIS CE TRACK IS APPROPRIATE
FOR PARAS ALREADY CERTIFIED, EVEN IF NOT
TAKING THE WRITTEN CPOA/CPOT EXAM ON
SUNDAYMORNING. IT WILL REPEAT ON SATURDAY
MORNING FOR THE PARAS TAKING TRACK 1 ON
FRIDAY.
2:00-4:00PMMARKETING BENEFITS NOT PRODUCTS
C SalonSharon L. Carter ABO-2hr
Are your optical sales where you would like them to be? If not, it could be the way you are presenting or “selling” in your optical. This course will teach you how to educate your patients on the benefits of each product you have to offer and how to present that in a way that is not perceived as high pressure selling. When a patient is educated on the benefits they are buying rather than being sold to they understand the value of what they are paying for. This eliminates remorse after the sale and promotes a good referral for your optical. Everyone loves to buy but hates high pressure sales.
4:00-7:00pm Exhibit Hall / Welcoming reception with food & drinks Salons DEF
SATURDAY JUNE 14: 7:00-9:00a Registration & Continental Breakfast for ALL registrants
Sponsored by CIBA Vision
Track 1 (basic): for those interested in CPO certification or entry level paras
Track 2 (intermediate / advanced) for all other paras C Salon
Sponsored by SECO International
9:00-10:00amPROFESSIONALISM IN THE WORKPLACE
Ashland Room Sharon L. Carter ABO-1hr
How each of you interacts with patients on the telephone and in person, along with your personal appearance, reflects on the professionalism of the practice. In this seminar we will discuss telephone etiquette, professional behavior with the patient, personal etiquette in the office, office decorum (behavior between co-workers and behavior between staff and patients), and personal appearance/hygiene.
10:00-NOONMARKETING BENEFITS NOT PRODUCTS
Ashland RoomSharon L. Carter ABO-2hr
Are your optical sales where you would like them to be? If not, it could be the way you are presenting or “selling” in your optical. This course will teach you how to educate your patients on the benefits of each product you have to offer and how to present that in a way that is not perceived as high pressure selling. When a patient is educated on the benefits they are buying rather than being sold to they understand the value of what they are paying for. This eliminates remorse after the sale and promotes a good referral for your optical. Everyone loves to buy but hates high pressure sales. REPEATED FROM FRIDAY
8:00am-NOON CPOA / CPOT REVIEW COURSE Lynn E. Lawrence, CPOT
**SPECIAL NOTE: ALL PARAS WHO ARE NOT TAKING TRACK 1 LISTED TO THE LEFT ARE INVITED TO THIS CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE, WHETHER OR NOT TESTING FOR CPOA OR CPOT; SIT IN TO GET CE HOURS EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT TAKING EITHER OF THE EXAMS ON SUNDAY.
This course will provide the candidate with an overview of the information that they will be required to know for the written CPOA or CPOT examination. The CPOA must be able to demonstrate knowledge of general optometric terms, the use and operation of common ophthalmic equipment, and perform basic procedures such as visual acuity measurement, contact lens dispensing and frame dispensing, for examples. Prerequisite to take CPOA exam: Student or graduate of an optometric assistant program OR CPO title with 6-months additional employment in an optometric facility with the CPO title.
The CPOT must demonstrate a level of competency in the areas of problem solving, evaluation, and judgment in all areas of optometric care. ***THERE WILL BE NO PRACTICAL EXAMINATION FOR THE CPOT CERTIFICATION THIS WEEKEND, ONLY THE WRITTEN PORTION.***
NOON-1:30pm Luncheon for everyone w installation of OAL Officers
Sponsored by Allergan
DEF Salon Keynote Speaker:Dr. Dori Carlson, OD, AOA Trustee
2:00-4:00pmPERSONALITIES IN THE WORKPLACE
C Salon Sharon L. Carter ABO-2hr
Do you have your staff in the right positions? Every employee has a different personality and for an office to be effective you must know what personality your employees have and what position is best suited for them. This course will determine personality types, define where these types are most effective, and determine what causes personalities to clash. Your patients also have unique personalities this course will address how to interact meet the needs of each personality type.
4:30-5:30pmCocktail ReceptionSalons DEF Sponsored by Vision Source!
5:30pmBuses begin departing hotel for Cajun Nite at AcadianVillage
Cajun Dance & Food Party for the whole family!Boiled crawfish, boiled shrimp, fried catfish, jambalaya with beer & sodas.Dance to live Cajun music (as well as popular & traditional tunes).
Tickets are only $20 per person (kids 12 & under are free!)
Purchase them ahead of time when you register for the meeting!
Buses will transport you from the hotel to Cajun Nite will return to the hotel regularly
Saturday Night Cajun Party!
Sponsored by OOGP, Inc.
It’s a Cajun Dance & Food Party with fun for the whole family!
Come & Enjoy all the boiled crawfish, boiled shrimp, fried catfish, and jambalaya that you can eat as well as some cold “adult beverages”. Soon as your food goes down, get ready to dance to the sounds of L’Angelus, back for a 2008 encore performance!
L’Angélus is a family band with deep roots in Cajun music. They also draw on their musical experiences from earlier years when they got their start as a variety band with a folk-pop slant. The Rees family, from Lafayette, La., includes eight children. The four oldest children (Paige, Stephen, Katie, and John) and their mother, Linda, make up the band, with their father, John, serving as band manager.It’s very likely you’ll even see the 4 younger children (Angelle, Molly, Max & Kolbe) perform! On stage, it is obvious how much they enjoy performing together and the love they share. Their music also reflects their strong Catholic faith. They are not proselytizing in their songs, but, as the name of the group suggests, their music rings out with joy from the spirit. Check out their website at cajunrecords.com.
Buses will transport you from the hotel to AcadianVillage and
will return to the hotel regularly during the evening.
Tickets are only $20 per person (kids 12 & under are free!)
Purchase them ahead of time when you register for the meeting!
SUNDAY JUNE 15: 7:00-8:00a Registration & Continental Breakfast for ALL registrants
CE Track: for those paras not testing for certification
8:00-9:00AMINSURANCE FILING
B SalonSharon L. Carter NO ABO
Insurance is a very big part of most practices today. That is why it is essential to get a system for collecting information from the patient, creating a clean claim, and making sure payment is made correctly and in a timely manner. Each area of the office has a part in the claim process and this course will provide the essential steps for a system that will insure prompt and accurate insurance filing and payment.
9:00-10:00 FRONT OFFICE PROCEDURES
B SalonSharon L. Carter NO ABO
How important is the first impression and the last impression patients get when visiting your office? This seminar teaches your staff how to make a positive impression beginning with scheduling the appointment, through the duration of your patients’ visit until the patient walks out of the door. Some of the topics we will be covering include telephone procedures, greeting patients, appointment scheduling, checking out and collecting charges, pre-appointing along with any other interactions with thepatient that might occur in the front office.
10:00-11:00COMMUNICATING W PATIENTS
B SalonSharon L. Carter ABO-1hr
Communicating with our patients should be the most important thing we do each day. How we communicate and understand our patients’ needs, will determine if they will become an established patient with your practice or if they will choose to go somewhere else for their eye care needs. This course will address the various ways of communicating such as words, facial expressions, and body language and how to use each one of these in a positive way when communicating with your patients.
11:00-NOON CREATING A KILLER OPTICAL
B SalonSharon L. Carter ABO-1hr
The optical is one of the most important areas in your office. This is where 60%-70% of your income should be generated in your practice. If you are not generating these percentages and would like to be or you are generating these percentages and would like to take your optical to the next level this course gives you an overview on how to accomplish your goals.
AOA PARAOPTOMETRIC CERTIFICATION EXAMS
8:30AM-1:30pm AOA CERTIFICATION
EXAMS FOR CPO, CPOA, CPOT
Ashland Room
***PARAS TESTING FOR CPO, CPOA, OR CPOT WILL ALL BE IN THE SAME TESTING ROOM. YOUR ADMISSION CARD MUST BE PRESENTED ALONG WITH PROPER PHOTO IDENTIFICATION IN ORDER TO GAIN ADMISSION TO THE TESTING CENTER! PLEASE BE ON TIME-LATE ARRIVALS WILL NOT BE ADMITTED INTO THE TESTING CENTER!
FINISHED YOUR EXAM BEFORE NOON? PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DROP IN AND PICK UP A BIT MORE CE
(TRACK LISTED TO THE LEFT!)
GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE TESTING!