ParaEyes • Page 1 Summer 2016
Summer 2016
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Letter from the President
Sarah Owens, CPOC
Welcome to Summer 2016!
It was wonderful to see some of you at the Camp Hill Spring Congress in May, and even better to meet some new faces from around the state! Thank you to the PA doctors who support their staff career advancement! We hope you enjoyed the education from Dr. Harvey Richman and Todd Hostetter, COMT, CRA. Please watch your mail and inboxes for the upcoming education brochure 9/11/16 in Erie.
Our elections were held at the May meeting and I would like to congratulate our upcoming Board of Directors for 2017.Sarah Owens- CPOC, April Stewart-CPO, April Conde-ABO CPOA, Lisa Scarborough-CPOA, Cindy Whitman-CPO, and Vera Kohler-CPOA. A big THANK YOU goes out to Dr. Rich Christophe for participating in the Installation Ceremony.
The PPA Board also wishes to greatly acknowledge the Northwestern Optometric Society for their donation of a power point projector to our Association. Dr. Stephen Reinsel presented the projector to me at the POA Board meeting prior to the May Congress meeting.
Also a big shout-out goes to the Western Paraoptometric Society for completing the daunting task of re-writing their Constitution and By-Laws.Thank you Sue Vukson, Carol Schartner, and Greg Knight for your contributions and insight during this process.
Everyone enjoy your summer…see you in the fall!
Message from the Vice President of Continuing Education:
April Stewart, CPO
Our May education in Camp Hill was well attended. Great speakers, I would like to thank everyone for attending and hope to see you in Erie for our fall education September 11th. It will be held at the Convention Center just a few blocks from the dock where that weekend the “Tall Ship” will be on display. This year the Rubber Duck will be touring with them. It is a site to see as well as the Tall Ships.
PPA has planned 6 hours of education with Lynn Lawrence, CPOT, ABO, COA. He is a well known speaker and lectures across the country to paraoptometrics. Look for your registration form coming soon.
Please note: The PPA will not be having November education in Hershey this year.
April Stewart, CPO
Vice-President of Continuing Education
Message from Vice President Communications and Public Relations
April Conde , ABO,CPOA
Happy that summer is here! I’m excited about our fall education at Erie, PA with Lynn Lawrence. His classes are CPC and ABO credit approved. This is great for Paraoptometric who have duel certification as I do.
Next Paraeyes will be out end of September. Please like our Facebook page to be informed of upcoming education
Warmest regards to everyone,
April
Message from Secretary/Treasurer
Lisa Scarborough, CPOA
The checking account has $5914.20 and the savings has $16,726.78. We currently have 109 members including 4 new members.
We currently have 109 members including 4 new members. Warm welcome to
Marie Hance,
Joy Peet,
Bonnie Messner
LynnetSollick
Election of Officers and Duties
President-Elect – Duties- Perform the duties and responsibilities of the President in the President’s
absence or in the event of the failure or inability of the president to perform the duties. Prepare and
present a report for the board and general meetings. Attend all PPA board meetings and general
membership meetings
Vice President Continuing Education- Duties- Arrange topics and speakers for educational
meetings. Submit educational materials to Commission on Paraoptometric Certification for approval.
Oversee the recording of continuing education hours and awards, also recourse library and economic
task force. . Attend meetings and report to the president/board.
Secretary/Treasurer- Duties – Keep accurate records of the proceedings of all board of directors and
general membership meetings, submit the minutes to the president for approval within two weeks of
the meeting, Attend all PPA board meetings and general membership meetings. As treasurerperform
all duties assigned by the president. Be custodial of funds, legal and fiscal documents and
securities received in the name of the association. Present a written, detailed financial report to the
general membership. Collect and deposit all monies and dues for the association. Keep a complete
and correct list of all members.
Vice President of Communication/ Public Relation- Edit, publish and distribute the associations
newsletter. Attend all PPA Board meetings. The V.P. of Public Relation chairs the Paraoptometric of
the year award, and promotes the Girl Scout Patch Program. Attend all PPA board and general
membership meetings. Purchase gifts as defined in the guidelines as instructed by the president.
New ElectedBoard Members
President
Sarah Owens, CPOC
President-Elect
April Stewart, CPO
Vice President Continuing Education
April Conde, ABO, CPOA
Vice President of Communication/ Public Relation
Cindy Whitman
Secretary/Treasurer
Lisa Scarborough, CPOA
Immediate Past President-
Vera Kohler, CPOA
Past President Award
Presented to
Linda Reedor
This award is presented to a Paraoptometric attending May education and the General Membership Meeting. The recipient of this Award receives One(1) free registration for any education presented by PPA within one year.
Fall Education offered at Erie, PA September, 11, 2016
Lynn E. Lawrence, CMSGT (ret), CPOT, ABOC, COA
Lynn E. Lawrence is currently a national lecturer and an ophthalmic technician for Mills Eye and Facial Plastic Surgery. He is an approved speaker for the American Optometric Association, American Board of Opticianry, and Joint Commission for Allied Healthcare Personnel in Ophthalmology. He retired after 30 years of service in the United States Air Force. During his military career he was promoted to Chief Master Sergeant and worked directly for the Air Force Surgeon General’s Office. It was then that he was appointed by the Air Force Surgeon General as the Ophthalmic Career Field Manager for 540 Optometry/ Ophthalmology technicians at 90 locations and overseeing quality control for 133 optical stores world-wide. He develops training, compliance, and staff development materials because of his passion to see others grow in their professions and advance in certification. Lynn has been a COPE approved speaker since 2008 and has had the opportunity to speak to student optometrists at the Pacific University.
Education Schedule
7:30 am - 8:00 am Registration
8:15 am – 9:15 am What Every Tech Should Know About Ocular Emergencies
9:30 am - 10:30 am Contact Lens Basics
10:45 am – 11:45 am Computers and My Health 2015
12:00-12:45 LUNCH
1:00 pm - 3:00 pmThe Final Front Tear 2015
3:15 pm – 4:15 pmIt’s My Profession
SPEAKER: Lynn Lawrence, CPOT, ABOC, COA
Registration: $135-member
$175-non member dues paid for 2017
What Every Tech Should Know About Ocular Emergencies (1 hour) CPC, ABO Certified
Presents an overview of how phone triage and walk-in office visits should be handled from a assistance’s perspective. Key elements of triage, and the difference between an emergency and urgent care and testing procedures required before treatment by the optometrist.
Contact Lens Basics (1 hour) CPC Certified
This course covers contacts lens from the fitting from patient motivation to successful contact lens wear. Ocular anatomy will be discussed, the steps required in fitting contacts, patient education, and insertion and removing techniques.
Computers and My Health 2015 (1 hour) CPC, ABO Certified
This course is designed to discuss how computers can impact your vision and overall health. Discussing the impact of computer use on the tear film, contact lenses and the effects of blue light on the macula will be discussed. We will also discuss was to mitigate the negative impact of using computers on the eyes.
The Final Front Tear 2015 (2 hours) CPC, ABO Certified
This course is designed to discover the disease and complexities of dry eyes. This course will discover the anatomy and physiology of the eye and tear film. It will also cover symptoms, diagnosing, testing, and treatment of the dry eye disease.
It’s My Profession (1 hour) CPC, ABO Certified
This lecture is designed to involve the audience in discovering ways to advance the ophthalmic profession. A checklist on professional traits and behaviors will be discussed. The lecture will use a ‘Top Ten” list of ways to grow a profession. We will highlight local, state, and national opportunities throughout the industry where involvement is needed.
Staff certification benefits patients, practice
Certified paraoptometrics (CPOs) not only play an important role in patient care, they're also integrally involved in office management and efficiency.
"Having all of my staff certified lets everyone know that our clinic is dedicated to the highest level of patient care and satisfaction."
Southern Eye Care in Clinton, Mississippi, is among a small but growing number of optometric practices in the country that are 100 percent paraoptometric certified. According to a 2015 AOA survey, only 11 percent of practices nationwide can make this claim.
Southern Eye Care's Joshua Massey, O.D., believes the benefits are twofold: "I've noticed a big morale shift since all of my paraoptometrics have been certified. Now that they have expanded their working knowledge of optometry, they are more able to really consult with me on how to triage and better handle presenting patient symptoms. The clinic as a whole runs in a more efficient manner because everyone is on the same page."
In addition, Dr. Massey says having a 100 percent certified practice is advantageous from the public's perspective.
"Having all of my staff certified lets everyone know that our clinic is dedicated to the highest level of patient care and satisfaction. And the CPO designation is tangible proof of that," says Dr. Massey.
Certification benefits career development
Not only does the certification increase the patient's level of care and enhance the office reputation, it also can be beneficial for staff members' further career development, says Evelyn Horton, a certified paraoptometric assistant and office manager of Southern Eye Care.
"Becoming certified in paraoptometry has improved many of my day-to-day tasks at work, such as fitting glasses and doing pre-examination workups, by providing me with the knowledge that is vital to our patients," says Horton.
Tami Franklin, acting chair of the AOA Commission on Paraoptometric Certification and a certified paraoptometric technician, sees the importance for the certification in the ever-changing health care world.
"With health care reform taking hold, the optometric practice will rely on the skills of the paraoptometric even more.Having practices with 100 percent certified staff will increase the skill level as they attain higher levels of certification.It will also increase communication between doctor and paraoptometric as well as between paraoptometric and patient.A 100 percent staff-certified practice sets a high standard of patient care."
Linda Rodriguez, CPO, chair of the Paraoptometric Resource Center Executive Committee, agrees.
"Optometric practices with 100 percent paraoptometric certification stand out as delivering the highest quality of care to their patients. Not only does it impact the particular practice and its patients but it also elevates the image of optometry. Having certified paraoptometrics brings the professional practice to a more competitive level and solidifies the profession by demonstrating its commitment to providing outstanding eye care."
Read more about the expanding role of staff in the September 2014 edition ofAOA Focus.
How to achieve and maintain staff certification
Learn more aboutparaoptometric certifications,and find out if your staff members are eligible.
If your staff are already certified, make sure they renew their certification. Recertification ensures that certified paraoptometrics maintain their competence to practice by increasing their knowledge, honing their skills, encouraging interaction with peers and meeting professional standards.
Click here for more details regarding recertification, including upcoming important renewal deadlines.
DO YOU KNOW A GIRL SCOUT IN YOUR COMMUNITY? ARE YOU A GIRL SCOUT LEADER?
PPA PROMOTES VISION AWARENESS BY ENCOURAGING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO EARN A VISION AWARENESS PATCH.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO EARN THE VISION AWARENESS PATCH, PLEASE CONTACT THE GIRL SCOUT PATCH COMMITTEE CHAIR
Cindy Whitman
814-368-7090
814-366-2095
Don’t forget to join our group on facebook (Pennsylvania Paraoptometric Association) It’s a great place to share ideas/photos and keep in touch with the other PPA members. Click here to see our page.
Quarterly ParaEyesE-News
One of the great benefits of membership is the quarterly Pennsylvania Paraoptometric newsletter, (Para-Eyes) E-News.The newsletter features a message from your Chair, information on happenings within the Association, CE opportunity listings, and much more.Deadlines to submit information for the newsletter will be announced two weeks before it goes to print. We are always looking for input from you and the local societies.
Paraoptometric Recognition Week
September 18-24, 2016
Paraoptometric Recognition Week is an opportunity to encourage paraoptometrics to think of themselves as professionals, take pride in their responsibilities, and pursue professional development. It is the only formal observance in the nation specifically intended to honor optometric practice staff.
Recognition of paraoptometry as a profession hinges on the strength of paraoptometric members and support of optometrists and other health care providers. By paraoptometrics seeking education, acquiring new skills and becoming certified, the high standards for the profession will challenge other support personnel who work within the profession to do the same.
Paraoptometric Recognition Week is observed annually during the third week of September by the American Optometric Association Paraoptometric Resource Center.
Doctors are encouraged to be creative in planning their festivities. The PRC provides Paraoptometric Recognition Week promotional kits free-of-charge to prepare for the observance. Kits contain a downloadable poster, table tent, press release, and recognition ideas. Kits are offered to anyone and may be requested year-round by sending an e-mail . Requested kits will be sent in August of 2016 to be received before Paraoptometric Recognition Week.
Get Involved with Your Local Societies
Western Pennsylvania Paraoptometric Association
Sue Vukson, CPO
Massucci Vision Plus
6600 Brooktree Road.
Suite 2800
Wexford, PA 15090
Office: 724-719-2712
Cell:412-215-9894
Erie County
Roberta Beers, CPOT
Dr. Scott Griffith
2640 W 38th Street
Erie, PA 16508
Email:
Office: 814-835-8258
Cell: 814-573-3188
Mid Counties
Donna Bennett, CPO
Nittany Eye Associates
428 Windmere Drive
State College, PA 16802
Email:
Office: 814-234-2015
Cell: 814-280-0912
Loaner Library
Are you interested in learning to improve your job skills? Or do you need help studying for your Assistant's or Technician's Registry Examination?
The library has a variety of books that will be very helpful in your endeavor.
Librarian
Cindy Whitman, CPO
20 Main Street
Bradford, PA 16701
Email:
Office: 814-368-7090
Fax: 814-368-5855
Cell: 814-366-2095
Guidelines for Borrowing Library Materials
All materials can be borrowed on an eight week schedule. If you need to keep material longer, please contact the librarian for availability.
Inside the front cover, you will find a card with the shipping date and the date the book should be returned to the library. Since the library has many magazines available, we can make arrangements to have copies made of specific articles for a small fee. The library will pay for shipping to you. You are responsible for return mailing costs back to the library.
Word Search
Diet & Nutrition
Adding powerful antioxidants to your diet
can improve your eye health.
There’s no substitute for the quality of life good vision offers. Adding certain nutrients to your diet every day – either through foods or supplements – can help save your vision. Researchers have linked eye-friendly nutrients such as lutein/zeaxanthin, vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc to reducing the risk of certain eye diseases, including macular degeneration and cataract formation.
- Lutein & Zeaxanthin
Lutein and zeaxanthin are important nutrients found in green leafy vegetables, as well as other foods, such as eggs. Many studies have shown that lutein and zeaxanthin reduce the risk of chronic eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.
- Vitamin C
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an antioxidant found in fruits and vegetables. Scientific evidence suggests vitamin C lowers the risk of developing cataracts, and when taken in combination with other essential nutrients, can slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration and visual acuity loss.
- Vitamin E
Vitamin E in its most biologically active form is a powerful antioxidant found in nuts, fortified cereals and sweet potatoes. It is thought to protect cells of the eyes from damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals which break down healthy tissue.
- Essential Fatty Acids
Fats are a necessary part of the human diet. They maintain the integrity of the nervous system, fuel cells and boost the immune system. Two omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to be important for proper visual development and retinal function.
- Zinc
Zinc is an essential trace mineral or ‘helper molecule.’ It plays a vital role in bringing vitamin A from the liver to the retina in order to produce melanin, a protective pigment in the eyes. Zinc is highly concentrated in the eye, mostly in the retina and choroid, the vascular tissue layer lying under the retina.
- Emerging Research
In the last 20 years, eye health research has linked diet and nutrition with a decreased risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Written in partnership with AOA members Stuart Richer, O.D., Ph.D., and Steven Newman, O.D.