The Academy has developed a complete learning track for your practice’s technicians, scribes and clinical team staff presented concurrently to AAO 2023, where all of ophthalmology meets® Nov. 3-6. Bring your entire clinic team to the meeting this year!
The AAOP™ “Technician Learning Track” at AAO 2023 will include two Friday Intensives, Train the Trainer: Specialized Training for Ophthalmic Technician Educators and Who Wants To Be a Super Tech, plus 14 additional instructional courses through the weekend and on Monday covering clinical efficiencies, compliance, education and technical skills.
Registration is now open. The Technician Learning Track is in-person only. There is no virtual option for this track as the CE credits are approved for classroom training only.
Register for AAO 2023
Sponsored, in part, by a grant from Alcon.
Friday, Nov. 3
Friday Intensive Class: Level Up for Success
Train the Trainer: Specialized Training for Ophthalmic Technician Educators (MC05)
8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Moscone South, 201
(Separate ticket purchase required)
Join an expert panel of technician trainers for an intensive program developed specifically for those charged with training ophthalmic clinical staff. These fast-paced sessions include:
- A review of adult learning principles
- Keys to developing relevant curriculum
- In-depth discussions on building a successful tech training program
- Effective methods for teaching refractions and applanation tonometry
The session will conclude with the panel offering insight and personal suggestions for overcoming your training challenges.
Senior Instructor: Amy Jost, COMT, MED
Co-instructors: Rhonda Ullom, COMT, FCLSA, OSC, OCS, OCSR; Veronica Plessinger, BA, COMT; Matthew Parker, PHD, LSSMMB, PMP, CTC, COMT, CST; Sergina Flaherty, COMT, OSC, CTC; Jacqueline Pullos, COMT; Russell Collins, BA, COT
This program has been accredited for 1.5 IJCAHPO CE credits.
Tech Challenge
Who Wants to be a Super Tech? (MC06)
3 to 5 p.m.
Moscone South, 201
Team up with your friends and colleagues for a fun and educational opportunity to test your ophthalmology knowledge and compete for the prestigious title of Super Tech!
Senior Instructor: Amy Jost, COMT, MED
This program has been accredited for 2 IJCAHPO CE credits.
Saturday, Nov. 4
Take advantage of 14 live instruction courses developed for both new and seasoned clinic team members.
Cool Stuff in Ophthalmology Development: A Look Into the Future? (700)
8 to 9:15 a.m.
Moscone South, 201
This course explores cutting-edge products and procedures that have the potential to revolutionize patient care, offering them the best possible vision. By examining novel advancements currently in development but not yet commercially available in the United States, attendees will gain insights into the future standard of care.
Senior Instructor: Stephen S Lane, MD
This program has been accredited for 1 IJCAHPO CE credit.
Descriptive Interpretation of Retinal Images (701)
9:45 to 11 a.m.
Moscone South, 201
This lecture focuses on the vital role of the technician imager in retinal imaging, emphasizing the recognition of common descriptive findings to ensure accurate imaging of pathology. Attendees will learn about retinal imaging tasks, normal ocular anatomy, identification of abnormal findings, recognition of common retinal disease presentations on imaging, and the acquisition of high-quality images that enhance the diagnostic process for physicians.
Senior Instructor: Darrin Landry, CRA, OCT-C, FOPS
This program has been accredited for 1 IJCAHPO CE credit.
Success with Refraction, Retinoscopy, and Simulators (702)
11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Moscone South, 201
This advanced course focuses on retinoscopy and manifest refinement techniques, providing participants with the skills required by most employers in the field of refraction. It covers the principles of optics, strategic approaches in retinoscopy and refractometry, guidelines for prescribing glasses, utilization of simulators and training resources, and practical instruction in ocular motility and retinoscopy using online simulators.
Senior Instructor: Matthew Parker, PHD, COMT
Co-Instructors: Jaqueline Pullos, COMT; Sharon Alamalhodaei, COMT, OSC
This program has been accredited for 1 IJCAHPO CE credit.
Assisting with Educating the Surgical Patient (703)
2 to 3:15 p.m.
Moscone South, 201
This course covers surgical assisting best practices and designing a patient education program, enabling participants to enhance surgical assistance and manage patient expectations for improved outcomes and satisfaction. Objectives include understanding surgical techniques, defining the role of a surgical educator, creating an educator handbook, and identifying available intraocular lenses.
Senior Instructor: Sergina Flaherty, COMT
Co-instructors: Russell Collins, BA, COT
This program has been accredited for 1 IJCAHPO CE credit.
Documentation: Strategies to Minimize Risk (704)
3:45 to 5 p.m.
Moscone South, 201
A lack of documentation or incomplete documentation can lead to patient harm and can also lead to allegations of negligent care and damages in the form of a medical malpractice suit or claim. In this course, actual Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company medical malpractice claims are used to illustrate how the lack of documentation or incomplete documentation negatively impacted the defense of a medical malpractice claim.
Senior Instructor: Hans Bruhn
This program has been accredited for 1 IJCAHPO CE credit.
Sunday, Nov. 5
Work Smarter, Not Harder! Learn Lean Lessons From Uveitis, Oncology and Inherited Retinal Disease Services (705)
8 to 9:15 a.m.
Moscone South, 201
This course will teach participants how to the apply lean principles in transforming and improving clinical workflows, specifically in the areas of uveitis, oncology and inherited retinal disease (IRD) services. Attendees will learn from experienced staff who successfully implemented lean strategies, resulting in enhanced patient care, increased satisfaction, and improved workflow efficiency.
Senior Instructor: Alan Kimura, MD, MPH
Co-instructors: Alexis Goldade, COT; Jon Zick, OSC; Kristine Savole, OSC; Rebecca Neson, MS, CGC
This program has been accredited for 1 IJCAHPO CE credit.
Improving Clinical Efficiency (706)
9:45 to 11 a.m.
Moscone South, 201
This course will enhance clinical efficiency by introducing strategies to streamline processes, evaluate competencies, and improve organizational preparedness in demanding ophthalmic clinics. Participants will learn about Lean Six Sigma principles, clinical skills for efficient patient workup, steps for optimizing clinical workflow, and ways to contribute beyond their primary roles, fostering professional and clinical relations while prioritizing ophthalmic patient care.
Senior Instructor: Matthew Parker, PHD, COMT
Co-instructor: Veronica Plessinger, BA, COMT
This program has been accredited for 1 IJCAHPO CE credit.
Review of Technical Skills and Education for the Glaucoma Patient (707)
11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Moscone South, 201
This course focuses on the crucial steps technicians should follow in screening, diagnostic testing, and patient education for glaucoma. Participants will learn valuable insights on optimizing diagnostic test results, improving patient compliance, performing tonometry and pupillary assessment, delivering an excellent patient experience, enhancing patient education efforts, and upholding professionalism within the ophthalmic team.
Senior Instructor: Veronica Plessinger, BA, COMT
Co-instructor: Bobbi Ballenberg, COMT
This program has been accredited for 1 IJCAHPO CE credit.
Ocular Motility (708)
2 to 3:15 p.m.
Moscone South, 201
This comprehensive course consists of three presentations that cover the fundamentals of extraocular muscles (EOMs), including their anatomy and functioning, sensory testing techniques to aid patients with vision issues, and the development of clinical skills to differentiate between phoria and tropia and perform subjective and objective testing for strabismus evaluation, with a focus on cover-uncover and prism alternate cover tests.
Senior Instructor: Lisa Rovick, CO, COMT
Co-instructor: Anna Kiss, BS, COMT
This program has been accredited for 1 IJCAHPO CE credit.
History of Glaucoma Surgery (710)
3:45 to 5 p.m.
Moscone South, 201
This course provides technicians with an understanding of glaucoma treatments, encompassing their historical progression and a comparison between past and current options. By the course's conclusion, technicians will possess the knowledge to identify treatment goals, recognize the resourcefulness of pioneers in the field, differentiate genuine advancements from perceived ones, and effectively describe the evolution of surgical techniques over time.
Senior Instructor: Elizabeth Martin, MD
This program has been accredited for 1 IJCAHPO CE credit.
Monday, Nov. 6
What If the Pupil Showed This Finding? A Pupil Primer for Ophthalmic Technicians (709)
8 to 9:15 a.m.
Moscone South, 201
This course will explain the key and differentiating features of critical pupil findings, describe the life-threatening etiologies for pupil findings and define the distinguishing clinical and radiographic features of these pupil disorders.
Senior Instructor: Andrew G Lee, MD
This program has been accredited for 1 IJCAHPO CE credit.
Working With Pediatric and Disabled Patients (711)
9:45 to 11 a.m.
Moscone South, 201
This course will provide training on diagnosing and caring for pediatric patients and patients with disabilities across various domains, equipping participants with the skills to conduct thorough examinations and deliver effective treatment. Attendees will learn to identify common visual symptoms, employ alternative testing techniques, and utilize essential equipment, enabling them to prioritize patient needs and provide comprehensive care for individuals with diverse disabilities.
Senior Instructor: Latrice Jones-Bey, COT, MBA
Co-instructor: Rachael Maglionico, COT
This program has been accredited for 1 IJCAHPO CE credit.
You've Got a Lot of Nerve (712)
11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Moscone South, 201
This course enhances technician training by covering essential workup tests and providing a comprehensive understanding of ocular anatomy and visual system function. Attendees will learn to perform additional ocular testing in situations of sudden-onset loss of functionality, differentiate between afferent and efferent messages, and demonstrate proper techniques for extraocular muscle testing, pupillary assessments, ptosis measurements, and confrontation visual field testing, ultimately improving patient preparation for the doctor.
Senior Instructor: Amy Jost, COMT, MED
This program has been accredited for 1 IJCAHPO CE credit.
The Scribe's Role and Ophthalmic Coding (713)
2 to 3:15 p.m.
Moscone South, 201
This course provides essential knowledge and skills for success as an ophthalmic scribe, covering common tasks and responsibilities associated with the role. Course goals include familiarization with ophthalmology terms and ocular anatomy, mastering patient interview techniques, performing diagnostic testing and imaging, understanding ophthalmic coding rules, ensuring accuracy of medical-legal documentation, maintaining professionalism, and comprehending the impact of documentation on patient care and the revenue cycle.
Senior Instructor: Matthew Baugh, COT, MHA, OCS, OCSR
Co-instructor: Joan Wilson, COMT
This program has been accredited for 1 IJCAHPO CE credit.
Sponsored, in part, by a grant from Alcon