|
The
American Optician:
Where Do We Go From Here? |
 |
This author wrote a series of articles for this magazine last year that received a lot of attention, and continues to do so today. Based on the response to this series and communication from those in the profession through various sources, I have decided to hold an informal summit for those interested in furthering the profession. It will be held in conjunction with the SouthEastern Opticians Conference in Atlanta on July 23-25. |
Information will soon be available at the following website:
www.southeasternopticians.org. Until the 12th annual SEOC meeting information is up on the site, you may follow up-to-date information on Facebook.
Purpose of the Meeting
The purpose of this meeting is to take a group of like-minded people who want to do some great things for this profession, and need a place to do so. Some of the National Opticianry organizations have been viewed as less than accepting of change. Whether that is fair or not is unimportant because this meeting is meant to serve as a sounding board for those individuals and a possible conduit for this very solid group of individuals who can make a real difference if given the opportunity.
Registered Optician
One of the important things we will discuss is how we can develop a higher level of skill and recognition for the Optician all across the country. One of the methods that have been discussed in the recent past is called the Registered Optician concept. This was formerly addressed by the OAA and others and there was some interest, but no activity followed. As a bit of a review for many, and brief overview for those who have yet seen it, I present here the concept for your perusal.
Summit on the Future
The American Optician is a professional with roots tracing back to the early days of this country (Stimson, 1951). Throughout history, many outstanding Americans can be counted as early pioneers in the field, including Captain John Smith of Virginia who founded the non-ophthalmic glass industry in 1607, and Benjamin Franklin, considered the inventor of bifocal lenses (Epting & Morgret, pp 10-21; 122). Opticians are found in every city and town in the country, and the profession of Opticianry has a major impact on the well being of those who need vision correction. This impact extends itself to literally every aspect of the individuals’ lives. As the nation grows, the need for vision correction is expected to increase causing an increase in the demand for professional Opticians who design, manufacture and fit and dispense optical appliances used in the correction of vision. The Optician is closely related to the pharmacist in general medicine in that they work based on the prescription of Ophthalmologists (physicians specializing in eye care), and Optometrists. However, the Optician has far more latitude in filling a prescription than a pharmacist.
But the optical arena is changing and the role of the Optician is as well. There are additional personnel that must be considered in today’s eye care marketplace. Ophthalmic and Optometric Assistants and Technicians are utilized quite frequently to provide many of the services the Optician provides. These are generally non-licensed personnel who work under the license and supervision of the eye doctor. Ophthalmologists and Optometrists utilize these technicians and assistants within their offices to do much of what Opticians have traditionally done independently, as well as some refraction and other clinical tasks. Competition from the other allied professions may diminish the need for the Optician if immediate changes are not made to provide Opticianry as a profession a method and direction to grow and develop.
In a study recently completed by this author regarding the future role of Opticians, several recommendations were developed:
Summary of Recommendations Based on Study Data
Planning at the national and state levels needs to begin immediately to develop/implement programs for the education and training of future Opticians. Based on this research those plans should include the following:
-
Increase the levels of education and training required for Opticians in the United States.
-
Maintain apprenticeship initially, but require a formal education component as a part of this method of training.
-
Develop programs that provide education and training related to the advanced areas of practice; refraction, advanced contact lenses, and low vision.
-
Develop programs that provide training in management.
-
Continue to educate and train Opticians in the traditional areas of service and responsibility, but also provide them with the tools to move into new areas of practice, particularly those made possible through new technology.
-
Develop a stronger national voice to represent Opticianry to outside interests, particularly other eye care providers whose support will be required for Opticians to advance, if current professional organizations do not.
Because of these recommendations, backed by thorough scientific research, it is important that new paradigms be considered for the profession. Therefore this concept is one of importance. I would like to propose the following criterion for initial discussion and I want to emphasize this is merely a starting point. We must gain consensus here to be successful. There must be discussion and compromise from all sides of the issue in most areas of the matter. One area that cannot be compromised is the need for mandatory education in some form. Initially as a part of apprenticeship, but within the next decade there should be a degree requirement. We will come up with a new breed of Optician. The initial discussion that started at the OAA Leadership meeting in Charleston used the title Registered Optician, but others feel Ophthalmic Optician, like our counterparts in other European countries may be more appropriate. Whichever is considered correct, please consider these suggestions:
Registered/Ophthalmic Optician: Title Requirements - to be able to differentiate to the public you are a step above the average Optician (much like the CPA to accountants) the following things are suggested:
An application must be submitted to the RO Council that includes the experience and qualifications of the applicant for RO status. The qualifications should include:
-
Licensure in jurisdictions in which it is required.
-
Certification at the Advanced Level in Contact Lenses (NCLC-AC) and General Opticianry (ABO). (Fellowship in the CLSA or Master Certificate if Ophthalmic Optics is suitable as equivalents to the above certifications). Both should be required due to the current scope of practice for Opticians. Many states allow Opticians to fit contact lenses, and in the states that do not, efforts must be made to allow the scope of practice to include this important facet of Opticianry. While some will consider this extreme, we seek only the best to gain RO status.
-
Completion of a minimum of an Associate Degree in Opticianry from a school approved and accredited by the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation or a baccalaureate degree in any field with the above certifications in place and current. An example of a similar advanced- level certification can be found at:
http://www.acvrep.org/Low_Vision.htm. This describes the process to become a certified Low Vision Therapist, which is a wonderful role for the contemporary Optician of the future.
-
If before 2012, the Optician seeking RO status may apply based on past experience and training and will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Council
(see Grandfather Clause below).
Grandfather Clause:
Opticians applying for RO status between the approved start dates for the proposal will apply and if the following qualifications are met, be accepted.
-
Current ABO/NCLE Certification in good standing
-
10 years of documented professional experience
-
State license or other appropriate credential (Texas)
-
Acceptance of mandatory CE requirements of hours annually (as set by the Council) contents of which must be at a professional level and approved by the Council, and with renewal every three years
-
A Registered Optician must be a current member of their state and national associations to maintain professional status.
These requirements are important. We must now, as a profession, begin to consider those that follow us. Much of what we do will not affect many of us at all. Many of us will be long gone before it is completely integrated, but where do we want this profession to go? It is in our hands. Please give careful consideration, as I know you will, to the thoughts herein. I encourage you to join us at the SouthEastern Opticians Conference in Atlanta in July. We will attempt to come up with a cohesive proposal to move our profession in a positive direction. We want Opticianry to be better than it is today. This new breed may just be the impetus to set the best in breed apart from the rest.
This idea sprang from my research and a group of objective, forward-thinking individuals who brought this proposal to the OAA Leadership meeting in Charleston several years ago. I still believe they are sound and can be a way for us to differentiate ourselves based on solid academic and professional training. The dates for SEOC’s annual meeting are July 23, 24 and 25. The summit to discuss this and other proposals and ideas that may arise that can be a roadmap for this profession to begin the journey back to the professional status we once enjoyed, and the ability to serve patients at a higher level. Will it be easy……no! But doing nothing will get us nothing. Join us in Atlanta at the SouthEastern Opticians Conference and let’s see what evolves.
References on request
|
