Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology At this time of increasing regulatory pressures on our profession, all ophthalmologists are urged to use the services of the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in
Ophthalmology (JCAHPO). By providing both an umbrella function and a forum, JCAHPO has given ophthalmologists a unifying mechanism never
before attained. There is
now
agreement by the representatives of
all of the
major ophthalmological organizations of the United States and
Canada on the Essentials of Certification and the Criteria for Certification of Ophthalmic Medical Assistants.
As nonmedical groups become
more
aggressive in their demands, the growing need for certification of our
assistants is apparent. Public awareof the "quality" of health care makes it necessary for us as ophthalmologists to prove our assertion that the measurements and services of our assistants are performed at a high level of expertise. We know that the level is high; now we are asked to demonstrate it. The JCAHPO, with its programs of accreditation and cer¬ tification, provides the vehicle. Who is the Ophthalmic Medical As¬ sistant? This is a person who upon request performs delegated tasks and measurements for the ophthalmolo¬ gist. The information thus generated is used by that physician in the devel¬ opment of the diagnosis and treat¬ ment plan for the patient. The oph¬ thalmologist retains his licensed authority as a physician and surgeon and, as always, remains responsible ness
both for the
patient's care and for the performed by the employee. The Ophthalmic Medical Assistant may be an assistant, technician, orthoptist, or technologist and is certified, not sepa¬ rately licensed. Duties of the Oph¬ acts
thalmic Medical Assistant may in¬ clude the eliciting of history, anatomical and oculomotor measure¬ ments, visual acuity testing, visual field plotting, tonometry, tonography, photography, angiography, instru¬ ment maintenance, surgical assist¬ ance, and other tasks as assigned by the ophthalmologist. Licensure of allied health personnel is still almost universally discour¬ aged, but most of the states are considering either certification or ac¬ creditation. The JCAHPO does not engage in political activity, but should efforts toward political control of medical assistants emerge in any state, it provides a model, designed by ophthalmologists, that fosters on¬ going education and provides certifi¬ cation of technical assistants at mul¬ tiple levels of performance. A protective umbrella is provided; there is agreement by the oph¬ thalmological organizations that the essentials of this group are well-
described; ophthalmologists are en¬ to support and use certified assistants. For further information,
couraged
write the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology at 1575 University Ave, St. Paul, MN 55104, or call (612) 646-4963. Robert Hugh Monahan, MD St. Paul
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Ophthalmology (JCAHPO). By providing both an umbrella function and a forum, JCAHPO has given ophthalmologists a unifying mechanism never
before attained. There is
now
agreement by the representatives of
all of the
major ophthalmological organizations of the United States and
Canada on the Essentials of Certification and the Criteria for Certification of Ophthalmic Medical Assistants.
As nonmedical groups become
more
aggressive in their demands, the growing need for certification of our
assistants is apparent. Public awareof the "quality" of health care makes it necessary for us as ophthalmologists to prove our assertion that the measurements and services of our assistants are performed at a high level of expertise. We know that the level is high; now we are asked to demonstrate it. The JCAHPO, with its programs of accreditation and cer¬ tification, provides the vehicle. Who is the Ophthalmic Medical As¬ sistant? This is a person who upon request performs delegated tasks and measurements for the ophthalmolo¬ gist. The information thus generated is used by that physician in the devel¬ opment of the diagnosis and treat¬ ment plan for the patient. The oph¬ thalmologist retains his licensed authority as a physician and surgeon and, as always, remains responsible ness
both for the
patient's care and for the performed by the employee. The Ophthalmic Medical Assistant may be an assistant, technician, orthoptist, or technologist and is certified, not sepa¬ rately licensed. Duties of the Oph¬ acts
thalmic Medical Assistant may in¬ clude the eliciting of history, anatomical and oculomotor measure¬ ments, visual acuity testing, visual field plotting, tonometry, tonography, photography, angiography, instru¬ ment maintenance, surgical assist¬ ance, and other tasks as assigned by the ophthalmologist. Licensure of allied health personnel is still almost universally discour¬ aged, but most of the states are considering either certification or ac¬ creditation. The JCAHPO does not engage in political activity, but should efforts toward political control of medical assistants emerge in any state, it provides a model, designed by ophthalmologists, that fosters on¬ going education and provides certifi¬ cation of technical assistants at mul¬ tiple levels of performance. A protective umbrella is provided; there is agreement by the oph¬ thalmological organizations that the essentials of this group are well-
described; ophthalmologists are en¬ to support and use certified assistants. For further information,
couraged
write the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology at 1575 University Ave, St. Paul, MN 55104, or call (612) 646-4963. Robert Hugh Monahan, MD St. Paul
Downloaded From: http://archopht.jamanetwork.com/ by a University of Pennsylvania User on 06/14/2015
