Training Technicians
On-the-job clinical experience sets program apart
Ophthalmic technicians are an integral component of the clinical team at Kellogg, working closely with physicians in the evaluation and management of patients with a variety of ocular problems. Because of the critical role they play, only the most competent and highly skilled technicians are asked to join the staff of the Eye Center. Finding this kind of talent has been an increasingly difficult challenge for Jennifer Ziehm-Scott, Clinic Operations Manager at Kellogg. A one-time practicing technician herself, she has witnessed the demise of many ophthalmic technician training programs across the country over the past decade.
Because the need is great and the pool of qualified candidates small, Ms. Ziehm-Scott teamed with Amy Steele, Lead Technician in Kellogg’s Comprehensive Ophthalmology Clinic, to develop an in-house training program for ophthalmic technicians. The program was established on a trial basis four years ago and became official in 2006.
Training for this six-month program begins with Ms. Steele in the Comprehensive Clinic, which tends to be the first stop for many new Kellogg patients. It offers trainees the opportunity to see a wide variety of ocular conditions. The trainees also work with physicians who understand that they and their patients will benefit directly from the assistance of a highly competent technician. Ms. Steele observes that this kind of physician involvement makes for a great learning environment.
During the first few months of the program, the trainee reviews written material and learns basic skills like vision testing and taking patient histories. In the next few months, technicians in one of Kellogg's subspecialty clinics will introduce the trainee to procedures and diagnostic tests typically administered for patients with more complex diseases. By the end of the program, the trainee will be shadowing a physician and tracking patient visits from beginning to end.
"The program we've created at Kellogg has the benefit of on-the-job, clinical training, which many formal programs lack," says Ms. Steele. "I've heard from trainees and established technicians that this is one of the most valuable parts of our program." She also observes that both staff and physicians have the opportunity to spend one-on-one time with the trainees, getting to know them and finding out if they will be a good fit for Kellogg.
To qualify for training, a candidate must have completed two years of college and have a health care or science background. After completing the program, the technician joins the Kellogg staff and makes a two-year commitment. After one year (or 1,000 hours), he or she has the opportunity to become a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) by taking the national examination. To date, seven trainees have completed the program and four of them have gone on to pass the COA exam. The remaining three trainees will take the exam this year.
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