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Thread: Low vision training

  1. #1
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    Low vision training

    Our Eschenbach rep told us recently about some new training modules that the company has set up. It looks like there are about 10, each about 40 minutes long. The thing is the rep has to come to the clinic to present the module, he lives in the US. My question is...has anyone gone through any of the modules? And if so, did you find it informative and helpful? I would hate to have our rep come up to Vancouver if it isn't worth the trip...

  2. #2
    Doh! braheem24's Avatar
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    I attended an Eschanbach course in Florida, one big disappointment was that I realized it was not setup for eyecare professionals, it was catering rehabilitaion workers and had nothing to do with optics.

    They showed us the different type of magnifiers and availabilities, nothing technical and very disappointing for me as well as the OMD I dragged along.

    I got a certificate tho'

  3. #3
    Optimentor Diane's Avatar
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    Low Vision Workshop

    There is a low vision workshop held this Friday, during the SEOC meeting in Atlanta. Go to www.southeasternopticians.com.

    Diane
    Anything worth doing is worth doing well.

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    ATO Member HarryChiling's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by braheem24
    I attended an Eschanbach course in Florida, one big disappointment was that I realized it was not setup for eyecare professionals, it was catering rehabilitaion workers and had nothing to do with optics.

    They showed us the different type of magnifiers and availabilities, nothing technical and very disappointing for me as well as the OMD I dragged along.

    I got a certificate tho'
    Ditto to that, also got JCAHPO credit so it wasn't a total waste. It was a little disappointing to find out that an OT can be reimbursed for the time spent with a LV patient, but an optician can't. Apparently the couple hour course provided, with no technical knowledge taught makes them more of an expert than an optician.
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    Diversity of Backgrounds

    Harry,
    An OT typically holds a Master's Degree. The typical Optician has little or no academic training. While there are excellent Opticians out there who are certainly experts, untill we all have some academic work it will be very difficult to bill for these services. I know Opticians are better suited to do low vision therapy (with training) but the lack of consistent education and training again holds us back.

    Warren
    Last edited by wmcdonald; 07-25-2007 at 03:57 PM.

  6. #6
    Master OptiBoarder rbaker's Avatar
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    The MS degree qualifies one as a COMT (Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist.) I did that back in the early 70's at Boston University. I don't know of any Masters programs that presently offer this training. Most of us also continued studies to be licensed as Physician Assistants and I believe that that is the case today. Been out of the field for a while now so am out of touch.

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    Comt.....

    ......requires graduation from an accredited program that includes both didactic and clinical instruction and an extensive examination unless it has changed recently. I think the requirements can be found here: http://www.jcahpo.org/newsite/certif...ifications.htm. In the case I referred to initially, the OT (Occupational Therapist) can provide low vision services and bill Medicare, while Opticians cannot. We need to change that, but it will require more education. Expanding the Opticians scope to include low vision services may is an area of need we should evaluate.

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    ATO Member HarryChiling's Avatar
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    Actually COMT can be obtained without any formal education, their is an option that requires you to take at home courses and complete requird hours to gain the COA, then more hours to obtain the COT, then agin more hours to gain the COMT. The certifications are a lot more difficult to obtain that any opticians have, but the standards for those are getting lowered as well.

    In the last few years the the COA's no longer need to keep or obtain CPR certification, the COT test no longer requires a hands on skills evaluation which has been replaced with a computer simulation. As far as I know the COMT has not changed.

    I agree that opticians don't have the necessary education for billing LV, but OT's don't have the necessary skills either. I ran into many OT's that were there just to find another service to bill for. Most did not have a good concept of how the optics worked for the LV patient, yet they are the experts.
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    Who do understand third party payments?

    Does anyone have the needed education for billing any third party payment system? Near as I can tell even the people at third party
    payment systems don't have the education to bill thier systems
    successfully.
    Having the education to qualify to bill them is one thing, having
    the skills to actually get money out of them is another entirely.
    Seems in our state the only ones that do really well at this are
    the dishonest ones, some of which get caught stealing millions,
    some seem to get away with it and the rest of us keep doing battle
    and on rare occasions get partial payments.

    Chip

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    Wave

    Insurance...Insurance...and more Insurance...

    What question do you have regarding billing? I may be able to help.

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    Services vs. Billing

    Quote Originally Posted by chip anderson View Post
    Does anyone have the needed education for billing any third party payment system? Near as I can tell even the people at third party
    payment systems don't have the education to bill thier systems
    successfully.
    Having the education to qualify to bill them is one thing, having
    the skills to actually get money out of them is another entirely.
    Seems in our state the only ones that do really well at this are
    the dishonest ones, some of which get caught stealing millions,
    some seem to get away with it and the rest of us keep doing battle
    and on rare occasions get partial payments.

    Chip
    Billing is another issue, and can certainly be a daunting task to get right. I think Opticians, with some didactic and clinical experience can do well in low vision, and should be able to bill for it. My comments were based on the fact that due to our lack of education, it will be difficult.

    Warren

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    ATO Member HarryChiling's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by wmcdonald View Post
    I think Opticians, with some didactic and clinical experience can do well in low vision, and should be able to bill for it.

    I agree.
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    Isolate your eyes! Live Eyewear's Avatar
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    We have heard not so good things about the Eschenbach trainings; customers claimed it was moe about selling their products than anything else.

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    Has anyone concidered contacting your : State Medical/Ophthalmological Assn.?, State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation for the blind.
    While Mississippi is known (and in many ways is) a backward state there are programs run by all of the above and probably a few other agencies that deal with this. I am sure they could put you on the right track for such training and might even be willing to subsidize your training in same.
    Most medical schools with an ophthalmology program have some knowledge on this subject.

    Chip

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    Master OptiBoarder Cindy K's Avatar
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    I'm going to be putting together a study group on low vision and solutions- I've done some cursory research on the web but haven't yet come across any particularly great sites. Any suggestions?

  16. #16
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    Just a thought or question. Does the Eschenbach training....

    1. Include s/p CVA mobility or orietnation training?
    2. Incorporate rehabilitation techniques?
    3. focus on a particular disease entity as being the most fruitful for a low vision practice?

  17. #17
    ATO Member HarryChiling's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by npdr View Post
    Just a thought or question. Does the Eschenbach training....

    1. Include s/p CVA mobility or orietnation training?
    2. Incorporate rehabilitation techniques?
    3. focus on a particular disease entity as being the most fruitful for a low vision practice?
    None of the above, it is basically an overview of their various products and when to offer them. After the "training" their is another "training" on maximizing billing and reimbursements.
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