Ophthalmic Medical Technology Meeting

Marcus Altman, MD
2nd Year Ophthalmology Resident
Casey Eye Institute/OHSU

Denice Barsness
CRA, COMT, CDOS, FOPS
EYEssential Education, Sutter Health

Ellie Bessarab, COT, NCLE
Portland Community CollegeIan Danford, MD
3rd Year Ophthalmology Resident
Casey Eye Institute/OHSU

Michal Gutowski, MD
3rd Year Ophthalmology Resident
Casey Eye Institute/OHSU

Joel Kaluzny, MD
3rd Year Ophthalmology Resident
Casey Eye Institute/OHSU

Ross Passo, MD
2nd Year Ophthalmology Resident
Casey Eye Institute/OHSU

Alexander Walters, MD
2nd Year Ophthalmology Resident
Casey Eye Institute

Joy Woodke, COE, OCS, OCSR
American Academy of Ophthalmology

Claudine Yee, MD
2nd Year Ophthalmology Resident
Casey Eye Institute

Marika Yumang, MS
Casey Eye Institute

Course Descriptions & Learning Objectives

#1 911 in the Clinic | Marcus Altman, MD
Course Description: How and when to provide emergency services with the scope of the ophthalmic technician to the patient: vasovagal, difficulty breathing, cardiac problems, reaction to medications what to do. When to call 911, what information to collect, paperwork to complete. This talk will inform the student on the best practices and how to deal with them in the clinical environment.

Objectives:

1. Understand the principles of aseptic technique when assisting with minor ophthalmic procedures.
2. Gain an understanding of the indications for, general steps, and set-up for common ophthalmic procedures.
3. Be able to educate patients about post-procedure expectations and standard post-procedure care.

#2 High Quality Eyecare with I Care | Ellie Bessarab, COT NCLE
Course Description: The down to earth how to guide and tips on how to demonstrate compassionate care to patients. This talk will help technicians gain a better perspective on how to utilize emotional intelligence and essential patient care skills while providing high quality technical care.

Objectives:

1. Understand the four skills of emotional intelligence.
2. Learn that each person is made up different qualities (IQ, EQ, and personality) and how these qualities can impact their contribution to their organization.
3. Gain essential tips on how to improve emotional intelligence and become a positive contribution to their eye-care team.

#3 Coding Updates in Ophthalmology | Joy Woodke, COE, OCS, OCSR
Course Description: Coding updates for 2020 and what techs need to know. This talk will give attendees the latest updates to be better prepared for coding in the clinic.

Objectives:

1. Attendees will review the 2020 ophthalmic coding changes and the impact on practices.
2. Discover tools for appropriately maximizing reimbursement and correct coding.
3. Apply coding principles to relevant ophthalmic case studies, including modifiers, correct coding initiative and documentation requirements.

#4 Ocular Ultrasonography: What’s in a B-Scan? | Marika Yumang, MD
Course Description: A picture is worth a thousand words, so the saying goes. The same is true for an echogram provided context of how the image is produced. This course will describe how the eye is systemically scanned and labeled to provide diagnostic information for clinicians, along with echographic descriptions of ocular anatomy displayed in ultrasound images.

Objectives:

1. Able to describe how the eye is systemically divided into longitudinal, transverse, and axial scans for a thorough ultrasound study.
2. Understand how echograms are labeled and how these labels relate to anatomic orientation.
3. Able to use echographic terminology to describe ocular anatomy commonly displayed in B-scan studies.

#5 Updates in IOL Technology | Joel Kaluzny, MD
Course Description: Discussion on the newest IOL features for premium lenses such as toric, multifocal, multifocal/toric combined and what tests are needed to qualify patients for these lenses. Students will gain a better understanding of the steps, tools and strategies when measuring for IOLs.

Objectives:

1. Identify some of the different premium IOL options for cataract surgery.
2. Develop an understanding of the applications and limitations of premium IOL options.
3. Introduce the testing required for consideration of premium IOL options.

#6 Corneal Stem Cell Regeneration | Ian Danford, MD
Course Description: This lecture will cover the process of stem-cell regeneration of the cornea and the procedures that are required for safe stem-cell transplant. Discuss the latest advances, cultured endothelial cells, and ROCK inhibitor. Students will gain a better understand of stem cell treatments, safety, and efficacy.

Objectives:

1. Ability to describe basic features of corneal anatomy.
2. Understand the basics of stem cell biology.
3. Learn new developments in therapies involving corneal stem cells.

#7 Retinal Detachments: Signs, Symptoms & Surgery | Alex Walters, MD
Course Description: This lecture will discuss the patient’s symptoms and complaints when a retinal detachment is present as well as the patterns that present. This talk will cover the best questions to ask, exam techniques that technicians need to cover. Surgery and surgical techniques and laser repair will be discussed. Students will gain insight on how to manage retinal detachment patients as they present in a clinical environment.

Objectives:

1. The student should be able to name and explain common symptoms of retinal detachments.
2. The student should understand important factors to consider when evaluating retinal detachments.
3. The student should have basic knowledge regarding the surgical management of retinal detachments.

#8 OCT-A the Next Generation | Miles Greenwald, MD
Course Description: This discussion will teach tips for techs for optimization of the best imaging practices while discussing pattern recognition for ocular diseases and how to recognize while imaging with OCT-A. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the principles of OCT-A technology and it’s uses.

Objectives:

1. Learn tips for optimization of the best imaging practices while discussing pattern recognition for ocular diseases.
2. Learn how to recognize ocular diseases while imaging with OCT-A.
3. Gain a better understanding of the principles of OCT-A technology and it’s uses.

#9 Dry Eye & Technology | Claudine Yee, MD
Course Description: This discussion will cover the latest diagnostic tests and treatments for dry eye issues. Students will learn the different causes of dry eye and what best practices are used to treat them. This will inform the technician on examination strategies and which diagnostic tests are most useful to mitigate dry eye.

Objectives:

1. Able to identify different causes of dry eye.
2. Understand several diagnostic tests to evaluate dry eye.
3. Recognize methods of treating the symptoms and causes of dry eye.

#10 Artificial Intelligence for Glaucoma Progression | Michal Gutowski, MD
Course Description: New artificial intelligence algorithms are the upcoming future of ophthalmology. Detection of glaucoma progression and prediction with visual fields with spatial pattern analysis will likely become a standard tool. We will discuss this future tool to help predict glaucoma degeneration based on current research.

Objectives:

1. Increased understanding of artificial intelligence algorithms for detection of glaucoma progression.
2. Able to identify two computer based algorithms currently used to identify glaucoma progression.
3. Able to recognize how the archetype method can inform clinicians of visual field progression patterns.

#11 Be the Best Pupil when Checking Pupils! | Ross Passo, MD
Course Description: This course will cover the efferent and afferent pathways of pupil innervation. Reviews Adie, Hoerner’s, 3^rd Cranial nerve palsies, and injuries and what to watch for. How to completely document an APD. Students will review the best practices with examining pupils and the applications for working up patients accurately.

Objectives:

1. Identify elements in a patient history that may clue you in to detecting an afferent pupillary defect (APD).
2. Review all the elements of a complete pupil exam and how to properly execute them.
3. Understand the basic pathophysiology of a few common causes of an abnormal pupil exam.

#12 Teching in Oculoplastics | Katie Trippet, COT
Course Description: This talk will cover the basic needs and how to obtain a proper chief complaint while working up the oculoplastic patient to ensure the proper level of service is coded/covered by insurance. Tips and tricks on how to accurately document for dermatochalasis for qualified patients and what you need to have when setting up impromptu cases while assisting in clinic. This lecture will help technicians develop workflow plans while working in an oculoplastic clinic.

Objectives:

1. Proper chief complaint/HPI.
2. Needed exam points and corresponding testing.
3. Basic understanding of healing process and post op care.

#13 Is Angiography Dead? Clinical Cases comparing FA to OCT-A | Denice Barsness, CRA, COMT, CDOS, ROUB, FOPS
Course Description: It has been 50 years since sodium fluorescein angiography was developed as a clinical procedure.  In 1964 a series of papers originating from Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Florida proved the indisputable value of sodium fluorescein in the diagnosis of macular and retinal vascular disease.  Angiography was the one of the most common of retinal diagnostic imaging modalities until the mid to late 90’s when Optical Coherence Tomography made further claims on this imaging modality as the go to procedure for the retinal specialist. With the emergence of OCT-A we may well have a new “king of the block”. This course will provide a companion course to the Fundamentals of OCTA also being presented at this course. Case studies comparing conventional FA with OCT-A will be presented. Tips and Tricks for improving OCTA imaging from a technician’s perspective will be discussed.

Objectives:

1. The student should have an increased understanding of how OCT-A works.
2. The student should be able to name three clinical entities that show promising OCT-A applications.
3. The student should recognize two common OCT-A artifacts and compare them to their sodium fluorescein counterpart.