Press Release

Contact:
Joe Verkennes,
Director of Marketing,
(734) 384-4207

April 29, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

REED VISION, MCCC ‘EYE’ NEW OPHTHALMIC
ASSISTANT CERTIFICATE TRACK AT COLLEGE

MONROE, Mich. – A nationally prominent Monroe eye care practice has initiated efforts with Monroe County Community College to create a career certificate program at the institution that would provide job opportunities for students in a growing health care career:  ophthalmic assistant.

The Monroe County Industrial Development Corporation, the state of Michigan and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation were instrumental in connecting Reed Vision and Reed Medical Systems with MCCC President Dr. David Nixon to address the need for an ophthalmic assistant certificate program in the region.  MCCC administrators are now actively working with Reed Vision to get such a certificate program up and running through the college’s Corporate and Community Services Division, with an anticipated start date of June 2.

Ophthalmic assistants help ophthalmologists care for patients by taking histories, performing various procedures and tests and preparing patients to see the doctor.  Their work provides the ophthalmologist with important information to help diagnose and treat patients.

The certificate program would provide students with the foundation for advancement to become a certified ophthalmic assistant, a career with expanded job duties and responsibilities, as well as a higher salary.  

“Per the national certification agency for certified ophthalmic assistants, the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology, hundreds of technicians are needed locally, and thousands to tens of thousands are needed nationally,” said Dr. Stephen Reed, president and CEO of Reed Vision and Reed Medical Systems.

According to PayScale.com, the median hourly wage for a beginning certified ophthalmic assistant is $11.84 per hour nationally.

Reed Vision has a facility in Monroe, three in Toledo, Ohio and one in Oregon, Ohio and has been selected to establish a regional eye center on the campus of St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo.  The practice, which has a staff of 11 eye care specialists, utilizes state-of-the-art technology to provide treatment in areas such as laser vision correction, cataracts, glaucoma, refractive eye care and pediatric eye care.

According to John Joy, MCCC’s dean of corporate and community services, the new certificate program would be typical of the customized training programs the CCS Division quickly develops when an employer needs immediate assistance in training for high-tech jobs.

“The ophthalmic assistant certificate program is relatively quick to complete, since it is a six-week training program and the first step on a health career ladder similar to that of certified nursing assistants,” Joy said.

Dawn Wetmore, MCCC’s dean of health sciences, said that students in the certificate program would be required to complete a certain number of hours at a clinical site.  Reed Vision’s facilities would serve as that site.

Upon completing the certificate program and related work requirements, students would be eligible to sit for the certified ophthalmic assistant credentialing exam.  Although certification is not a state requirement, Wetmore said that by becoming certified, students can demonstrate that they have developed the necessary skills and knowledge for the job.

“This is another excellent example of how MCCC responds to the educational needs of Monroe County residents and employers,” said Dr. Grace Yackee, vice president of instruction at the college.  “The certified ophthalmic assistant credential provides access to the ever-expanding employment possibilities within the health care industry.”

“This is one more example of the health care job potential in Michigan,” Nixon said.  “It is a good field of study, could lead the student up the health career ladder in the future and will satisfy the need for ophthalmic assistants in this area and the nation.  It is just what the state of Michigan is looking for regarding individuals who may be recently unemployed because of the downturn in the economy.  These jobs have a future.”

For a program application, information or a schedule of future ophthalmic assistant certificate programs, please contact the CCS Division’s Office of Lifelong Learning at (734) 384-4127.