CERTIFICATE OF TECHNICAL STUDIES PROGRAM
DIVISION: ALLIED HEALTH
The Ophthalmic Medical Assistant is a technical health worker who assists an Ophthalmologist in providing direct patient care as well as in medical office organization/administration. After successful completion of the program, the students will qualify to sit for the national certification test administered by the Joint Commission of Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology.
The Ophthalmic Medical Assistant program admits one class each year in the fall session. Upon acceptance, the program requires 2 semesters to complete. The program has limited enrollment. Prospective students should contact the Allied Health Admissions Office to initiate application procedure. The deadline for application to the program is April 30.
To be eligible to apply to the Ophthalmic Medical Assistant Program, students must meet the following criteria:
- Possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Score on ACT, SAT, or Delgado Placement Test sufficient to place the student in college level courses (ENGL 101 or ENGL 110 and no remedial reading).
- Earn an overall grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in all college courses.
- Be able to meet program’s technical standards.
The Ophthalmic Medical Assistant Certificate of Technical Studies program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Ophthalmic Medical Programs, (CoA-OMP), 2025 Woodlane Drive, St Paul, MN 55125-2998, phone: 800-284-3937, fax: 651-731-0410, e-mail: CoA-OMP@jcahpo.org.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the Ophthalmic Medical Assistant Certificate of Technical Studies program, the learner will be able to:
- Develop technical and scientific skills adequate to administer treatment, perform tasks, and collect data as ordered by an ophthalmologist (SLO # 1)
- Combine medical knowledge about ophthalmic and systemic disease and cognate sciences in patient care (SLO # 2)
- Choose interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange and teaming with patients, their families, and other health professionals (SLO # 3)
- Exhibit professionalism, as manifested through a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities (SLO # 4)
- Adhere to ethical principles and sensitivity to a diverse patient population (SLO # 5)
- Select community and health services that demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide care that is of optimal value (SLO # 6)
- Determine patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of ophthalmic health problems and the promotion of health (SLO # 7)
