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Sights on a Career in Vision Care

According to the Bureau of Labor Florida and the only one in Miami- The state of Florida is one of about
Statistics, the eyecare industry is Dade County. The program takes five half of the states that requires all opti-
expected to grow at a rate higher than semesters to complete in a full-time cal locations to have a licensed opti-
the national average through the year capacity but students can elect the cian on premises when dispensing eye-
2026. The anticipated growth is attrib- part-time track, if needed, to allow glasses. This requirement and the vast
uted to the aging population which them to better balance working and number of optical locations in South
thus creates the continued need for all going to school simultaneously. Florida adds to the need for licensed
eyecare professionals. The Vision Care Program at Miami opticians locally and throughout the
The three main eyecare professionals Dade College is also currently accept- state. Graduates of the Miami Dade
are ophthalmologists, optometrists, ing applications for an evening pro- College program are typically
and opticians. All three play important gram of study. At program completion, employed at program completion
roles in caring for and fulfilling the students earn an Associate in Science because of skills earned throughout
eyecare needs of their patients. degree and become eligible to sit for the program and through required
Ophthalmologists and optometrists are BY DR. SHEMEKA the Florida Board of Opticianry externship experiences or are easily
physicians and require doctoral COFER Licensure Examination. placed upon licensure because of the
degrees. In addition to the Florida state need for licensed opticians.
Opticians are also eye care profes- licensing exam, opticians are also The Vision Care Technology/
sionals and they work either on their of an Optician is approximately required to successfully pass two Opticianry Program at Miami Dade
own or with the ophthalmologist or $48,000 (Payscale.com) with the national examinations, the American College is offered at the Medical
optometrist. They make, verify, and potential for additional income in Board of Opticianry Examination Campus and has been on the Medical
deliver lenses and frames to patients commission eligible positions. (ABO) and the National Contact Lens Campus since 1977. The program is
based on the doctor’s prescriptions, the There are two paths to becoming a Examination (NCLE). fully accredited by the Commission on
patient’s needs and facial features. In licensed optician, through an appren- The ABO and NCLE must be passed Opticianry Accreditation.
addition to eyeglasses, licensed opti- ticeship with a Florida licensed opti- prior to becoming eligible to sit for the The faculty instructors have been
cians can also use the doctor’s pre- cian, Optometrist or Ophthalmologist state examination. Miami Dade College with the program for decades and
scription to fit, sell, and dispense con- or through an accredited educational consistently scores higher than the bring their years of experience in the
tact lenses. program. Apprenticeships require a national pass rate on the national exams; vision care industry and community
Licensed opticians can work in vari- high school diploma, completion of the Miami Dade College pass rate aver- partnerships to make the program suc-
ous settings as self-employed or 6,240 apprentice hours within a five- age is over 97%. cessful and respected amongst its
employed professionals. More specifi- year period and passing the National The program adequately prepares peers.
cally, they can own and operate their and State Board examinations. graduates to pass both the national and
own optical or optical laboratory, work The educational path is offered at state examinations, assists with job For more information on the Opticianry
in retail settings, work in medical set- Miami Dade College via the Vision placement and increases their mar- (Vision Care) program at Miami Dade
tings with optometrists and ophthal- Care Technology/Opticianry Program. ketability through courses, hands-on College, contact Liliana Mejia Rodriguez
mologists, work in optical laboratories, The Vision Care Program at Miami labs, an on-site clinic with real patient at (305) 237-4267 or email
or work as frame or lens sales repre- Dade College is one of three accredited experiences, and community extern- lmejiaro@mdc.edu.
sentatives. The average annual salary schools of opticianry in the state of ships.

When It Comes to Patient Care,

Look for Opportunities “ You can’t separate the clinical

to Show You Care and the fi nancial – not anymore.”

People who know Healthcare, know BDO.
It’s interesting in the In my years of experi-
world of patient care. ence and in speaking to
The best stories are many of them, they are
always organic, most definitely made. At
unscripted and never some point they worked
part of some master somewhere or for some-
plan. They are the works one who inspired and
of selfless team mem- encouraged them to go
bers who just get it. the extra mile. It shaped
A little girl’s favorite their approach. Made
stuffed animal is acci- them who they are as a
dentally scooped up medical professional.
with the soiled linen Question is, what do
when she is discharged. BY JAY JUFFRE you do to encourage
Without thinking a your employees to find
nurse and two others little ways to show they
suit up in gloves and fluid resistant truly care? How many “Ripple Stories”
gowns, rummaging through the soiled are being shared on a daily and weekly The BDO Center for Healthcare Excellence & Innovation
linen room until it is found. basis in your organization? As the healthcare industry enters an era of unprecedented transformation, anticipating and
A parking valet sees a woman strug- Patients and their families are not understanding the future state model of healthcare is more important than ever. From advising on
gling to get her elderly mother into the overly impressed by marketing cam- complex joint ventures, to M&A services, to healthcare redesign, BDO’s multidisciplinary teams help
hospital and immediately grabs a paigns or the routine and scripted organizations plan for and implement the fi nancial and clinical changes needed to transform their
wheelchair to assist. pleasantries. They are always blown institutions — and thrive in the years to come.
In the cafeteria, an administrator away by simple, sincere acts of kind-
Alfredo Cepero, 305-420-8006 / acepero@bdo.com
buys the guy behind him in line a cof- ness, most of which go unheralded.
fee because he can tell he’s had a long Never miss out on an opportunity to Angelo Pirozzi, 646-520-2870 / apirozzi@bdo.com
night waiting with his wife in the ER. celebrate your team sincerely putting
Caregivers care. We get that. the care into patient care. @BDOHealth www.bdo.com/blogs/healthcare
But there is a special group out there Accountants | Advisors | Doctors
who look for little ways to go above Jay Juffre is Executive Vice President, www.bdo.com/healthcare
and beyond. These are the true all-stars ImageFIRST. For more information on
of the team. Are these people born or ImageFIRST, call 1-800-932-7472 © 2019 BDO USA, LLP. All rights reserved.
made? or visit www.imagefirst.com.

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com March 2019 13