ST. PAUL, Minn.—The International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (IJCAHPO) announced that it has recently refined its mission statement. The new mission statement is now: “To promote global eye health and prevent blindness through training program accreditation, education and the certification of Allied Ophthalmic Personnel (AOP).” In pursuit of its mission, IJCAHPO aims to promote the establishment of AOP training programs; develop and implement global accreditation standards for training programs; develop and encourage adoption of international standards for certification; and promote education, training and continuing education resources for AOP.

“We have fine-tuned our mission statement to better reflect our organization’s overall goal of the role of AOP in patient care to prevent visual impairment and blindness. Working under the close supervision of an ophthalmologist, AOP play an important role worldwide in the prevention, screening and treatment of eye diseases," said William F. Astle, MD, FRCSC, Dipl. ABO, president of IJCAHPO’s Board of Directors.

The AOP field includes Ophthalmic Assistants, Technicians and Technologists (with sub-specialties in surgical assisting, imaging, biometry, and ultrasound), and other mid-level eyecare team members.

In related news, the IJCAHPO recently published its Ethics Standards, which promote the highest level of professional ethical conduct to help ensure patient safety.
The Ethics Standards apply to Allied Ophthalmic Personnel, certified and non-certified, who are ophthalmic assistants, technicians and medical technologists, as well as to sub-specialty certificants.

The updated Standards include the Code of Ethics and the Rules of Ethics. The Code of Ethics guides Allied Ophthalmic Personnel in evaluating professional conduct as it relates to patients, health care consumers, employers, co-workers, and other members of the ophthalmic health care team. The Rules of Ethics provide mandatory standards of minimally accepted professional conduct required of all eyecare health professionals. Rules of Ethics are enforceable and any ethics violations, criminal charges and convictions may result in loss of certificates, jobs and licenses.

“Above all, the purpose of the Standards of Ethics is to aid AOP in maintaining a high level of ethical conduct and in providing for the protection and safety of patients,” said Astle.

IJCAHPO certification requires compliance with the Standards. For more information and to view the complete Standards visit www.jcahpo.org.