News from the AOA's Blog

The American Board of Optometry (ABO) has been accepted as a member of the National Quality Forum (NQF).  As an accrediting body of optometric board certification, the ABO will be a member of the Quality Measurement, Research and Improvement (QMRI) Council of the NQF.

The National Quality Forum (NQF) is a nonprofit organization that operates under a three-part mission to improve the quality of American health care by: 

• Building consensus on national priorities and goals for performance improvement and working in partnership to achieve them;
• Endorsing national consensus standards for measuring and publicly reporting on performance; and
• Promoting the attainment of national goals through education and outreach programs.

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The American Board of Optometry (ABO) announced the release of a detailed outline for the Board Certification Examination. The outline is derived from the results of the job/profession analysis conducted in October. 

“This examination, written by clinicians for clinicians, will be an exciting challenge for those who undertake it,” said Paul C. Ajamian, O.D., vice chairman of the ABO. “Optometrists have always embraced these opportunities, from the early days of diagnostic and therapeutic courses and exams to the goal of achieving board certification. This is a credential that is increasingly recognized by the public, and we are proud to be putting the process in place for those in the profession who recognize its importance, both now and in the near future.”

The first ABO Board Certification Examination will be conducted June 1-18, 2011, at Prometric Test Centers across the United States and throughout the world. Read the rest of this entry ?

The American Board of Optometry today announced last month that Prometric, a leading global provider of technology-enabled testing and assessment services, will be the ABO’s partner in developing the new optometry board certification examination. 

The computer-based examination will be offered across the United States and around the world through the Prometric global test center network. Read the rest of this entry ?

A new optometric foundation and a program to identify impaired motorists both found favor with the annual House of Delegates (HOD) at Optometry’s Meeting® in Orlando this year.

However, an anticipated extended debate on optometric board certification, similar to that in last year’s House, failed to materialize as a series of resolutions prompted by the certification effort either failed to find delegate support or were withdrawn. Read the rest of this entry ?

On Friday, March 5, a new entity led by opponents of the American Board of Optometry (ABO) announced its formation. “The American Board of Clinical Optometry” (ABCO) is led by its executive director and president Art Epstein, O.D. Dr. Epstein is also an officer of the American Optometric Society. This new organization (ABCO) was formed over the course of eight months behind closed doors and its certification process was developed without the input of most of the organizations that guide and uphold the standards of the profession.  Read the rest of this entry ?

     Discussion on board certification in the AOA House of Delegates began with past Distinguished Service Award recipient Les Walls, O.D., M.D., who is board certified as a family physician. Read the rest of this entry ?

Full house in the House of Delegates, and a full day of debate and discussion. Final vote on the motion to recommend creation of the American Board of Optometry and that it follow the model created by the Joint Board Certification Project Team: 1126 yes to 887 no. Read the rest of this entry ?

After five months of discussion, assertions and arguments by optometrists in hundreds of channels, the AOA’s deliberative body, the House of Delegates, will finally make its position known this month. Read the rest of this entry ?

As a planned discussion and vote on board certification nears, a prominent optometrist sent an e-mail to AOA members explaining how residencies alone can’t help optometrists ensure they are prepared for expected changes in health care and U.S. representatives heard a health care leader describe how board certification is an intrinsic element in value-driven health care. The AOA House of Delegates will take up board certification the morning of Friday, June 26 at Optometry’s Meeting®. Read the rest of this entry ?