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Keep Your Skills Up-to-Date
Continuing education offered by the association informs practitioners of the latest clinical procedures, technologies and scientific evidence in the diagnosis, management and treatment of patients. This top quality education is offered to all members at a reduced fee.
Member practitioners can also belong to specialty sections of the AOA and receive information relating to the practitioner's interests and mode of practice.
Make Professional Contacts and New Friends
Your membership in organized optometry puts you in contact with other optometrists in Washington and across the nation. You become a part of a tremendous nationwide network that gives you opportunities to participate in social events, business meetings, and educational seminars with other professionals who understand your concerns and share your specialized interests.
Keep Up With New Developments
The OPW Today and AOA publications are your best sources for the latest information on clinical research, practice management techniques, and news of the profession.
Increase Your Patient Base
Organized optometry assures a place for the profession in comprehensive vision care benefit programs. This advocacy is crucial for the prevention of discrimination against optometry. Your participation in benefit programs can bring new third party care patients into your practice. Your association further assists you in serving these patients by providing information and materials on third party care. The OPW contracts with a former OPW member who acts as a professional insurance liaison to ensure participation in benefit programs and maximized reimbursement for services.
Protect and Expand Your Scope of Practice
Your professional association works to maintain your right to practice independently and to protect and expand your scope of practice. Organized optometry ensures a voice in the federal and state legislative, judicial, and regulatory agency decisions affecting the profession. The OPW retains legal counsel to advise and assist on matters that have an impact on your profession. In addition, the OPW contracts with a professional lobbyist to constantly keep optometry's interests in front of key legislators.
Gain Prestige, Public Recognition and New Patients
Your public image as a primary eye care provider is vital to your success as a doctor of optometry. The OPW contracts with a nationally recognized public relations firm to execute strategic marketing communications to expand awareness of optometry's role in health care among key publics. This includes the general public through an aggressive news media program. As a result, you share in optometry's increased stature and gain additional patients who are informed about your professional skills.
Finally, the OPW operates a patient referral program through their 800-number and Web site that is promoted through marketing and public relations activities.
Receive Practice Management & Support Information
The state and national associations offer practitioners information on a wide variety of practice management issues, including third party insurance information, clinical guidelines and the AOA Practice Resource Network.
Various practice support services are available through the AOA-endorsed insurance programs, liability insurance plans, retirement plans and financial planning services. In addition, extensive support information is available from the AOA library in St. Louis.
Explore Career Options
The resources of the association are ready to assist you in your search for career options. If you are seeking opportunities across the street or across the nation, the OPW and the AOA should be part of your professional planning.
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