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Member Benefits & Services



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    Member Benefits
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    When it comes to all the things you care about most - from starting practice to succession planning and every step in between - we speak your language and provide you with resources and expertise.

    From practice growth to community service and volunteerism, membership in the AOA and your state association provides professional and personal benefits to help you grow your practice through:

    • Planning
    • Business and marketing basics
    • Management, development and staff training
    • Communication and outreach
    • Patient care and more

     

    PRACTICE GROWTH

    AOAExcelTM

    This business unit of the AOA has what you need for your practice to thrive and grow, including:

    • AOA Group Insurance - life, long-term disability, cancer care, long term care, and emergency assistance -  all at group rates

    • AOA Malpractice Insurance

    • Electronic Health Records (EHR) Preparedness Program

    • Medical Records and Coding

    • Practice Financing

    • Practice Pathways - essential knowledge to successfully buy or sell a practice

    • Retirement Planning Services

    • Insights 360TM - delivers practice intelligence in your own customized online dashboard

    • XNetworkTM - a new innovative health information exchange and practice support network

    To view a complete list of services, visit www.ExcelOD.com.

    PRACTICE EFFICIENCY

    EyeLearnTM
    Easy-to-use centralized online learning resource where you can search for continuing education (CE) using the CE finder, have access to webinars and board certification preparation information, track your courses, and find Optometry's Meeting® CE archives. Visit www.aoa.org/eyelearn.

    AOA Website
    Dedicated to serving you in meeting the eye care needs of the public, the AOA website keeps you up to date on issues that matter to you and the profession. www.aoa.org.

    Patient Education Materials
    Use instructional pamphlets and fact sheets, displays and vision simulators, as well as unique gallery frames and prints to educate patients about eye diseases and conditions. Ordering is easy 24/7 through the AOA Marketplace at www.aoa.org/onlinestore.

    Optometric Staff Training
    The AOA Paraoptometric Section offers an extensive selection of courses, study guides, seminars, lectures and periodical resources to build the skills of your staff. Training and development tools vary from basic/entry level to experienced/ advanced level and cover such topics as clinical procedures, practice management, pre-testing, contact lens technologies, billing/coding, and eyewear dispensing. Learn more at http://www.aoa.org/x4932.xml.


    PATIENT CARE

    Optometric Clinical Practice Guidelines
    Developed and reviewed by a panel of OD experts and specialists, this AOA essential patient care resource combines research with expert clinical opinion to recommend appropriate steps in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of patients with various eye and vision conditions. Learn more at www.aoa.org/clinicalcare.


    PRACTICE DEVELOPMENT/OUTREACH

    Promotion/Public Relations Assistance
    Promote your practice with customizable news releases, presentations, and kits that coincide with AOA optometry awareness campaigns. Ready for School and Save Your Vision Month kits are free and include informational materials and promotional items. Simulator cards and vision condition sheets in the Eye Disease Awareness kit are ideal for community health fair promotions. Resources on nutrition and eye health and workplace safety also are available. Learn more at www.aoa.org/pr.

    Branded Marketing Materials
    Keep your credentials and your practice name up front with stationery, business cards, plaques, name badges and signage. The AOA Marketplace and the Marketing and Practice Development catalog offer printed instructional pamphlets and fact sheets - many with customized branding options, at member discount prices. Order at www.aoa.org/onlinestore.

    Dr. Locator
    Prospective patients quickly locate your practice through the AOA's online optometrist directory, the Dr. Locator. Include your credentials, area of specialization and services provided. www.aoa.org.

    Special-Interest Programs in Contact Lens and Cornea, Sports Vision, Vision Rehabilitation
    Promote your expertise to local schools, hospitals, community centers or industry. Stay abreast of clinical and technological advancements through membership in one or all three AOA special interest sections. Each offers resources you can translate into marketing and practice promotional opportunities. Learn more and join at www.aoa.org/sections.

    Hispanic Marketing
    Hispanics have a predisposition to early-onset diabetes and obesity and a history of hypertension, cataracts, and macular degeneration. Overcome cultural and language barriers with print, audio and Web-based educational tools and resources in English and Spanish. Visit http://hispanic.aoa.org.

    Specific Population Group Vision and Health Care Resources
    Connect with your patients or broaden your reach with specific population group vision and health care resources for blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, children and senior citizens. Learn more at www.aoa.org/pr.

    Pediatric and Binocular (3-D) Vision
    Viewing in 3-D can be a good way to detect underlying, and often undetected, vision problems. Incorporate the use of static stereoscopic testing, education, and vision therapy into your practice. Resources include vision therapy fact sheets, 3-D news, research and patient education. Learn more at www.3deyehealth.org; www.aoa.org/documents/VT- Reimbursement-Packet.pdf.

    OTHER RESOURCES

    AOA News
    A monthly publication, available in print, searchable PDF, and online formats, the AOA News is optometry's best-read publication that helps you stay current on the issues facing optometry, including the activities, meetings, legislation, regulatory agencies, and the people behind the profession. Each issue offers easy-to-implement tips to improve practice management, updates on health care management trends, training and productivity resources. Visit www.newsfromaoa.org.

    AOA First Look
    A daily email digest that provides an immediate, unfiltered look at news from various national sources that affects you and your patients.

    Disaster Relief
    Receive immediate financial aid for critical and urgent needs in the event of a catastrophic event. Apply directly through your state association. Application and grant criteria are available at www.optometryscharity.org.

    NETWORKING

    Optometry's Career Center®
    National, online database and career-matching service helps ODs find jobs, partners or candidates in the optometric field across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Learn more at www.optometryscareercenter.org.

    OptometryStudents.com
    Optometrystudents.com is a website run by students dedicated to learning and sharing. This online resource helps students be more involved in optometry and move the profession forward. Learn more at www.optometrystudents.com.

    Free Student Business Cards
    Second- and fourth-year students receive a free set of 250 personalized AOA member business cards to use for networking and business referrals. Order at www.aoa.org/cards. This offer is made available through an educational grant from Alcon.

    AOAConnect
    An online community where you can start a conversation, seek out hard-won wisdom and share comfortably in a member-only space. Visit http://connect.aoa.org.

    Social Media Channels
    Connect with the AOA on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. www.facebook.com/American.Optometric.Association, twitter.com/aoaconnect or twitter.com/aoanews, and www.youtube.com/aoaweb.


    COMMUNITY SERVICE & VOLUNTEERISM

    VISION USA
    The AOA established VISION USA in 1991 to provide basic eye examinations to Americans in need. VISION USA is currently available in 39 states and the District of Columbia. AOA member optometrists donate their services at no cost. Visit www.optometryscharity.org/vision-usa.

    InfantSEE®
    As an InfantSEE® provider, you'll provide comprehensive eye and vision assessments for infants within the first year of life regardless of a family's income or access to insurance coverage. Treating one family member often leads to gaining the entire family as patients. InfantSEE® is supported by The Vision Care InstituteTM LLC, a Johnson & Johnson company. Learn more at www.infantsee.org.

    Healthy Eyes Healthy People®
    The AOA and Optometry Cares® - The AOA Foundation, through a generous grant from Luxottica, offer the Healthy Eyes Healthy People® state association grants. The grants provide funding for collaborative community programs involving optometrists with government agencies and health care advocates to address the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Healthy People objectives through a comprehensive approach to meeting the vision and eye health care needs of America's infants, children, adolescents, adults and seniors. For more information, visit www.aoa.org/hehp.