Regulatory Agency

Regulatory Agency Paper
A regulatory agency is an organization responsible for the practice of managing the processes and procedures employed in the function of a given industry (Encyclopedia Britannica , 2011).   The agency that this paper is subject to discuss is The Joint Commission of Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology or (JCAHPO).   This paper will give details about what the history of this organization is, what authority it has, and the structure of it and how it carries out every day responsibilities in Ophthalmology. An example of the duties will also be given.
The History of JCAHPO
The Joint Commission of Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology or (JCAHPO) was established in 1969, and is a nonprofit organization. It offers certification and recertification for ophthalmic personnel for the continued improvement in patient care. Since 1969 more than 25,000 people have become certified from them in the United States and Canada. Their mission is to make ophthalmic technicians certified by teaching them the standards of ophthalmic care given to patients. The organization allows Ophthalmologists’ to collaborate with one another and the organization about changes within the field. JCAHPO also offers training classes for new technicians entering the field, these technicians are very important in this setting because most Ophthalmic offices do not have nurses on staff or medical assistants. Several levels of accreditations exist through JCAHPO. These levels include Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA), Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT), Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technician (COMT), Corporate Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (CCOA), Certified Ophthalmic Registered Nurse (CORN), Registered Ophthalmic Ultrasound Biometrist Certification (ROUB), Certified Diagnostic Ophthalmic Sonographer (CDOS), and Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant (OSA).   Out of all of these potential credentials many never pursue anything greater than a COT. Very few organizations look for...