Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Dr. Larry Kaskel, Medical Director of the Heart Attack Prevention Center, to Speak March 4th at CardioCareLive about FirstLine Therapy

Dr. Larry Kaskel, Medical Director of the Heart Attack Prevention Center, to Speak March 4th at CardioCareLive about FirstLine Therapy

CardioCareLive, a medical conference that takes place entirely online, announces participation of Dr. Larry Kaskel, Founder and Medical Director of the Heart Attack Prevention Center. Dr. Kaskel to present "Improved Patient Outcomes and Enhanced Revenue with Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes."

Needham, MA (PRWEB) February 18, 2009 -- CardioCareLive (http://www.cardiocarelive.com), the first of its kind online medical conference for primary care physicians and other healthcare professionals who work with patients with cardiometabolic risk factors, today announced Metagenics as an exhibitor at the March 3-4 event. Metagenics will also sponsor a session by Dr. Larry Kaskel, Founder and Medical Director of the Heart Attack Prevention Center, who will speak on "Improved Patient Outcomes and Enhanced Revenue with Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes." Attendees can watch this live video session and have their questions addressed in near real-time by Dr. Kaskel.

CardioCareLive provides an opportunity for healthcare practitioners to learn and interact with leading practitioners and stay informed about new treatments and therapies for patients with cardiovascular risk factors, such as Metagenics' FirstLine Therapy® program. This turn-key therapeutic lifestyle change program is easy to integrate into a practice and enables primary care physicians to provide lifestyle change therapies in a systematic way that is successful for the patient while also a revenue driver for the practice.

"Physicians recognize the need to guide their patients through lifestyle changes in order to achieve better outcomes," said Mike Katke, VP of Medical Marketing for Metagenics. "But time constraints and practice processes make ongoing care of this type challenging. FirstLine Therapy provides a systematic approach to aid patients in implementing lifestyle changes that can be truly successful."

CardioCareLive recognizes the need for time-constrained physicians to stay current with the latest healthcare innovations. The event delivers all the benefits of a physical medical conference, with live keynote presentations, lectures, peer networking and an exhibit floor, from the convenience of a computer. To view a complete list of speakers, agenda, or to register now for free, visit CardioCarelive.com (http://www.CardioCareLive.com).

About CardioCareLive

CardioCareLive, a medical conference that takes place entirely online, enables healthcare practitioners and others interested in understanding and managing cardiometabolic risk factors to learn, connect and interact through powerful Web-based software and services.

CardioCareLive is produced by PlatformQ (http://www.platformq.com), whose mission is to connect people, companies, organizations and associations worldwide to meet, interact and learn from leading experts and thought leaders through proven interactive tools at online events.

CardioCareLive and PlatformQ are trademarks of PlatformQ, LLC. All other trademarks or service marks are property of their respective owners.

About Metagenics

Metagenics, Inc. (http://www.metagenics.com) is a life sciences company and the premier manufacturer and distributor of science-based medical foods, nutraceuticals and therapeutic lifestyle change programs marketed to healthcare professionals. As a leader in the fields of nutrigenomics and functional medicine, healthcare practitioners around the world rely on Metagenics' products and services to help their patients achieve a lifetime of good health.

Press Contact: Sal Giliberto, 617-938-6006.

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Contact Information Martha Collins

PlatformQ, LLC.

http://www.CardioCareLive.com

(617) 938-6008



Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Eye Care Profession Receives U.S. Occupational Listing

Eye Care Profession Receives U.S. Occupational Listing

The ophthalmic allied health profession received official notification of approval for a separate occupational classification, Ophthalmic Medical Technician, from the United States Bureau of Labor's 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Committee.

St. Paul, MN (PRWEB) February 16, 2009 -- The Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology® (JCAHPO®) http://www.jcahpo.org announces that the ophthalmic allied health profession received official notification of approval for a separate occupational classification, Ophthalmic Medical Technician, from the United States Bureau of Labor's 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Committee. JCAHPO calls the new occupational classification a landmark decision.

"This is a historic milestone for the ophthalmic allied health profession," remarks JCAHPO President William F. Astle, MD, FRCS(C), Dipl. ABO. "Ophthalmic Medical Technicians are important in the eye care team as ophthalmology becomes more technologically oriented, and confronts the challenges of an aging patient population. This is a significant measure of how much this profession has evolved into its own, and an empowering validation of this occupation's professional merit," adds Astle.

The 2010 SOC system is used by federal statistical agencies to classify workers into occupational categories for the purpose of collecting, calculating, and disseminating data. For an occupation to be accepted for inclusion in the SOC, it requires a set of uniquely identifiable skills. The first set of skills is related to the complexity and range of tasks and duties, including knowledge and experience. These are defined by preparation levels and credentials, and considered necessary for new entrants to an occupation (skill level). The second set is related to both the type of work performed and the nature of the work activities.

Under the 2000 SOC listing, ophthalmic assisting was classified under Other Healthcare Support Occupations (Medical Assistants). Every ten years, the occupational listings undergo an extensive review. The Ophthalmic Medical Technician is one of many allied health professions impacted by this sweeping reclassification. Ophthalmic Medical Technicians are now classified under the major category of Health Technologists and Technicians, and the sub-group of Health Practitioner Support Technicians and Technologists. The former grouping excluded important tasks and responsibilities of Ophthalmic Medical Technicians that require more advanced, clinical, and overall medically detailed skills and knowledge than those of the general Medical Assistant.

Although the new occupational listing is identified as Ophthalmic Medical Technician, the SOC listing encompasses all three levels of JCAHPO certification, Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA®), Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT®), and Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT®). The term "Ophthalmic Medical Technician" communicates the complexity and range of tasks from "assisting" that differentiates this profession from medical assisting.

JCAHPO leadership notes that the SOC decision will facilitate heightened public awareness and aid in recruiting more people into the profession. "The new classification will identify this profession as a definitive career pathway separate from other health personnel disciplines, and ultimately have a profound impact on the ongoing development of the Ophthalmic Medical Technician profession," says Astle.

For more information on JCAHPO or information on a career as a certified Ophthalmic Medical Technician, visit www.jcahpo.org or call (800) 284-3937.

JCAHPO is a non-profit organization that has been providing certification and training for eye care excellence since 1969. More than 17,000 ophthalmic assistants, technicians, and technologists in 22 countries are JCAHPO-certified.

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Contact Information JCAHPO

JCAHPO

http://www.myeyecareer.org

(800) 284-3937