This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
AOA House of Delegates directs ACOE to develop CE accreditation plan
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
CHICAGO – Here at Optometry’s Meeting, the American Optometric Association House of Delegates approved a motion authorizing a plan to refine a model for accrediting continuing education providers.
The motion specified that additional input from various key organizations in the profession should be sought, “including discussions with ARBO [Association for Regulatory Boards of Optometry] on the future direction of COPE [Council on Optometric Practitioner Education].”
AOA Board of Trustees member Chris Quinn, OD, told the delegates that COPE is controlled by ARBO, “and there’s no representation from other organizations in the profession.
“Broad representation defines what a profession should do to help regulate itself,” he continued. “It improves accountability and educational intent. Our goal should be to elevate the mission of what CE should be.”
Dr. Quinn said input from other groups would provide consistency and parity with the methods of other professions.
“Having a legitimate accrediting authority is important, especially when faced with questions from legislators about how the system of CE works,” he said.
Dr. Quinn stated that the ACOE accredits optometry’s professional degree and residency programs.
“Although ACOE is a subsidiary organization of AOA and receives support from AOA, its ability to make accreditation decisions is independent,” he noted. “We have a memorandum of understanding that clearly segregates the functioning of ACOE and gives them autonomy and authority.
“If you accept the premise that the accreditation activities of ACOE are independent, and decisions do not require approval by the House of Delegates or trustees, then there’s no conflict of interest,” he added.
Steve Eyler, OD, a former president of ARBO, spoke from the floor in support of the motion.
“No one works harder in this profession than those members of ACOE,” he said. This brought applause from the delegates. “They are the crown jewels of the profession.
“This week at the ARBO House of Delegates meeting, the chief executive of the ACCME [Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education], Murray Kopelow, MD, MS(Comm), FRCPC, addressed the house,” Dr. Eyler continued.
Dr. Kopelow said most health care professions accredit CE differently than optometry’s model, according to Dr. Eyler. He said Dr. Kopelow commented that “COPE is where we all aspire to be in health care because it is independent and doesn’t provide CE, and its sole mission is public protection.”
James D. Sandefur, OD, executive director of the Optometry Association of Louisiana, speaking from the floor, said that ARBO’s House of Delegates that week passed a resolution mandating COPE to “implement alternatives to methods of accrediting CE similar to methods used by other organizations (ACCME) and report on it in 2013.”
He asked if it was AOA’s intent to work with COPE.
“Yes, we have called on ARBO this week to make COPE an independent accrediting body with representative governance with the other organizations we’ve talked about,” Dr. Quinn answered. “If we could have a discussion with ARBO and COPE that would achieve the objectives of AOA, there probably is no need for us to develop an alternative model.”
This comment met with applause from the delegates.
“We’re looking for parallel tracks,” Dr. Quinn said.