Home / CE & Events / Calendar of Events / Annual Meeting / Para Course Schedule & Handouts

Para/Optician/Staff Course Schedule & Handouts

Illinois 2022 Annual Meeting

Speaker: Mary Schmidt, ABOC, CPO

Mary E. Schmidt, ABOC, CPO is the founder of EyeSystems a professional training and practice consulting firm, specializing in the eyecare field.

She provides full scope paraoptometric education with a focus on dispensing skills and patient care. Her emphasis is on organization and professionalism. The American Optometric Association and the American Board of Opticianry have accredited her programs.

Mary has over 30 years experience within the optical field including ten years of hands-on in office experience along with practice administration for multi-doctor practices, outside sales and marketing experience and she was manager of education and training for a large practice management group.

Mary has presented programs to state wide, national and international audiences along with personalized private training since 1995. She is a popular speaker with the ability to motivate and inspire.

She was one of Vision Monday's 50 Most Influential Women in Optical in 2005.

Saturday, October 1, 2022

8:00am-10:00am
Fundamental Optics - How We See, What We See - ABO, AOA

This course is designed to give new and experienced staff members a greater appreciation and knowledge of the human eye and how best to explain its function to patients in easy-to-understand language. Emphasis is placed on improving the ability to communicate the visual disorders of a patient's eye and how to improve it through lenses.

Click here to print/download course handout

10:00am-11:00am, continues 1:00pm-2:00pm
Lens Materials, Types & Treatments... Taking the Guesswork Out of Lens Selection - ABO, AOA

There are so many options involved in choosing the perfect lens for your patients' needs. Each patient relies on you to ensure that they will make the right decision. This course will help you understand which choices are best for your patients. You will be more comfortable in communicating the advantages of products.

Click here to print/download course handout

2:00pm-3:00pm
It Has Prism... YOU Do It! - ABO, AOA

There are so many misunderstandings about prism. Do you find yourself breaking out in a cold sweat when you see it cross your desk? If you understand the basics, you can better understand the big picture. Don't let prism intimidate you...attend this program and establish a lasting and loving relationship with prism.

Click here to print/download course handout

3:00pm-4:00pm
Telephone Triage: Emergency or Urgency? - ABO, AOA

We all want to help a patient in distress but it's knowing how and when to respond that will make the difference. Do you know the difference between an ocular emergency and an optical urgency? Which one requires immediate action and which can wait? Learn the simple questions to help determine how you respond and which action id best for the patient.

Click here to print/download course handout

Sunday, October 2, 2022

9:00am-11:00am
Words Matter - Choose Wisely - ABO, AOA

Have you ever felt tongue-tied when speaking with a patient? Have you ever simply not known how to respond to a question? Does the right phrase come to you seconds, minutes, or even hours after the patient has left the building? There are so many scenarios we can plan for and anticipate, and with practice, you will be ready to respond, if you practice and plan ahead. This program will give you real world scripts and phrases that you can use to communicate more effectively with your patient. You'll know what to say right in the moment and convey your message clearly. This course will enable you to know what to say, when to say it and how to get your message through.

Click here to print/download course handout

1:00pm-2:00pm
Moving From Team Player to Team Leader - ABO, AOA

Promotions are great but they don't always go smoothly. This course will walk you through the steps to make the transition a success. Learn about our five-step plan to address performance issues. Set realistic, measurable standards for your winning team. Learn to act and not react to your staff and communicate clearly and more effectively. Join us as we help you identify the 15 signs of staff problems and how best to respond to them.

Click here to print/download course handout

2:00pm-3:00pm
Motivating Your Team - More Important Now Than Ever - ABO, AOA

Finding good employees is always a challenge but keeping good employees is critical! You must manage different personalities, create positive momentum, and keep everyone focused on patient care and not petty problems. Understanding what motivates each team member, takes skill and effort but it rewards the practice with a great work environment and happy patients. This course will enable you to achieve all those responsibilities with greater ease and we will help you with a no-nonsense approach to the most important aspect of the practice: your team.

Click here to print/download course handout

Register Here