Certified Patient Service Specialist (CPSS ®) Program Elevate Your Staff to National Professional Status

Mission To establish a national standard of excellence that recognizes and promotes the professionalism of staff in ophthalmology practices and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) by providing certification and continuing education focused on increasing the quality of patient care.

Why is certification important? Establishes those who hold the Certified Patient Service Specialist credential as recognized professionals in the medical practice Creates a national standard of proficiency for staff Recognizes and creates growth opportunities for experienced staff and offers a professional development pathway for new employees Provides a potential competitive advantage for the practice in third-party contracting

Why is certification important? Establishes an expectation for continuing education through the recertification process Indicates a high level of competency and commitment to patients Offers a tangible employee benefit that supports staff retention Highlights the encouragement and support of the physicians and administration

Practice Registration Process Practice/ASC provides continued support to employees by offering continuing education opportunities 4. Practice/ASC receives login information and detailed instructions via email within one business day of registration 3. Practice/ASC submits application and one-time registration fee, as well as any individual applicant fees for each employee 2. Practice/ASC makes commitment to support program 1.

Certification Requirements Staff Member… Is a member of a participating medical practice or ASC. Has at least one year of experience in a medical eye care practice or ASC. Completes a certification application and receives manager approval. Completes computerized certification exam with score of 80% or better. Is notified of results and certification status after taking the exam.

Employee Certification Process 1. Receives username and password with detailed instructions via email after practice or ASC has registered and paid individual application fee 2. Reviews study guides and courses available on the CPSS website or other outside resources Completes computerized certification test with 130 questions (while supervised by administrator) 3. 4. Employees are notified of official test results immediately upon completion of the exam Pass Score of 80% or better. Employee will receive a certificate of recognition and certification pin. Retake Score of 79% or less. Employee will need to retake the CPSS certification test.

CPSS® for the ASC Certification Process Applicants wanting to achieve CPSS for the ASC (CPSS-ASC) certification must complete the following steps: Complete CPSS exam with a score of 80% or higher Complete the five additional ASC study courses and achieve a score of 80% or higher on the course tests Complete CPSS-ASC application and submit to BSM via email or fax Receive acknowledgement of CPSS-ASC status

Recertification Requirements Applicant Must… Reapply for certification every 3 years. Document at least 15 hours of continuing education (with supervisor approval) in the 3-year certification period. Submit an application and recertification fee. Note: If certification is not renewed on or before the expiration of certification, applicants will need to retake the CPSS® certification test.

Areas of Knowledge Patient Care HIPAA Customer Service Insurance/Billing/ Coding Patient Scheduling Ophthalmic Facilities and Equipment Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye Human Resources Common Ophthalmic Diagnoses Eye Exams/Triaging Ocular Emergencies Optional ASC Certification OSHA

Resources Available CPSS Recommended Study Guides (Basic): Basic Training Courses Optical Dispensary Regulatory and Compliance Courses OSHA HIPAA Medicare Basics Fundamentals of Diagnosis Coding Telephone Skills Training

Resources Available CPSS Recommended Study Guides (Intermediate): Maximizing Practice Collections (4-part series) Triaging Ocular Emergencies Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye

CPSS-ASC Supplemental Courses Resources Available CPSS-ASC Supplemental Courses Patient Safety in the ASC Advance Directives and Elder Abuse Patient Rights Infection Prevention and Medications in Ophthalmic ASC Common Ophthalmic Surgeries

Benefits of Certification Recognition of knowledge and accomplishments by peers, physicians, administrative staff, and patients Certificate acknowledging accomplishments Certification pin Induction into a growing association of professionals—Certified Patient Service Specialist designees Opportunities for continuing education and professional growth

Elevate your ophthalmic staff to national professional status now! Next Step Make a commitment for your practice to join the exciting CPSS program. Elevate your ophthalmic staff to national professional status now!