ModMed Empowers Future Ophthalmic Technicians with Donated EHR Access at Illinois Community Colleges

The health tech leader's solutions empower students in these programs with real-world training and workforce-ready skills.

Specialty-specific healthcare technology leader, ModMed^®, is investing in the future of eye care by providing access to its cutting-edge, ophthalmology-focused electronic health records (EHR) system to three Illinois community colleges: Elgin Community College, College of Dupage and Triton Community College, through charitable donations of a “sandbox” EHR learning environment. This initiative directly addresses the growing demand for skilled ophthalmic technicians by equipping students with essential, hands-on experience in a real-world setting. This collaboration reflects ModMed’s commitment to social responsibility and workforce development by equipping students with the hands-on training needed to succeed in modern healthcare environments.

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Specialty-specific healthcare technology leader, ModMed®, is investing in the future of eye care by providing access to its cutting-edge, ophthalmology-focused electronic health records (EHR) system to three Illinois community colleges: Elgin Community College, College of Dupage and Triton Community College.

Through this initiative, ModMed supports more than 50 students annually in Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) and Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) programs. The integration of ModMed’s EHR into these programs provides students with real-world experience in patient documentation, specialty workflows and technology management — key skills for in-demand careers in ophthalmology.

“ModMed has created a practical way for our students to access tools that weren’t available to them before,” said Mitzi Thomas, COMT, Assistant Professor and Chair at College of Dupage. “This partnership sets our students up for success in a competitive field.”

Colleges and Program Highlights

• Elgin Community College: Home to the Ophthalmic Technician Program that began in 2022, the program equips students for the COT exam. “Our program's goal is to prepare students who are ready to excel in their careers,” said Shelby Stanley, Program Director. “Thanks to ModMed, our students can confidently step into their future roles.” The program serves up to 20 students per semester and recently graduated its first class, with two-thirds already employed in the field.
• College of Dupage: The largest community college in Illinois, offering COA and COT programs, with 15 students in clinicals and 15 using ModMed’s EHR software. “By training on ModMed’s EHR, our students gain exposure to real-world technology that gives them a competitive edge,” said Nia Morris, COT Assistant and Adjunct.
• Triton Community College: Triton’s 2-year Ophthalmic Technician Program incorporates ModMed's EHR every semester during lab sessions, allowing students to learn the importance of proper documentation in hands-on training. “For a decade, I’ve worked to ensure students are prepared for success in the field,” said Lisa Maas, Program Chair. “This collaboration elevates our program and increases recognition for this essential career path.” The program boasts 16 graduating students in May and 18 enrolled for August.

“At ModMed, we believe in empowering the next generation of healthcare professionals with the tools they need to thrive,” said Dr. Michael Rivers, Senior Director of Ophthalmology at ModMed. “Our initiative with these community colleges reflects our dedication to social responsibility and fostering workforce readiness in the healthcare sector.”

A Bright Future for Ophthalmic Technician Careers

By donating the use of its advanced EHR software, ModMed enhances the learning experience and raises awareness about the critical role of ophthalmic technicians in patient care. For more information about the ophthalmic technician programs at Elgin Community College, College of Dupage and Triton Community College, please visit their respective websites:

Elgin Community College Ophthalmic Technician Program

College of Dupage Ophthalmic Technician Program

Triton Community College Ophthalmic Technician Program

For more information about ModMed and its healthcare technology solutions, visit www.modmed.com.

About ModMed

At ModMed, we empower medical practices to grow and scale by delivering better patient experiences with cloud, data, and AI technologies. Leveraging extensive clinical data sets, we design intelligent software solutions to simplify, automate and streamline clinical workflows and drive practice efficiency. With our specialty-specific EHRs, Practice Management, Revenue Cycle Management and Analytics solutions, as well as products for patient engagement, payment processing, and marketing, we are trusted by over 40,000 providers to drive clinical and operational success. Learn more at modmed.com or our blog and connect via Facebook, LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and Instagram.

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