ICO Web Site and Internet Plan,
May 2000

Introduction

This Web Site and Internet Plan is a blueprint for the World Wide Web site and use of the Internet by the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO). It defines the results that the ICO wants to obtain through the Web and Internet and how it will achieve them.

The Plan includes a mission, primary target audiences and a strategy for development of the site and use of the Internet.

Attachment A lists the desired results and other strategies and ideas that have been suggested. Attachment B reports the analysis of the environment that provided perspective for definition of the Plan. It covers external trends and the strengths and weaknesses of the ICO and the current Web site.

This Plan was developed primarly at a planning session of the ICO Executive Committee on May 18, 2000 and was presented to the full Council on May 20.

The Plan will need to be modified over time to take into consideration experience and changes in the ICO's goals and in the environment.

Mission

The mission of the Web site and use of the Internet by International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) is to enhance the ICO's role as the primary voice for ophthalmology internationally and as a leading advocate for preservation and restoration of vision and prevention of blindness around the world.

The ICO will use its Web site and the Internet to:

• communicate effectively on an ongoing basis with the leaders of national and supranational ophthalmologic societies represented in the International Federation of Ophthalmologic Societies (IFOS) to meet their needs and help them develop more effective organizations
  
  
• inform ophthalmologists around the world of educational meetings, educational materials and opportunities that will help them provide the best possible care to patients
  
  
• increase ophthalmologic awareness of the global burden of blindness and stimulate the support of ophthalmologists and ophthalmologic societies for initiatives to preserve and restore vision and prevent blindness.

(In priority order:)

• Official representatives to the International Federation of Ophthalmologic Societies (IFOS), other leaders of national and supranational ophthalmologic societies affiliated with the IFOS and members of the International Council
  
  
• The World Health Organization, International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and other non-governmental organizations involved with eye care, as well as ministers of health and other government and public health officials
  
  
• Individual ophthalmologists worldwide
  
  
• Other physicians, ophthalmic professionals, medical students, medical educators and health care providers
  
  
• The public, particularly those interested in eye care, the preservation and restoration of vision and prevention of blindness.

• provide a global view and perspective of ophthalmology on the Web site, working to connect societies in developed and developing countries and address issues of the relative oversupply and undersupply of ophthalmologists in different areas
  
  
• communicate more effectively with IFOS members about the programs and activities of the ICO, such as the Basic and Clinical Examinations, twinning, etc., so that they understand what the Council does
  
  
• systematically assess the needs of leaders of IFOS organizations and supranational societies and provide information and resources to meet those needs through the Web site and Internet
  
  
• stimulate and support IFOS societies' use of the Web and Internet to communicate effectively with their members and others
  
  
• add a calendar of ophthalmologic meetings through the year 2006, information on fellowships and other educational opportunities and links to high quality educational materials available on the Web
  
  
• publish the International Ophthalmology Strategic Plan and policy statements and plans that develop from it, including proposed curricula for medical students, ophthalmic personnel and ophthalmology residents
  
  
• add news of international ophthalmology, such as the death of Sir John Wilson, so that people can find out what's going on from the ICO site
  
  
• make it easier to use the Web site and find information on it by adding a site map/table of contents, search functions and other aids to navigation
  
  
• increase the visibility of the ICO Web site by including its address (www.icoph.org) in all ICO communications and publications, requesting links from other relevant sites and working to achieve higher rankings in search engines
  
  
• establish an ICO Web Site Committee composed of individuals who can contribute content and ophthalmologic expertise.

Attachment A: Desired Results and Other Strategies and Ideas

Attachment B: External Trends, Strengths and Weaknesses

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