New This Week
The SUNY MBA Certificate Program: Business Know-How for ODs
David Heath, OD, EdM,
president of SUNY College of Optometry, describes the school’s new advanced graduate certificate in optometry business management. The certificate program provides OD graduates with a basic understanding of business principles–and advances them a third of the way toward a full MBA degree. Dr. Heath explains that having basic business skills is essential to running an optometric practice today and will enable ODs to distinguish themselves in an increasingly complex field. >>READ MORE>>
Practice Management
Connect the Docs: Make the Connections Required By Healthcare Reform
By Aaron Lech, OD, FAAO
Is your practice on schedule for the enactment of the Affordable Care Act? Here’s how to connect with other providers in your area to provide total care to patients. Optometric alliances offer networking and guidance to help you transition to the new health care environment.
Staff Management
Incentivize Staff with Bonuses: Take the Team Approach
By Gina Wesley, OD, FAAO
Incentivizing staff with bonuses works. It benefits the practice most when you take a team approach.
Contact Lenses
Educate Patients About Tear-Film Stability and Quality Daily-Replacement Contact Lenses
By JeanMarie Davis, OD
Contact lens dropouts are costly to an eyecare practice, and dropouts usually are caused by lens discomfort. You can keep patients comfortable in their contact lenses long-term by understanding–and talking to patients about–the factors that affect comfort and eye health, like tear-film stability.
ROB Fast Fact
Which Frames Management Tasks Are Most Challenging?
High-end frame sales and maximizing revenues from frame sales to managed care patients are taking a chunk of your energy, according to the Frames Business Management Survey, conducted by Jobson Optical Research and Performance Advancement Associates, a division of Jobson Medical Information. Of 12 frames management tasks listed in the survey, the following five are regarded as the most challenging:
1. Increasing sales of high-end frames (47 percent)
2. Maximizing frames revenue from managed care patients (44 percent)
3. Reducing frames cost-of-goods (34 percent)
4. Achieving adequate frames turnover (32 percent)
5. Matching frames inventory to demand (21 percent)
In Brief
Transitions Optical Tests Direct Response TV Ad
Transitions Optical has kicked off a national test of a new direct response “edutainment-style” television advertisement, designed to generate an immediate action by consumers, which will drive them to their eyecare professionals and shorten the eyewear purchase cycle. A 15-minute version of the ad will air on national cable channels in August.
>>READ MORE>>
HOYA Creates Community Service Award for African-Americans
HOYA Vision Care has announced the Adam Young of Southern College of Optometry Class of 2014 inaugural “Dr. Charles Comer Community Service Award.”
Challenge ? Solution
Practice Challenge…
How Can I Increase My Contact Lens Practice?
Contact lenses are an often underdeveloped area of optometric practice–misperceived as being less profitable than eyeglasses. In fact, contact lens wearers tend to be more loyal patients, returning to your practice with greater frequency and purchasing eyeglasses and sunwear, as well. Here are three examples of ODs who have applied winning strategies to grow their contact lens prescribing.
…Practice Solution
Recent Articles of Note
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By Robert Schultz
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In-House Lens Fabrication: Compete Successfully with Large Optical Retailers
By Gordon G. Wong, OD -
Be Positive, and Always Thank Your Patient
An Optometric Minute video with Eric M. White, OD -
Capture Rate Booster: Train Staff to Fill Patient Prescriptions
By Stuart J. Thomas, OD, and Ellen Byrum-Goad, LDO
