An international Fulbright scholar and expert on age-related macular degeneration, a chief economist with Morgan Stanley and a leading authority on the Affordable Care Act are just a few of the presenters who will be at the 2014 Optometric Business Conference, held from April 3-6 in Atlanta, Ga. All independent ODs and their staff are welcome to attend this event, hosted by IDOC.
Professor John M. Nolan, PhD, from Waterford, Ireland, an international presenter and author on macular pigment health, has presented on this topic 56 times around the world and has more than 65 published articles in peer-review journals. Professor Nolan will provide the latest information on age-related macular degeneration including his research on the nutritional and preventative approach that optometrists can adopt in their practices to provide better patient care.
“You can’t depend just on refraction anymore,” says Professor Nolan. “The industry has to look at other avenues and business models. Doctors should do more to work with patients to understand their visual function and nutrition of the eye so they can create a better vision performance experience today while protecting patients’ vision into their later years.” This session will also include how the latest technology in protecting patients against the harmful effects of bluelight can be integrated into the practice, significantly impacting patient outcomes and practice revenue.
Attendees at the conference will also hear from a leading economist with Morgan Stanley about the key financial issues facing every business owner. Topics will include taxes, lending and the employment shortage of skilled workers. “It is critical that independent optometrists are informed about the forecasted economic changes for 2014 and beyond, if their businesses are to survive,” says Mark S. Feder, OD and CEO of IDOC. “There is so much uncertainty today as a business owner–from tax changes and a sluggish economy to the implications of the health care law, every business owner risks being negatively impacted if he or she isn’t prepared. We feel obligated to deliver this information to the independent optometrist as part of IDOC’s ongoing efforts to protect the industry.”
The 2014 Optometric Business Conference offers a choice of several sessions each hour for both doctors and staff. The comprehensive curriculum includes discussions on how to develop a digital marketing strategy, the necessity of managing your online reputation and a thorough update on the Affordable Care Act, including the final enrollment statistics, initial successes and setbacks in the rollout, as well as a projection forward as to how 2014 and beyond will play out for vision care providers.
“We chose the conference theme: Connect, Collaborate and Innovate, because it really defines what happens at our educational events,” says Dr. Feder. “Our conferences become that venue where like-minded ODs from across the US get together and they connect as one voice, with one focus: the success of their independent practices. The “collaborate” portion of our theme will be delivered via Study Group sessions of like-sized practices where facilitators will lead discussions on topics critical to practice success. Lastly, attendees will leave with clear, implement-able steps to innovate at all levels of their business so they remain successful: from day-to-day processes within the practice, to their financial processes, to their marketing approach and, of course, how they diagnose and treat their patients.”
The Optometric Business Conference includes all this information, and allows ample time for networking with old and new friends.
Click HERE to see the 2014 Business Conference agenda. Click HERE to register online to attend.
