New This Week
The Most Important Person in Your Practice: the Patient!
Doctors must oversee the practice, stay attuned to staff-patient interactions, and apply lessons from other professions. But their main focus, says Pamela Miller, OD, FAAO, JD, of Highland, Calif., should be on the most important person who walks through the door: the patient. >>READ MORE >>
Software Solutions/EHR
Use EHR to Enhance the Patient Experience
By April L. Jasper, OD, FAAO
Electronic health records make your practice more efficient—but they also allow you more time to discuss treatment plans and increase lifestyle dispensing. >>READ MORE>>
Finances
Grow or Die: Complacency is a Practice Killer
By Robert Schultz
If you get accustomed to making a comfortable income from a practice with flat growth, you may face a sobering reality when it’s time to sell. Execute a detailed financial plan for continued growth—and reach your financial retirement goals. >>READ MORE>>
Marketing
Show Patients How to Use their Flex-Spending Dollars
By Ryan C. Wineinger, OD
Patients often don’t understand how to use their flex-spending plans. Train your staff to show them how to spend their flex dollars on your services and optical goods—year ‘round. >>READ MORE>>
ROB Fast Fact
Why Do People Own Multiple Pairs of Eyewear?
There are three main reasons: To use as a back-up in case they misplace their current eyewear, for convenience purposes (to have different pairs in different locations) and for functionality (to have different pairs for
for different activities), according to the Vision Council VisionWatch Fashion vs. Function Eyewear Report. Approximately 39.3 percent of multiple pair owners keep additional pairs of eyeglasses on hand to serve as back-ups or spares just in case they lose their current newest pair of eyeglasses. There was very little demographic difference between eyeglasses wearers who owned more than one pair for back-up purposes, although it seems that women and eyeglasses wearers from the Northeast were a little more likely to keep extra pairs of eyeglasses around in case their current eyeglasses are misplaced.
Click HERE to read more from Review of Optometric Business professional editors Carole Burns, OD, FCOVD, and Mark Wright, OD, FCOVD, on selling more multiple pairs.
In Brief
PEN Preserving Independent Optometry Returns for Ninth Year
Primary Eyecare Network (PEN) will present the ninth event in its series of programs focused on Preserving Independent Optometry (PIO). This year’s program will focus on “Exceeding Patient Expectations, Social Media and Technology,” and will take place at the Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey, Calif., on August 10-11, 2012.
>>READ MORE>>
HOYA Launches Campaign to Increase Second-Pair Sales
HOYA hopes to help independent ODs increase multiple-pair sales with its with its Summer SUNsational Program Kit. The Summer SUNsational national campaign will allow patients to buy their first pair of clear prescription eyeglasses and get the same prescription in sun lenses for free. “We’re really removing as many barriers as possible to that second-pair sale,” says Barney Dougher, president of HOYA Vision Care, NA. “All the doctor has to say is, ‘Ma’am here is your prescription and today you can get your sunglasses prescription lenses for free. Go pick out two sets of frames.'” >>READ MORE>>
ROB Poll Results
Readers Cite Rude Patients and Under-Performing Staff as Top Practice Annoyances
Asked about what annoys them most in their practice, 36 percent of ROB readers say rude and disrespectful staff most bothers them. Another 34 percent say under-performing staff are most annoying while 20 percent say patients who arrive very late to appointments gets to them most. Seven percent say it most bothers them when patients do not follow their instructions or treatment plans while 2 percent say difficulties with vendors is most annoying.
