New This Week
Leverage the UV Consumer Awareness Campaign
Ed Greene, CEO of The Vision Council, outlines the ongoing consumer awareness campaign that is designed to raise awareness of how quality sunwear offers protection from the harmful effects of UV radiation. He dispels several myths about UV and describes the group’s many tools that are available to ECPs. Dora Adamopoulos, OD, who is in independent practice in Alexandria, Va., stresses that ECPs can have a positive effect on the behavior of patients. She presents practical tips and conversations to have with patients to stress that wearing protective sunwear should be a matter of habit. Includes links to consumer information tools from The Vision Council.
Software Solutions/EHR
Guide to Meeting HIPAA Requirements When Using Your EHR
By Mary Anne C. Murphy, OD
Electronic health records can protect your patients’ private information–if you set up effective work protocols in your office to meet HIPAA requirements.
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Professional Development
Get Involved: The Payoffs from Learning and Networking in Associations
By Darby Chiasson, OD
Participation in optometric organizations provides guideposts for practice improvement along with invaluable networking with other optometrists.
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Social Media
Google Plus Primed: Make it a Powerful Part of Your Marketing Mix
By Steve Vargo, OD
This free social network tool offers distinct marketing advantages like organizing your contacts into discrete “circles.” Here’s how best to use this no-cost tool to promote your practice.
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ROB Fast Fact
Do Patients Like Making Small Talk With You?
Older patients like to make small talk the most with you, according to Jobson Optical Research’s 2012 Waiting Game report. It looks like the younger the patient, the less interested they are in chatting with you. Some 76.5 percent of patients 55 and older say it’s “nice to make some small talk with the doctor.” That compares to 75.2 percent of 45- to 54-year-olds who like to make small talk and 69.5 percent of 35- to 44-year-olds who like to small talk with their doctor. In contrast, 66.3 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds like to chat with their doctor.
Click HERE to read more from Review of Optometric Business professional editors Carole Burns, OD, FCOVD, and Mark Wright, OD, FCOVD, on striking a balance between friendly chatting to get know your patient and their needs better and taking up an undue amount of your patient’s time.
In Brief
ODLean Consulting Introduces New Seminars, E-Learning Modules
THE VISION CARE INSTITUTE announced that its ODLean Consulting Program is expanding its offerings to better help eyecare practitioners manage patient flow, increase productivity, improve patient experience and boost profits. >>READ MORE>>
HOYA Launches Hoyalux Array Lenses
HOYA Vision Care has introduced Hoyalux Array lenses in all materials, including polarized lenses. “Array lenses provide an adaptive design that is optimized for hyperopes, myopes and astigmatics for superior ergonomics of near, mid and distance sight which delivers natural, comfortable viewing and head movement,” notes Anne Marie Lahr, OD, HOYA’s director of education.
