New This Week
Our Vision is Going Mobile: Are You Ready?
Master optician Mark Mattison-Shupnick, ABOM, BS, editor of 20/20 Opticians Handbook, provides practical examples of how to introduce, demonstrate and sell premium lenses for use with mobile devices. He advises optical staff to ask lifestyle questions and examine how people really use their eyes. Have staff wear new types of lenses and then use their personal experiences to connect with patients. New terms to use: “smartphone lenses” and “iPad lenses” that address real needs in terms that consumers understand. >>READ MORE >>
Ophthalmic Lenses
Ask Patients Detailed Lifestyle Questions…Then Select Best Lens Options
By Stuart J. Thomas, OD, and Ellen Byrum-Goad, LDO
Your success in providing patients with the ideal spectacle lenses—and second-pair sales–depends on your understanding of patients’ lifestyle needs. The key: Ask detailed questions. >>READ MORE>>
Office Environment
Patient Comfort: The Little Stuff Pays Off Big Time
By Gina M. Wesley, OD, MS, FAAO
Making patients comfortable–from making registration fast and easy to offering refreshments in your optical–can generate referrals. Pay attention to small details. >>READ MORE>>
Digital Strategies
A Practice Blog Can Drive Patients to Your Web Site
By Alan N. Glazier, OD, FAAO
A practice blog can boost awareness of your practice—and referrals. Use your blog to interpret eye health news for your patients, and offer guidance on common eye and vision questions. >>READ MORE>>
Optometric Business Innovators
2012 Optometric Business Innovators:
Patient Experience
Review of Optometric Business and Vision Monday present the 2012 Optometric Business Innovators. Each month for the rest of the year, ROB will present profiles of the honorees. This month we honor those doctors recognized for achievement in patient experience innovation.
>>READ MORE>>
ADVERTORIAL
A Growing Practice Is Built on Happy Patients
Garnering new patients through word-of-mouth referrals is more than a great marketing strategy—it is the key to success that endures the test of time.
Successful practices see more patients
Focusing your practice on getting new patients rather than dollars per patient is a more pragmatic—and preferable—business approach. This is true for any practice. In a 2009 study of independent practices, it was reported that the practices with the greatest gross revenue see three times as many patients as the average practice.
>>READ MORE>>
ROB Fast Fact
How Many of Your Patients Own Sunwear for Action Sports?
Sunwear designed specifically for action sports use is still only owned by a small percentage of patients indicating a growth opportunity in your optical shop. Thirteen percent of respondents said they had purchased sunglasses or goggles specifically to be used for action sports activities, according to The Vision Council’s VisionWatch Action Sports Sunglass Report. Younger respondents and male respondents were more likely than older respondents and females to have ever purchased action sports sunglasses. Sixteen percent of younger adults and 18 percent of men had purchased action sports sunglasses while only 10 percent of older adults and 9 percent of women had. >>READ MORE>>
Click HERE to read more from Review of Optometric Business professional editors Carole Burns, OD, FCOVD, and Mark Wright, OD, FCOVD, on marketing sports sunwear to patients.
In Brief
Transitions Optical Announces Contest: “Students of Vision Showcase”
Transitions Optical, Inc., has introduced a new program for optical students–the Students of Vision Video Showcase. The program, supported by the Transitions Healthy Sight for Life Fund, encourages students to help their patients see Life well lit, complementing Transitions Optical’s overall global communications campaign. Through October 31, Transitions Optical will accept video submissions on the Transitions 2012 Student Showcase YouTube Page. The top finalists will be chosen based on the number of “likes” their video receives and will receive a $100 cash prize. The grand prize winners–selected from a team of judges at Transitions Optical–will receive $500 and an all-expense paid trip to the Transitions Optical headquarters in Tampa, Fla., for a day of education and leadership training from industry experts. Winners will be announced by January 31, 2013. >>READ MORE>>
Essilor Vision Foundation Partner Special Olympics Receives Grant
The Essilor Vision Foundation and The Special Olympics Foundation recently had the honor of participating in the 2012 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York City. On the opening day of the annual meeting, President Bill Clinton announced a $12 million grant from businessman and philanthropist Tom Golisano to the Special Olympics, which will allow for the launch of a new Healthy Communities initiative. >>READ MORE>>
ROB Poll Results
Readers Say Staff Training Is the Most Challenging Aspect of EHR Implementation
Asked about the most challenging aspect of electronic health record implementation, 36 percent of readers say training doctors and staff to use it properly and consistently is the most daunting part of it. Another 28 percent say choosing the right system for your practice is most difficult while 24 percent say getting used to doctor-patient relations while gathering records and inputting notes electronically is most challenging. Twelve percent say meeting federal Meaningful Use requirements is the hardest part.
