Photo courtesy of Dr. Allen Kim, who is seen here (in black scrubs) with Dr. Jonathan Young, MD, PhD, one of the practice’s surgeons. Dr. Kim shares details on the revenue-generating improvements their practice made.
Revenue-generating improvements
By Allen Kim, OD
August 20, 2025
As independent ODs, we know that planning two years out isn’t just smart—it’s essential.
Last year our OD-MD practice set out to transform our patient experience and financial picture by building an in-house surgical suite, investing in our team and adopting the latest technology. Here’s how those three moves played out through Q1 2025.
Revenue-Generating Improvement 1: Building an In-Office Surgical Suite
A year ago we broke ground on a build-out designed to meet accreditation standards for sterility and safety. In partnership with iOR Partners and NVISION, we converted unused space into a fully functional surgical suite in just three to four months. One more month of intensive training—led by iOR experts—and we were ready.
Patients immediately loved having surgery where they’d already had their consult. We could guide them from their first exam to post-op without ever handing them off.
The payoff was swift: comparing Q1 of 2024 to Q1 of 2025, we saw a 35 percent increase in revenue directly tied to our in-house surgical capability. We also noticed a surge in positive online reviews, word-of-mouth referrals and provider recommendations.
Revenue-Generating Improvement 2: Investing in Well-Trained Staff
Complex surgical care demands a rock-solid support team. Anticipating higher surgical volume, we doubled our surgical-suite staff and matched top local pay rates to attract experienced candidates. NVISION helped us train every new hire for critical roles in the suite. Each technician logged one to two months of hands-on practice before we signed them off.
The result? Patients now see familiar faces from consultation through post-op, which creates continuity and trust. We also found that paying above market helped us hire faster—and cut down on training time—so our new team members were productive almost immediately.
Revenue-Generating Improvement 3: Adopting the Latest Surgical Technology
We’ve always prided ourselves on offering premium options. In the last year we added the PanOptix Pro, Odyssey and the light-adjustable lens, RxSight, along with Contoura topography-guided LASIK. Vendor trainers set aside dedicated time on site to make sure surgeons and staff understood each new device and technique.
That extra effort in patient education and team training paid off handsomely. Before rolling out these upgrades, our premium-lens conversion sat at 26 percent in Q1 2023. By Q1 2025, it had climbed to 47 percent—and patient satisfaction soared.
More of our patients now achieve their visual goals, and referral traffic from both patients and outside providers has increased.
Looking Ahead to 2026
If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that early action compounds. Opening a suite, building a skilled team and staying at the cutting edge of technology aren’t one-off projects—they’re ongoing commitments.
But the metrics speak for themselves: 35 percent more revenue, upgrade conversion up 21 points, better online reviews and a steadily growing referral network.
We hope our story inspires you to take the first step—whether that’s planning a build-out, benchmarking your pay rates or researching the latest IOL options.
Two years from now, your numbers will thank you.
Allen Kim, OD, is the clinical director for the Oregon offices of NVISION, an OD-MD practice with locations across the U.S. To contact him: allen.kim@nvisioncenters.com
