August 9, 2017
Laurie Sorrenson, OD, FAAO, and Ryan Powell, OD, discuss the under-served needs of rural communities. They recommend that OD colleagues take their skills to areas where eyecare needs are great, appointment books are full, and opportunities abound to practice medical optometry to the fullest.
Consider Opportunities in Rural Communities |
Capture Opportunities for Medical Optometry |
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LOOK RURAL. Opportunities abound in areas less saturated with ODs. Aging ODs are eager for associates. SCHEDULES ARE FULL. Practices draw from great distances, and appointment schedules are full. BE SELECTIVE WITH PLANS. Rural practices can be selective and work with the most profitable vision care plans. DO A RURAL ROTATION. See if you like living in a small community.
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PROVIDE MORE MEDICAL EYECARE. Practicing in a rural area, where treatment options are few, means more chances to provide much-needed medical eyecare. PATIENTS COME TO OD FIRST. With ophthalmologists scarce in rural areas, patients are inclined to come first to an OD. EXTEND YOUR REACH WITH MOBILE TECHNOLOGY. Text messaging through a secure platform allows patients and doctors to communicate remotely. Doctors in a practice can rotate being on call to receive the texts.
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Laurie Sorrenson, OD, FAAO, is president of Lakeline Vision Source in Cedar Park, Texas. To contact her: lsorrenson@gmail.com.
Ryan Powell, OD, owns Insight Eyecare Specialties, with eight locations in the Kansas City, Mo., metro area . To contact him: drpowell@ieseyecare.com
