New This Week
Instrumentation Lets You Keep Pathology in Your Practice
Paul Klein, OD, of Broward Eye Care in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., uses instrumentation, such as an OCT, for early detection of ocular conditions. This allows him to monitor and treat patients in the practice rather than immediately refer them to ophthalmologists. ODs do a better job, he argues, of explaining ocular conditions and treatments and emphasizing the importance of nutraceuticals. Instruments also provide evidence to demonstrate the need for regular office visits for pre-treatment monitoring. >>READ MORE>>
Frames
Make Sure Your Contact Lens Patients Have Up-to-Date Eyeglasses
By Mark Hinton
A compliant contact lens wearer must have eyeglasses that are up-to-date–in Rx and fashion–so that they enjoy wearing them when they must rest their eyes. As doctor, it’s up to you to prescribe them. >>READ MORE>>
Managed Care
Enhance Vision Benefit Communication with Patients to Increase Revenues
By Yoongie Min, OD
Patients usually are in the dark about their vision insurance coverage–but that creates an opportunity for your office to do a big favor for them and you. Letting patients know that they have eyecare and/or eyewear benefits eases the cost to them and can increase your revenues for services and optical sales. >>READ MORE>>
Finance
Understand Terms of Leased Instrumentation to Save Money
By Robert Schultz and Jeanne Fletcher
Leasing can provide a cost-effective way to add instrumentation to your office. By fully understanding the terms of your lease, including penalties if you pay off the lease early, you can avoid surprises and save money.
>>READ MORE>>
ADVERTORIAL
Vision Source Prepares to Exert Greater Influence
Vision Source® celebrates its 20th anniversary—and prepares to make itself even more known on a national level with a new, bold look. >>READ MORE>
How Does Your Salary Compare to the Average OD’s Salary?
The average TOTAL compensation reported for employed OPTOMETRISTS was $103,924, according to the 2011 ECP Compensation Study conducted by Local Eye Site in conjunction with Jobson Optical Research. The average total compensation of optometrists who are owner/partners for 2010 was reported as $146,631.
The average salary for all optometrists who reported receiving a salary was highest in the
Northeast region at $116,828 and lowest in the West at $98,024. The South came in at
$113,514 and the Midwest at $105,228.
Click HERE to read more from Review of Optometric Business professional editors Carole Burns, OD, FCOVD, and Mark Wright, OD, FCOVD, on the financial benefits of becoming an owner or partner OD.
Free E-Book: “4 Must-Have Features of a Great Online Ordering Service”
VisionWeb, a provider of software and technology services to eyecare professionals, released a free e-book, “4 Must-Have Features of a Great Online Ordering Service.” The e-book outlines how ECPs can best take advantage of online product ordering processes. >>READ MORE and sign up to download a free copy of this e-book>>
The Power Practice Rebrands and Re-Launches Newsletter
The Power Practice, a consulting firm founded by Gary Gerber,OD, announced that it has brought back its paid newsletter, Optometric Income and rebranded it as Power News. >>READ MORE>>
ROB Poll Results
Most Change Optical Merchandising Displays Monthly
Asked how often they change their optical merchandising displays, 33 percent of ROB readers said they change the displays once a month. Twenty-eight percent change these merchandising materials once every three months while 22 percent said they have no system for changing optical merchandising displays and don’t keep track of how often they happen to switch out these materials. Six percent change the displays every two weeks while another six percent change the displays every six months. Yet another six percent only change the displays once a year.
