New This Week
Developing a Medical Optometric Practice
Christopher J. Quinn, OD, FAAO, a trustee of the American Optometric Association, encourages ODs to embrace changes that are coming with health care reform, the objectives of which–improving patient outcomes and controlling costs–ODs are especially well positioned to meet. ODs will need to be connected with other health care professionals and organizations, and their services will need to be measurable, in order to prove the value that ODs bring to the health care system. ODs should not feel isolated in this process, he stresses, citing tools developed by the AOA to help them to navigate these changes. >>READ MORE >>
Software Solutions/EHR
EHR Mobility: Access Patient Data on Tablets
By Kathleen M. Andersen, OD
Electronic health records in the cloud can be easily accessed on mobile devices like tablets enabling your staff greater efficiency and better service to patients. >>READ MORE>>
Doctor-Patient Relations
Guide Patients With Depression Toward the Help They Need
By Pamela Miller, OD, JD, DPNAP
Identify the signs of depression, and educate patients that they may need specialized mental health care. Guide them to the care they need.
Marketing
Networking with ODs and MDs: A Referrals Booster
By Maria Sampalis, OD
Networking with other ODs and with MDs is a key to building a practice that becomes a part of the community and generates referrals. Here are tips on making the most of your networking opportunities.
>>READ MORE>>
ROB Fast Fact
How Many of Your Patients Are in Daily Replacement Lenses?
Many ODs say daily replacement is their first choice for patients, but, according to Jobson Optical Research’s 2013 Contact Lens Insights Survey, not many are actually in daily wear lenses. Just 10.2 percent of respondents say the contact lens modality they last purchased was daily replacement. By contrast, 45.1 percent say they last purchased monthly replacement lenses and 33.2 percent last purchased two-week replacement. Some 6.1 percent say they last purchased quarterly/annual replacement and 5.4 percent say they last purchased “other.”
Click HERE to read more from Review of Optometric Business professional editors Carole Burns, OD, FCOVD, and Mark Wright, OD, FCOVD, on the importance of prescribing daily replacement contact lenses for as many patients as possible.
In Brief
Essilor Calls for Entries for Varilux Student Grant Award Program
Essilor of America, manufacturer of optical lenses, is inviting optometry students across the country to submit case reports for the 30th annual Varilux Student Grant Award Program.
>>READ MORE>>
Coburn Technologies Introduces Versatile Chart Projector
Coburn Technologies has introduced the Huvitz Chart Projector (#HCP-7000), a versatile chart projector that supports a variety of charts. >>READ MORE>>
Challenge –> Solution
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Practice Challenge…
How Can I Improve Patient Recall?The key to being more profitable—without adding one additional patient—is increasing frequency of visits. Here are three proven success strategies from Review of Optometric Business Contributors.
…Practice Solution
- Effective Patient Recall: Create Urgency and Make Scheduling Convenient
- The Relentless OD: Which Recall and Rescheduling Methods Work?
- Automated Recall Drives Practice Growth
Recent Articles of Note
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Getting There: Planning a Successful Optometric Career
By Robert Schultz -
Be Positive, and Always Thank Your Patient
An Optometric Minute video with Eric M. White, OD -
Capture Rate Booster: Train Staff to Fill Patient Prescriptions
By Stuart J. Thomas, OD, and Ellen Byrum-Goad, LDO
