New This Week
In-House Lens Casting: Quality and Cost Savings
Gordon G. Wong, OD, of GW Eye Associates in La Jolla, Calif., describes the advantages of an in-house lens casting system. The newer systems has a smaller footprint than in years past, and lens materials can be inventories or ordered overnight. Once the system is up and running, patients are delighted to receive finished eyewear in less time than is required with the conventional use of a lab. Further, lens quality is as good or better than lenses done by labs, redos are reduced or more easily rectified, and there are cost advantages to the practice. >>READ MORE >>
Finances
From the Ground Up: Build Your Ideal Office Space
By Gina Wesley, OD, MS, FAAO
Building a new office from the ground up lets you create the ultimate space needs–for your patients and your practice. And new office space can be a tremendous practice builder. >>READ MORE>>
Marketing
Patient Financing: Your Marketing Advantage
By Jeffrey W. Robertson, OD, and Jennifer C. Lane, OD
Offering patient financing to purchase eyewear allows your patients to meet their needs, and it lets your practice stand out from competitors. You maximize this advantage when you promote the availability of a patient financing option.
>>READ MORE>>
Practice Management
Collaboration: Foster Productive Interaction with Peers
By Harue J. Marsden, OD, MS, FAAO
ODs can learn from each other and push one another to greater practice success. Valuable business strategies can emerge when you break out of practicing in isolation–and collaborate with peers.
>>READ MORE>>
ROB Fast Fact
Are Point-of-Sale Materials of Any Use to Patients?
The point-of-sale posters many ODs use to decorate their optical dispensary walls may actually be helpful to patients. Forty-four percent of consumers said POP displays are extremely or very helpful in deciding which eyeglass frames to buy, according to Jobson Optical Research’s 2013 Eyewear & Eye Care Consumer Patterns Insight Survey. Comparatively, 30 percent said POP displays are extremely or very helpful in making a decision about which lenses to purchase.
Click HERE to read more from Review of Optometric Business professional editors Carole Burns, OD, FCOVD, and Mark Wright, OD, FCOVD, on making effective use of point-of-sale materials in your practice.
In Brief
Transitions Optical Launches Signature VII Lenses with Chromea 7
Transitions Optical, Inc., says it has launched its most responsive everyday adaptive lenses ever: Transitions Signature VII lenses with Chromea7 technology. Available Jan. 7, 2014, Transitions Signature VII lenses will replace Transitions VI lenses in the Transitions family of products as the optimal lens for maximum indoor clarity and responsiveness to UV outdoors.
>>READ MORE>>
Heidelberg Engineering Showcases the Heidelberg Engineering Perimeter
Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, a global ophthalmic imaging company, presented the Heidelberg Engineering Perimeter (HEP) as a functional test adjunct to the SPECTRLIS OCT at the annual 2013 American Academy of Optometry Professional Press Conference in Seattle, Wash. >>READ MORE>>
Challenge –> Solution
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Practice Challenge…
How Can I Get Good Patient Feedback?Anyone in a service business needs good feedback from customers–or how else can they improve the service they provide? It’s just the same with patients of an optometric practice. Here are three success strategies from Review of Optometric Business contributors.
…Practice Solution
- Patient Satisfaction Surveys: Measure Expectations, Then Exceed Them
- Use a Multi-Pronged Approach to Get 360-Degree Feedback from Patients
- Analyze Patient Demographics–then Tailor Your Services
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
