Optometric Management Special Edition

2015

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S P E C I A L E D I T I O N 2 0 1 5 • O P T O M E T R I C M A N A G E M E N T . C O M 1 OPTOME TRIC MANAGEMENT O.D. to O.D T AKE A LOOK AROUND around your practice. What are you doing to innovate? What new ideas have you put into action to improve your business, streamline your process or change the way your consumers in- teract with your business? DON'T OVERTHINK IT Innovation doesn't always mean "of the moment" new technology. Rather, it means adopting a new-to- you technology, process or product in your place of business. Also, innovation doesn't have to be expensive. In fact, many innova- tive ideas actually save your practice money by increasing efciency or in- creasing patient experience or prod- uct demand. Not sure where you stand in terms of your innovation savvy? Head on over to the Pop Quiz on page 46 to fnd out. And, to help you get started, here are a few ideas of how to inno- vate in your practice: NEW RETAIL IDEAS Tere are many simple but impact- ful changes you can make in your op- tical space to innovate your practice, such as: • Reorganize the optical. Create a fresh, new look by updating your dis- plays and strategically placing newer products directly in eye line so pa- tients will naturally gravitate toward them when they walk into your ofce. • Start a sunwear section. As O.D.s, it is your job to provide the best care possible to patients, and that includes educating on UV expo- sure — and providing them with the latest technologies in proper protec- tion. Make sunwear a focal point. • Introduce premium progres- sives into your optical. • Sell accessories, such as readers or contact lens solutions, so you can be a one-stop shop for patients. NEW DEVICE/PRODUCT Adding new devices or incorporat- ing new products into your portfolio allows you to introduce new technol- ogies that will help you better care for patients. For example: • Fit torics on patients who have >0.50 cyl. • Ofer color-enhancing contact lenses to current and prospective contact lens patients. • Fit multifocal lenses to patients aged 40 and older. • Ofer daily disposables as the contact lens of choice. • Purchase a slit-lamp camera. • Move to EHR, if you haven't al- ready done so. • Try a new product line, such as a frame collection or contact lens that would beneft your patient base. • Buy a digital lens measuring device to improve efciency. • Revamp (or build) your website. And if you're not already, try market- ing on social media. NEW PROCESSES Innovating your practice process- es can lead to better efciency, thus, helping to provide an enhanced pa- tient experience. Examples: • Set up a 15-minute weekly staf training session. • Treat your entire staf, or a few employees, to lunch. • Subscribe to a patient communi- cation system. • Host a staf retreat. CHANGE YOUR WAYS Tese are but a few ideas on how to change your business for the bet- ter. Regardless of which of these you choose — and I hope you choose at least one — start doing something today to make your place of business diferent, fresh and new. Hold a meeting and ask your staf for ideas of things that you can all do to make the business better. You may just be surprised by their answers. Not only will this impress your consumers and improve their expe- rience, but it will also motivate and increase staf morale, especially if you act on their ideas. Tere is always a way to do it bet- ter — fnd it and make it happen! OM Scot Morris O.D., F.A.A.O. Chief Optometric Editor O P T O M E T R I C M A N A G E M E N T : I N N O VA T I O N THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY TO DO IT BETTER — FIND IT AND MAKE IT HAPPEN! STAYING AHEAD OF THE CURVE WHAT IS YOUR PRACTICE DOING TO INNOVATE YOUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES?

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