contact lens management
The Annual Dispensing Advantage
How and why to use this plan in your practice.
By Larry K. Wan, O.D.

Disposable contact lenses have become such a part of vision care that it's difficult to believe they were introduced only about 12 years ago. Today, 2-week disposable contact lenses are the standard of care.

However, we're still faced with the pressures of operating efficiently and consistently delivering optimal patient care, products and services. In the fast-paced world of the Internet and modern technology, we need to upgrade the way we do things.

It's time to recognize the limitations of short-term lens dispensing and progress to an annual dispensing program. Here, I'll tell you why you should do it, and how.

The headaches of small-unit dispensing

Think about how many times you've experienced the following scenario: At her annual exam, a patient leaves your office with two or our boxes of disposable lenses because that's the amount of lenses her insurance covers.

A few months later, the patient calls to order two more boxes of lenses. A staffer pulls her chart, enters the order, makes necessary notations to the chart and enters the charges. The lenses are delivered or pulled from your inventory.

A staffer phones the patient and leaves a message. Seven days pass without a response. Your staff makes another phone call and mails another postcard. The patient finally comes in at the busiest time of day. This cycle repeats itself three to four times per year, per patient.

Annual dispensing

Now think about how the scenario would play out if you offered an annual dispensing program: At her annual exam, you'd encourage the patient to participate in an annual dispensing program and present her with a list of benefits. A staffer would order lenses to be delivered directly to the patient (or pulled from stock), settle the statement, book a recall date and refile the chart. The process would repeat once a year, per patient.

An annual dispensing program has the following advantages for you:

• it requires less staff time
• it permits better tracking and monitoring of patient records
• it allows for more efficient inventory and frees you and your staff for more productive activities.

By converting patients to an annual dispensing program, you remove them from the buying market for a year, reducing the likelihood of them purchasing lenses from alternate sources. And, most importantly, in my practice, patients in an annual dispensing program have been more likely to get their annual exams and to adhere to their prescribed wearing schedules. Annual dispensing programs save time, energy, money and improve patient retention.

Step by step

One of the most effective methods of converting to an annual dispensing program is to devise a plan that encourages multiple-box purchases and discourages small-unit dispensing. Here are steps to follow.

• Step #1: Create a program that's simple, concise and time-saving. Consider bundling your multi-box dispensing program with solutions, office coupons, company rebates and tiered pricing. This model can help promote compliance. A tiered approach to pricing places price points at certain units.
  For example, you can design a two-or three-option approach (these numbers are only for demonstration purposes):
  • two tiers: One to seven boxes, cost -- $25 per box; eight or more boxes, cost -- $21 per box.
  • three tiers: One to three boxes, cost -- $28 per box; four to seven boxes, cost -- $23 per box; eight or more boxes, cost -- $20 per box.

Charging a set premium for small-unit box dispensing discourages unnecessary office visits and phone traffic. Tiered programs become especially attractive when the "best value" plan is bundled with solutions and rebates. For example, the purchase of eight or more boxes includes free travel-size solution, a new contact lens case, in-house coupons and a company rebate.

• Step #2: Develop the presentation. Produce a simple half-page or one-page information sheet outlining the features and benefits of your program. Keep it simple. Ask specific questions. Offer choices. You want to give patients a clear understanding of their current dispensing schedule and the advantages of annual dispensing.
  Once you've designed a presentation sheet, review and practice presenting it with your staff. Encourage staffers to ask questions and try to anticipate questions that patients might ask. Record your answers, emphasizing the key points. Include these questions and answers at the bottom of the presentation sheet -- they may answer questions before the patients even think to ask them.

Putting it into practice

Taking a moment to review the presentation sheet with your patients sends the message that you're concerned about their eye health and lifestyle. This will impress upon them that your system has been designed in their best interests, and that you're their eye health provider for their contact lens needs.

After an examination, summarize your findings and recommend which system or program is best for the patient. Have your staff encourage and answer any additional questions the patient might have.

When the patient pays her bill, it's important for your staff to reinforce these messages:

• proper contact lens care and storage -- the whats and whys
• proper wearing schedule
• proper replacement cycle
• emergency phone numbers
• examples of normal and abnormal experiences and information about which ones need addressing.

Leveraging rebates for practice growth

Some contact lens suppliers provide special rebates for multi-box purchases. Today's patient rebates are much easier to administer than those in the past, and they add terrific value for you and your patient. One new rebate goes so far as to require an eye exam and an annual dispense purchase through the examining eyecare professional to qualify for the rebate. Such rebate programs help us address patient retention while reducing the cost to patients and highlighting the importance of annual eye exams.

Get creative

Consider the big picture, but pay attention to the details. Think outside the box and develop ways to transition your disposable lens patients into annual dispensing programs. You and your patients will appreciate the benefits. 

Larry K. Wan, O.D., is one of the managing partners of Drs. Ross, Wan, Taylor and Tuan Family EyeCare Center in Campbell, Calif.