O.D. to O.D.

ACHIEVE YOUR 2017 GOALS

IT’S TIME TO REFLECT AND SET A COURSE FOR SUCCESS IN THE NEW YEAR

Scot Morris O.D., F.A.A.O.
Chief Optometric Editor

ARE YOU pumped to start the new year off on a profitable foot? To do so: first, reflect on what has gone well this year and second, on what you can improve on for next year.

TOP AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT

Hopefully, you will have time to reflect on your business and devote time to building a better one. In that spirit, let me give you a few things to think about. These are typically the top areas that practices and practice owners can improve:

• Better efficiency. Identify and fix workflow bottlenecks.

• Improved revenue. Identify and treat the medical conditions you already see, provide solutions for all your patients’ visual and ocular health needs and update your fees and retail prices.

• Improve your KPIs. Key Performance Indicators, the big ones, include revenue/hour and revenue per encounter. (See p.16 for more.)

• Improve the big three capture rates. These include optical capture rate, anti-glare and annual contact lens supply sales.

• Focus on your retail inventory. This should be both in terms of what you carry and what your costs and retail prices are.

SEVEN RULES FOR ACHIEVEMENT

Here are the quick seven rules of making and meeting your goals for next year:

1. Know where you are. The first step is to take an honest look at where you are right now. If it is measurable, obtain the ratio or figure. This is your starting point. Whatever the number is — it is not good or bad — it is just the starting point.

2. Develop your goals. Be very specific. Make them measurable and achievable. Designate responsible parties to monitor progress. Write the goals, and post them where you can see them every day.

3. Communicate your goals to your staff or others. This makes you accountable, as well as allows all your staff members time for feedback and reflection.

4. Build and communicate an incentive plan based around the goal, if appropriate.

5. Develop and provide skills training and afford any necessary resources to achieve the goals.

6. Develop a step-by-step action plan. Small daily steps are more achievable. Be sure to include manageable due dates and responsible parties for each of these steps.

7. Track your progress. Review, revise and adapt your goals frequently.

. . . ONE LAST RULE

The most important rule for success in 2017 is try to change only one or two major things every three months. The biggest cause for failure to meet one’s goals is trying to do too much at one time. Pick one thing. Do it right. Work on it. Make it perfect. Then move on to the next thing.

Good luck and, on behalf of the staff here at PentaVision, we wish you a great and prosperous new year. OM.