COMPILED HERE are selected tips from this Optometric Management issue. Let us know what you think of this feature, via email, or our social media platforms, Facebook and Twitter!

• INCREASE PATIENT SCHEDULING

To make managed care profitable, increase patient scheduling. Use advanced technologies, such as a refractive workstation connected to the practice’s EHR and PM platforms to reduce chair time, allow you to diagnose and to refract quicker and ensure an accurate diagnosis. (Orchestrate Managed Vision Care, p.14)  bit.ly/2sVfgSo

• MIPS IN 2017

For the 2017 Merit-based Incentive Payment System, you can: not participate, submit minimum data or submit a partial year. The latter two options may keep you from a negative payment adjustment.
(MIPS, p.18) bit.ly/2sV65Sd

• IDENTIFY CAUSES FOR VITREOUS COMPLICATIONS

For those who have vitreous hemorrhages or vitritis (vitreous cavity inflammation), a systemic work-up may be necessary, as diabetes, sickle cell disease or inflammatory disease, such as sarcoidosis or infectious disease, such as ocular toxoplasmosis retinitis, may be an underlying cause.
(Retina, p.28) bit.ly/2r9CEOO

• MANUFACTURERS IDENTIFY STRATEGIC LAUNCH LOCATIONS

Following the launch of a new contact lens, most companies are not ready to mass produce the contact lens to all markets, for example, the United States and Europe. As a result, they develop the manufacturing process, decide where is the best opportunity for success when launching and invest in multiple production lines.
(Contact Lens, p.33) bit.ly/2sVgf52

• OFFER AESTHETIC SERVICES

You can use dry eye disease as a portal to offering aesthetic services, such as intense pulse light and periorbital radio frequency, both of which were originally used solely for aesthetic purposes, but were shown as effective dry eye disease treatments.
(Dry Eye, p.32) bit.ly/2r9y3My

• IDENTIFY POINT PERSON

Often ophthalmology practices have a contact person within staff who assists in coordination of patient care. Either the doctor and/or the office staff can provide the optometrist with phone numbers to doctors’ lines and emergency contact procedures for the office(s).
(Interdisciplinary Care, p.35) bit.ly/2sV3eIN

• USE VISUAL AIDS

To present the need for myopia control to patients, relate nearsightedness to stretching, using a rubber band as a visual aid and stretching it as far as it will go. There’s no mincing of words when you only have moments to affect a paradigm shift in a parent’s mind.
(O.D. Scene, p.39) bit.ly/2sV8xYR

• EXPLAIN THE “WHY” TO STAFF

Explain to staff that the goal of improving patient flow “is not to shortchange the patient, rather to provide a better overall patient experience and a less stressful work environment.”
(CEO Checklist., p.52) bit.ly/2r9olKo

• EXAMS UP, BUT REVENUE PER EXAM DOWN?

Practices may find that when the number of exams increases in a given period, the revenue per exam falls. Why? One root cause is a failure, “to adjust the team’s schedule for additional patients.”
(Ask Jay, p.54) bit.ly/2r9ANtk

• CREATE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL BONUS AGREEMENTS

A bonus agreement sets goals to achieve and is structured so that the business will have grown enough revenue to more than cover the cost of giving out additional compensation.
(Personnel, p.57) bit.ly/2rTU13x

• NEGOTIATE YOUR RENT

Rent varies with each corporate setting and brand. But, rent is negotiable! Don’t miss an opportunity to change this fixed cost to increase net profit.
(Corporate O.D., p.58) OM bit.ly/2sUUDGb