Start to build a foundation for your unique practice vision

With the December issue of Optometric Management, we offer resources to help inspire you to develop a unique vision for 2020. With so many practice-building opportunities available to improve patient care and/or the business of your practice, where do we start?

BUILD A SOLID FOUNDATION

We begin by presenting tools to help strengthen the foundation of the practice. In “A Year-End Checklist” (p.14), author Tonya M. Reynolds, O.D., identifies the business tasks that should be completed before 2020. Once these tasks are completed, practices can make a list of “what went wrong and right” to help prepare for the coming year.

Any year-end review should include tax strategies. In “Take Advantage of Tax Deductions” (p.18), Haley S. Lawson, M.P.A., provides a list of 11 of the most common deductions, along with related best practices.

Chances are, your vision of 2020 will include diagnostic technology. To help you develop an “effective long-term strategy,” Aaron Lech, O.D., F.A.A.O., presents checklists for evaluating both current and new diagnostic devices in “Get Your Diagnostic Ducks in a Row” (p.16).

THE OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD

If you plan to branch out into a specialized area of eye care, you may find challenges in integrating new services into the practice. Three optometrists discuss the solutions they’ve implemented in “Add a Specialty” (p.25), written by Karen Appold, contributing editor.

Among our columnists, Jason R. Miller, O.D., presents the metrics needed to improve the contact lens portion of a practice (“Contact Lenses,” p.36). Austin Lifferth, O.D., F.A.A.O., explains how to identify gaps in glaucoma testing (“Glaucoma,” p.42). In addition, Dr. Gary Gerber explains how to use an “X, Y and Z” approach to create a profitable 2020 in “Business Strategies” (p.44). And there’s so much more — our “Tips” page (p.52) provides a sampling.

BEFORE WE JUMP INTO 2020

As you deal with the blizzard of year-end obligations, let me take just a moment of your time to relay a message from the OM team: We wish you a joyous, healthy and prosperous holiday season. OM