The many patient care and practice management benefits of adding medical services have been widely reported in Optometric Management and other publications. At a time when many Americans are quitting their jobs — 4 million in July alone, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics — one benefit that may be worth considering is that such services can help foster staff loyalty.

For example, adding retina care, the theme of this issue’s “Practicing Medical Optometry” (PMO) section, can provide team members with additional opportunities, such as selected patient education or diagnostic testing responsibilities. By recognizing and rewarding staff for these new responsibilities, managers can foster a greater sense of employee engagement. And new analysis from the Gallup organization concludes that engaged employees are healthier, more resilient, better performers and more loyal (see bit.ly/3Ex7H9f ).

RETINA, LOW VISION AND NUTRITION

Drs. Jessica Haynes and Mohammad Rafieetary lead off this month’s PMO section with a discussion of the retina conditions associated with common medications. In “Serving Retina Patients: Have Their Backs,” the authors provide guidance on how to identify these conditions, as well as advice for communicating with the prescribing doctor.

In “Diagnose AMD Early With Protocols,” Dr. Glenn Corbin presents the steps his practice takes to detect AMD early by identifying the most “at- risk” candidates. Included are tips to improve the patient experience with the various testing procedures.

In addition to the PMO section:

• Dr. David Armstrong provides an overview of how his practice evaluates and prescribes for those who have impaired vision in “Change the Life of a Low Vision Patient,” Dr. Armstrong notes that low vision services can be both “rewarding” for the doctor and “life-changing” for patients, allowing them to remain active and independent.
• Through interviews with leading optometrists, contributing editor Lindsey Getz writes that patient interest in nutritional supplementation may be on the rise during the pandemic. Her article, “Ride the Wave of Supplementation,” offers practical tips on patient education and dispensing supplements in the practice. OM