Below are a few of the practical tips taken from the articles that appear in this issue of Optometric Management. For your convenience, each tip includes the article headline and page number.

Use Social Media to Aid Recruitment

“One of our primary strategies for addressing the staffing shortage is to promote our company culture and highlight the wonderful team that we have,” says Nadia A. Virani, OD, vice president of Operations for EVP-KE Eye Centers, in Texas. To get the word out to prospective hires, Dr. Virani says one method the practice utilizes is its social media channels to share pictures and videos from company and community events, such as golf tournaments and marathons. Also interviewed for this article were Brett G. Bence, OD, FAAO, and Patricia M. Fulmer, OD, FAAO. – “Solve Staffing Shortages,” P. 20.

Celebrate New Ownership

New ownership is a fresh opportunity to reinvigorate staff and get them excited about the positive changes to come, says Jessilin Quint, OD, FAAO, co-owner of the practice Smart EyeCare. “When we came in as new owners, we made it a big, fun, and exciting thing,” she recalls. “This made our enthusiasm for being new owners contagious.” Specifically, she and her fellow new owners planned various social activities, such as bowling and movie nights, that encouraged team bonding. Also interviewed for this article were Jenny Drake, OD, and April Jasper, OD, FAAO. – “Onboard Existing Staff for New Ownership,” P. 27.

Put a Plan in Place

 

 

 

When training a new contact lens technician, the first step is putting a plan in place. “I recommend beginning with a well-structured and organized plan for the training process. This should include a list of all the procedures… unique to contact lens practice that will be directly delegated and those with which the optometrist will need assistance. Additionally, this includes establishing a training schedule, and coming up with goals.” – Susan A. Resnick, OD, FAAO, FSLS, “Develop a Contact Lens Technician,” P. 40.

 

Create Proper Protocols

 

 

 

Setting the proper protocols is the first of many steps to making a DED clinic run smoother: “For example, ODs can instruct front-desk staff to listen for buzz words, such as ‘burning,’ from patients making appointments who may require a DED exam, so that front-desk staff can place these patients in a slot deemed for a DED evaluation. Additionally, optometrists can have staff utilize texting and email services to send out a DED questionnaire to the patient before the appointment.” – Cecelia Koetting, OD, “Create a Plan for Efficient DED Care,” P. 44.

 

Make Sure It’s Glaucoma

 

 

 

Sometimes, a healthy dose of caution leads to the best treatment. “Not every retinal nerve fiber layer defect (RNFL) or VF defect is glaucomatous. Fortunately, a thorough, personal medical and ocular health history, combined with a systematic evaluation of the optic nerve, can help differentiate glaucoma from other nonglaucomatous optic neuropathies, such as high myopia, neuroretinal vascular occlusive/ischemic diseases, or neurological conditions, that may also cause RNFL or VF defects.” – Austin Lifferth, OD, FAAO, “The Cautious Clinician,” P. 46.