As the American Optometric Association (AOA) has declared September as Paraoptometric Appreciation Month, optometrists Patricia Fulmer, Katie Davis Tarver, and Jason E. Compton provide suggestions on how to show appreciation to your technicians.

Customize your appreciation
“Make it more personal, show them that we pay attention to them, know them, and they are more than just a number in the office,” Dr. Fulmer, of Legacy Vision Center, in Huntsville, Ala., and OM’s “Staffing” columnist offers. 

As an example, Dr. Fulmer says that some of her staff members are more private, and she might leave a token of appreciation related to their particular hobby or interest on their desk, while others are more comfortable with a public display and, perhaps, having their hard work toward a credential recognized at a lunch.

So that she has this personal information for each staff member, she says everyone fills out a “My favorite things” list, which includes their favorite color, hobby, restaurant, etc. This comes in handy when Dr. Fulmer wants to offer personalized appreciation.

Foster team work
At Dr. Davis Tarver’s office, she says she strives to create a culture of appreciation, with regular activities, such as the office’s Helping Hands program. This program enables any staff member to submit an entry recognizing a time a colleague helped them. Once a month, two-to-three good deeds are read and rewarded with Amazon gift cards, frame rep-resentative gifts, or zoo tickets, as examples, she says.

For September, The Vision Therapy, in West Columbia, SC, will recognize the paraoptometric staff with a lunch, notes Dr. Tarver.

Build up to a final occasion
“Make it lead up to something,” recommends Dr. Compton, of Compton Eye Associates, in New York, NY, who says he typically has 10 paraoptometric staff on board.

Specifically, he suggests lunches with industry partners, potluck meals, and outings, such as at restaurants, and events where families are welcome. OM