2. An Eye for Efficiency
Tips to Streamline Your Optometry Practice
Introduction......................................................... 1
Chapter 1: Reduced Pain..................................... 2
Bursitis .......................................................... 2
How Common Is Pain in Ophthalmics? ....... 3
Automate the Pain Away.............................. 3
Chapter 2: Integration......................................... 5
Chapter 3: Monetary Value................................. 7
Chapter 4: Efficiency ........................................... 8
Keeping Your Standards............................... 8
Training Your Sights..................................... 8
Monthly Reports............................................ 9
A System of Rewards .................................. 10
Conclusion ......................................................... 11
Sources............................................................... 12
3. 1
Introduction
In the modern world of medicine, making
sure that you are properly equipped to meet
your patients’ needs not only ensures their
safety, but also improves the internal
operations of your practice. One of the best
things you can do as an ophthalmic
professional is to switch to a fully automated,
digital refraction system, which can seem
daunting, but the switch will benefit your
business and ultimately help you come out
on top.
Let’s take a look at how your ophthalmic
practice can benefit from making the switch
to digital, along with some steps to increase
your practice’s overall efficiency.
4. 2
Chapter 1
Reduced Pain
Being an ophthalmic professional can be
surprisingly painful. The nature of the
profession can often lead to repetitive motion
disorders, a family of conditions that won’t
present visible injury but can cause pain,
swelling, and tingling as well as a loss of
strength and flexibility.
Bursitis
Bursitis is the most common repetitive
motion disorder affecting ophthalmic
professionals. The disorder affects the fluid-
filled pads (bursae) placed between your
bones and joints, causing the cushions to
become inflamed.
Bursitis is characterized by stiff, aching
joints and swelling and redness. Without
treatment, bursitis can lead to a fever and
5. 3
intense, debilitating pain that only gets
worse with movement.
How Common Is Pain in Ophthalmics?
A survey conducted by the University of
South Wales’ School of Optometry and Vision
Science found that work-related physical
discomfort among ophthalmic professionals
is more common than you think. The survey
asked participants if they had experienced
any discomfort in eight different body
regions, the severity of the discomfort, and
possible work factors contributing to the
pain.
The survey found that 82% of the
participants experience regular work-related
discomfort, usually from repetitive tasks and
high numbers of consultations. A majority of
the participants experienced pain in the
back, neck, and shoulders.
Automate the Pain Away
As an ophthalmic professional, one of your
most common procedures is refraction.
Depending on your practice, you may spend
20% to 90% of your day performing
6. 4
refractions, but the procedure involves
awkward postures and movements. After
repeating these motions hundreds of times a
day, it’s easy to see how an ophthalmic
professional might develop bursitis or other
repetitive motion disorders.
Automated refraction systems reduce the
constant awkward positioning, preventing
bursitis and ensuring that you stay
comfortable and healthy.
7. 5
Chapter 2
Integration
Improving efficiency in any practice requires
equipping yourself with the best tools for the
job. Constant advances in ophthalmic
technology have allowed for leaps and
bounds in accuracy, efficiency, and improved
patient care. Modern medical technology has
placed a growing emphasis on fully
integrated, digital, automated machines.
Many ophthalmic professionals rely on
manual diagnostic testing and observation,
but automated equipment has been shown to
improve care and save you money and time
in the process. For example, standard
refraction systems aren’t integrated,
requiring manual input of data from
separate testing machines. An integrated
system automatically collects all pretest data
into your main console.
8. 6
Auto refraction systems are also a big
timesaver. They are so streamlined that
technicians or assistants can take care of eye
exams, allowing
doctors to spend
time reviewing
results and taking
care of more
significant issues.
Furthermore, all
doctors must switch
over to electronic
medical records by
2015. Automated systems send results
directly to your EHR, simplifying the process
and ensuring that you don’t suffer the
penalties for not switching to digital medical
records.
Veatch Digital Refraction System
9. 7
Chapter 3
Monetary Value
Although the upfront cost of an automated
refraction system can seem intimidating, it
will net greater profits for your practice in
the long run. Automated tools have been
shown to increase average revenue up to
$400 a day while also allowing doctors to see
up to 4 to 5 more patients a day.
Investing in an automated system also
allows you to spend more time with your
patients. The extra time gives you the
opportunity to increase patient satisfaction
and the growth of your practice while also
providing better patient education,
counseling, and overall quality of care, all of
which goes into saved costs.
Using a Veatch ROI calculator, you can see
the improved cost-effectiveness of investing
in an automated exam process.
10. 8
Chapter 4
Efficiency
Keeping Your Standards
Automated or manual, standardizing your
ophthalmic equipment is a good way to
maintain efficiency while saving money by
creating a shared foundation of information
among the doctors in your practice.
A digital refraction system allows you to
directly import a patient’s exam results into
your EHR software, standardizing the data
collection process and eliminating human
transposition errors. Furthermore, the
historical data is readily available, allowing
for easy comparisons between old and new
prescriptions.
Training Your Sights
Consider cross-training for your practice as a
whole. Your clinic’s culture and size will
determine which positions would best
11. 9
complement cross-training, but the
receptionist, accounts payable, insurance
clerks, and optical staff could all benefit from
learning new skills. All members of your
staff, including supervisors and managers,
should be trained and encouraged to answer
the phones, especially during peak times.
Monthly Reports
Along with training,
show your staff
monthly reports and
charts displaying your
budget, accounts
receivables, and how
additions, like a digital
refraction system,
have increased efficiency. This keeps your
team informed and can create new ideas that
can be integrated into your existing system.
Provide examples of simulated accounts
receivables along with samples of potential
problems that may spring up. Start a
discussion and brainstorm ideas that could
improve projects and processes.
12. 10
A System of Rewards
Outside of the monthly reports, your staff
has plenty of ideas for improvement. Develop
a system that encourages team members to
provide suggestions and offer rewards for
suggestions that are approved. Rewards can
include time off or cash, but a sincere
compliment or thank-you card can go a long
way. Consult your staff to determine what
rewards they would specifically like to see.
13. 11
Conclusion
Developing an efficient system for your
ophthalmic practice ultimately works in your
favor and allows you to focus your time and
resources on the most important part of your
practice: your patients.
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To find equipment and solutions to build
your ophthalmic practice’s efficiency, visit
Veatch Ophthalmic Instruments at
www.veatchinstruments.com or call 1-800-
447-7511.
