Independent Insights

Michelle Glaze is the director of professional outreach for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. She joined the Foundation in February 2019 after 15 years in medical sales. Her passion for the Foundation’s mission is very personal due to her vision loss from retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive retinal disease. Michelle also serves on the board for the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services. As director of professional outreach at the Foundation, Michelle educates eye care professionals across the United States about resources available to patients with a retinal degenerative disease. To learn more about Foundation Fighting Blindness please visit: Foundation Fighting Blindness Website (https://www.fightingblindness.org/) For Eye Care Professionals Webpage (https://www.fightingblindness.org/for-eye-care-professionals) Newly Diagnosed Webpage (https://www.fightingblindness.org/newly-diagnosed) Michelle Glaze, Director of Professional Outreach: [email protected]

Pete Hanlin joins the podcast to discuss Varilux XR series, the latest progressive lens innovation from Essilor, and how the breakthrough technology will benefit presbyopic patients. Pete is Vice President of Professional Services at EssilorLuxottica and an ABO Master Optician, with over 30 years of industry experience. To sign up for a free ABO course and learn more about Varilux XR series, visit Leonardo, EssilorLuxotttica's online learning platform: https://leonardo.essilorluxottica.com/?courseDetail=lp6649&cid=LE-REO_230600-ABO_VSpodcast Vision Source members can access the course through VS Learning Powered by Leonardo Pete Hanlin began his career in the ophthalmic industry in 1989. He managed several optometric practices and ophthalmic laboratories until his employment by Essilor of America in 2002- where he is currently Vice President of Professional Services and Ophthalmic Operations. Pete serves as an industry representative on the ANSI Z80 standards committee and has been a CE speaker for over 20 years. A graduate of Lee University, Pete is designated as a Master Optician by the American Board of Opticianry. He resides in Hickory Creek, Texas, with his wife Debbie and grandson Ayden.

Audits are frustrating, Joe discusses why third-party payers audit, why it is important that you know the "rules" of medical billing and coding, and shares some great resources and strategies. Joe brings a diverse background that includes a prior highly successful private practice, managing one of the nation’s largest referral centers, and most recently as a full time educator and Clinical Director of the University of Houston Eye Institute Dallas. He is a noted national authority and lecturer on many aspects of practice including medical billing and coding, documentation of medical records, HIPAA compliance, and management of ocular disease. He has served in numerous capacities with his state association where he was recognized as on of the few recipients of the Distinguished Service Award. Joe also continues to serve as an advisor to Medicare. For more info: Practice Compliance Solutions EyeCode Education

Transforming Chaos to Culture is a necessary skill to be lead happier and more productive lives both personally and professionally. Olga and Kelly join to discuss key strategies they use with their teams to control what can be controlled. For additional info please reach out to them directly: Olga Andrade: Vision Source Facilitator, Thriver & Self-Care Enthusiast Reedley Optometric Eyecare Center [email protected] Kelly Poyner: Inspirationalist, Speaker, Trainer & Coach The Transformational Team – Kehoe Eye Care [email protected] Being independent doesn't mean you have to be alone on an island. Enjoy the benefits of being part of Vision Source, a network of like-minded independent private practice owners who are committed to seeing private practice win and supporting each others success. To learn more visit: VisionSourceInfo.com

Kristin Warren recently led a book club on one of our favorite books: QBQ! The Question Behind the Question and discusses the learnings and take aways from the book and how those apply to independent private practice. We discuss the need for change to start with us, the importance of leaders to present themselves modeling how they expect their teams to act, and how to "beat the ref." Click here to check out the QBQ resources!

Welcome to the show my friend and fellow podcaster, Dr. Chris Wolfe. We talked about current legislative issues that are going on in the profession, ophthalmology vs optometry, and the future of the profession. This podcast was also shared on his optometry podcast, The Chris Wolfe Podcast.

Dr. Mark Roark is the founder of Allisonville Eye Care Center in Fishers, Indiana and has a special interest in ocular nutrition. He has a special interest in ocular nutrition and has lectured frequently to other Eye Care Professionals, both nationally and internationally, on the important role of macular nutrition in reducing the risk of ocular disease and enhancing visual performance, especially contrast sensitivity. Dr. Roark was honored to speak at the 2018 Brain and Ocular Nutrition Conference at Cambridge University and recently co-authored a peer-reviewed article published in a special edition of the Molecular Nutrition and Food Research journal on “Nutrition for the Eye and Brain”. We discuss the WHY behind adding contrast sensitivity testing to your practice and how it is helpful in diagnising and managing a wide range of conditions that affect vision. Check out the links below to references addressed during the conversation. Dr. Roark can be reached at [email protected] Resrouces 1) Complete This Form to receive the laminated 2-sided Contrast Sensitivity Guide from MacuHealth 2) Visual Performance in the “Real World”: Contrast Sensitivity, Visual Acuity, and Effects of Macular Carotenoids 3) Optimizing Real-World Visual Performance Why Contrast Sensitivity Testing & Nutritional Counseling are Essential in Primary Eye Care

Dr Bobby "Chip" Wood shares his experience with the RETeval handheld ERG/VEP and how it aids in the diagnosis and management of retina and optic nerve diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and inherited retinal dystrophies. The RETeval added so much value he bought one for both of his private practice locations! You can connect with Dr Wood via email: [email protected] To learn more about the RETeval CLICK HERE Don’t miss out on the Vision Source Exchange ’23, register now! Not a Vision Source member but interested in attending the Exchange or learning more? Click Here

Dr Nate shares how he turned a small "botique" optometry private pracitce in Tampa, FL into two large optometry practices that are not only kid friendly but one location caters exclusively to kids. We discuss adding pediatrics to a primary care optometric practice, creating trust with kids and thier parents, and how it is a whole team approach. Don’t miss out on the Vision Source Exchange ’23, register now! Not a Vision Source member but interested in attending the Exchange or learning more? Click Here

D.r Talin Amadian joins me to talk about why she makes time every year to attend the Vision Source Exchange meeting, the importance of a colleague network, and how investing the time out of practice to attend has a large ROI. You can connect with Talin on her practice's instagram page: Woodley Optometry. Don’t miss out on the Vision Source Exchange ’23, register now! Not a Vision Source member but interested in attending the Exchange or learning more? Click Here

Welcome to the show, Dr. Jeff Klein out of Norfolk, NE. Today we talked about the benefits of NeuroLens, how he implemented it, and the difference it has made amongst his patients. Don’t miss out on the Vision Source Exchange ’23, register now! Not a Vision Source member but interested in attending the Exchange or learning more? Click Here

Clinical studies and research papers can be intimidating to read. However, as providers and consumers of healthcare the ability to understand evidence based medicine is important. Dr Kyle Klute walks us through his 4 step process to reading and understanding research. We reference the paper “A 3-year Randomized Clinical Trial of MiSight Lenses for Myopia Control” in the discussion. Don’t miss out on the Vision Source Exchange ’23, register now! Not a Vision Source member but interested in attending the Exchange or learning more? Click Here

Dr Alex Elson and I had a casual conversation about our contact lens strategies and what we've done and want to do to make them even better. We had not planned on having this discussion but thought it was too good not to share. Vision Source is offering NCLE prep for staff at the Exchange. Vision Source members can register at Vstheexchange.com. If you are interested in attending and learning more about Vision Source Click Here.

Shelley Smith shared how the practices she manages increased optical capture rate 12% in this Review of Optometric Business article. Check out the article here. We discuss the points she addressed in the article. Don’t miss out on the Vision Source Exchange ’23, register now at Vstheexchange.com Not a Vision Source member but interested in attending the Exchange or learning more? Click here to learn more.

Dr. Alex Elson joins us to talk about how he successfully onboards associate doctors in his practices. Don’t miss out on the Vision Source Exchange ’23, register now!

What's the magic number of follow up touch points when recommending myopia management treatment to your pediatric patients? Dr. Thanh Mai discusses his experience and introduces his "Rule of 5." Join the discussion with like minded colleagues at the Vision Source Exchange April 19-22, 2023 in San Antonio, TX. Registration is open for Vision Source members at vstheexchange.com. Not a member of Vision Source but interested in attending? Visit THIS LINK to get more info.

Dr Tessa Sokol opened her private practice in 2022 after having a Lenscrafters lease for many years. We discuss the importance of innovation in private practice, what it means to be innovative, and how to be innovative. Tessa recently had the opportunity to talk with entrepreneurial expert Robert Herjavec from Shark Tank about innovation. You can see that interview here: https://brand-studio.fortune.com/alcon/innovative-technology-is-critical-to-top-notch-care/?prx_t=5tcHAAAAAAeyERA&fbclid=IwAR0mkcXZoK1DV-pAv6OdDbNRRgE48QW7uDAQLcdA43RSqSaMAA960FYipcY

Communication is a challenge in any organization and Don Rooker discusses how he utilizes technology like Slack to keep all 25+ employees on the same page during the workday.

Knowing your business identity helps your vendor partners to better serve your private practice. Spencer Jones discusses his perspective from the sales rep side of the partnership and shares best practices from his experience working private practices. Spencer is currently Sales Director for EssilorLuxottica.

Denys shares how she implements her unique "Taking care of your baby" philosophy in her role of practice manager in a multi private practice in New Hartford, NY. Denys Meade, CMMP, CPOM, received her certification as a Certified Medical Manager Practitioner at Georgetown Wesleyan University in Palm Harbor, FL. She also received the certification of Certified Practice Office Manger from the Professional Association of Healthcare Specialists