Power Hour Optometry

Guest Stephen Hamilton from Walman Instruments in a previously recorded episode gets you up to speed on: • New vs. used • Extended warranties: good or bad idea? • Workflow considerations • ADA compliance • Effect of recent company mergers • Best time to buy

Asking staff answer the phone with a script is a mistake. No matter how skilled, they will sound like they're reading from a document instead of delivering personal information. Instead, staff who take phone calls should know the practice intimately enough to respond to any calls. Find out how to train your staff to answer the phone like a human, not a robot.

It might seem elementary, but being able to communicate effectively to your patients may be the most important factor in building a practice. Communication skills can have a major influence on the success of a practice.

What 3-minute free technique can increase eyeglass sales by 32% and contact lens patients by 20%? A contact lens trial! Find out how and why this works on this week's show.

You bought a practice. Now what? Tune into this week's Power Hour to find out what changes to make (and not make) and how to transition doctors.

Considering buying a practice? Tune in to this week's Power Hour to know how to avoid buying the wrong practice. Do you know what in the negotiations process should immediately raise a red flag? Get the insight you need to avoid making a mistake.

If you have considered implementing discounts or incentives for your patients, think twice. They usually aren't successful due to the impact they have on the bottom line and the question of whether a professional service benefits from such incentives in the first place.

Looking to attract a different kind of patient? Wanting to expand into boutique-or budget-services? Or even need to change patients' perception of your practice? Listen to this week's show to learn 8 ways to change your patient base.

Having a hard time saying no to employees? Should you maintain a proper distance or be 'one of the guys?' Effective management skills often impacts on the bottom line. Find out how to be a better boss on this episode of the Power Hour.

If a staffer is out, do other staffers pitch in? Or do they say, "That's not my job?" Every person in the office needs to do whatever it takes to keep all the balls in the air--and that means understanding the job BEFORE they have to do it. This week, learn 5 reasons to cross-train your staff.

Do you ever think about the person accompanying your patient to the office? Make a good impression, and you might get a new patient! Patient escort are spending time in your reception area. You should be working to wow them just like you wow your patients. This week, learn 9 ways to make your patient's escort happy.

If you're planning advertising for the year, be sure you answer these 8 questions first. As with most things in life, much lies in the details and the preparation. Advertising is no different. Tune in to this episode of the Power Hour to find out more.

Why did your practice miss the mark in 2018? This week, look back on what didn't work and why, then figure out how to fix it for 2019. Remember, hope is not a strategy. As consultants, we've seen many goals that haven't been reached. Gary discusses the top 5 reasons goals aren't attained, so when you plan for 2019, you may a better shot at attaining your new goals. Tune in to this episode of the Power Hour to learn from 2018's failed goals.

On the last Power Hour of the year, Dr. Art Epstein weighs in on the challenging future of optometry.

With the end of the year approaching, many of doctors buy that opto-toy they've always wanted. Unfortunately, this time next year - many of them regret their purchase. Learn ways to avoid buyers remorse as well as a unique way to nearly ensure new equipment is right for your practice and will be profitable.

Ever consider holding a staff meeting off-site? There are good reasons why should. Learn why and tips for executing a good meeting on this week's Power Hour.

Posed with common problems, like patients wait too long to see the doctor or patients complain about our fees, we usually come up with common solutions. If we still have the same problems year after year, then those solutions didn't work! How can you and your staff devise genuinely novel solutions to chronic management problems? Listen to the next episode of the Power Hour to learn how to use this special two word thought starter approach.

It's that time of year again! Do you have a plan for employee bonuses? Do you give them? Should you give them? What about Christmas/holiday gifts? And let's throw sales spiffs in the mix, too.

What to do NOW to make sure you close out a strong year

Interested in integrating scleral contact lenses into your practice? Find out how to jump start your scleral lens fitting on this episode.

What happens when two ODs marry? And what if they work together? Or what about an OD and an office manager or optician? Being part of a double OD couple presents its own set of opportunities and challenges. Find out how to navigate them on this week's Power Hour.

If you're thinking about opening your own practice, this next episode is one you don't want to miss. Pulled from the files of clients who have successfully opened cold and those who were rescued after a less successful opening, learn the hits, misses wins, losses, mistakes, and regrets-and steps to avoid them. The errors seemed insignificant and inconsequential at the time but gave them years of heartache afterward.

Howard Purcell, OD, FAAO, president and CEO of New England College of Optometry, joins the show to talk optometric education. Are there too many schools? Is student debt too high? Is today's education still relevant to reality?

Ever consider corporate optometry? Dr. Maria Sampalis, founder of Corporate Optometry Facebook group and website , joins the show this week to provide an insider's view.

If you had to do it all over again...would you choose optometry? While you can't turn the clock back, you do have control over your practice's destiny. Tune in to this week's show to find out how to redo those things you'd do over.

The cash-paying model in optometry is alive and well. Is it in your office? Andy Corley joins the show to explain why. Andy is a 40-year veteran of the eye care industry from a start at Allergan to a move to AMO, then co-founding Chiron Vision and eyeonics. He is currently chairman of the board of RX Sight, Equinox, and eyeBrain Medical.

Looking for an associate or partner for your practice? On this episode, Gary offers tips on how to hire an associate and what to look for in a potential partner.

This week, Gary offers up the 5 best hiring and firing tips. Be sure you are bringing on and moving on staff in ways that help your practice.

Want to learn how to trim costs? Listen to this episode of the Power Hour.

It's that time of year again...back to school. If you haven't already ramped up your marketing, this week's show will offer tips on making eye exams part of the back-to-school routine. Don't forget contact lenses, sports goggles, and more! Kick-start the back-to-school season with the Power Hour!

Although ODs have different practices, their concerns are similar. This week, find out the top 5 questions ODs have for practice management consultants.

Considering buying a practice? Do you know where the pitfalls lie? Caveat emptor or buyer beware. Learn what to watch for when buying a new practice. Find out now what you need to know before making an offer.

Do you know what 4 things every practice owner must do to sell a practice? All practice owners need this information...regardless of when you plan to sell. Find out now what you need to know to sell your practice.

Want new ways to market your practice? Of course you do! Tune into the show this week to source ideas from optometry's out-of-the-box marketer Warren Modlin who hails from legacy CIBAVision and Oakley.

Want to look into optometry's future? Bart Foster, managing director at Sanitas Advisors, outlines what is inevitable in eyecare in the next five years.

Ever wonder if Staffer A might be better at Job B? You might be right. This week, Dr. Laurie Sorrenson gives the scoop on profiling staff personalities and putting them in the best roles.

Travis Rush, founder and CEO of Sightbox , talks about entrepreneurship, online contact lens retailing, and how things have changed (or not) now that Sightbox is part of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care.

We're close to the midway point of the year. It's a great time to refresh your thinking. Gary outlines his favorite business books for your practice on this episode of the Power Hour.

How do long patient wait times affect your practice? Find out how...and what you can do about it...on this week's Power Hour.

Building on the previous show about staff meetings, this week Gary motivates you to figure out what motivates your staff--and what doesn't.

Your staff feeling blah? Your staff meetings not generating excitement? This week, Gary helps you learn strategies to energize your staff meetings and engage your staff.

Learn all about trunk shows! Find out why "trunk show" is a bad name, and discover how to have a great one in your own office.

Step right up this week for an update on myopia from Dr. Thomas Aller.

It's April...time to close the books on Q1. Look back at your Q1 data to better forecast 2018 and plan your year. Tune in to Power Hour this week to hear Gary's suggestions for a Q2 reboot.

Contact lenses, the FTC, and optometry...what do you need to know? The deadline to weigh in is fast approaching. Get the scoop so you can make your voice heard. Find out more on this week's episode of the Power Hour.

Vision Expo was last week. As always, it was a great meeting with lots of classes & a lot going on. This week on Power Hour, we'll discuss some great things we learned at the meeting. Call in with what you brought home! Let's talk about it on this episode of the Power Hour.

Filmmaker Jane Weiner has turned to myopia for inspiration. She talks with Gary this week about her latest film. Losing Sight, her documentary on myopia, looks at how technology advances are put into practice. The story explores visual development throughout life and what factors trigger myopia. Losing Sight is planned for a theatrical and TV release. Watch the trailer here: https://vimeo.com/jpweiner/myopia7mnsample.

Vision by Design, THE country's premier myopia meeting of the year is coming up fast. Joining the show from VBD will be Drs. Cary Herzberg and Tom Weshefsky to talk about what's new at this years' meeting and why you should attend!

Join Jeffry Gerson, OD, FAAO on this week's show as he gets us up to the second on what's new in ARMD diagnosis, management and treatment. Also joining the show will be Greg Jackson, PhD from Maculogix to discuss research around the link of dark adaptation and ARMD. www.maculogix.com/powerhour

It's Valentine's Day! Let's talk about what you love...to hate about optometry! Gary discusses the top 5 things you love to hate about the profession and how to turn your thinking around to opportunity. Find out more on this episode of the Power Hour.