MBA Intelligence

March 22, 2012

Bi-weekly information and advice to manage optometric practices
from the Management & Business Academy™ (MBA)

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Ask Neil

Dr. Neil Gailmard

A doctor asks...

"What are the clues that signal it's time to add staff?"

There are some metrics that can serve as rules of thumb, which I will share, but I think the best way is to observe practice operations over about two weeks. This observation is performed with a good understanding of the market strategy of the practice. A high fee, advanced service practice will function differently than a low-priced optical store.

There are always periods of time when a practice is extremely busy and times when the pace is slower. I'm looking for a balance between those two extremes.

READ MORE »

Dr. Neil Gailmard, who is widely known for his practice management advice, is a member of the MBA faculty.

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2012 Key Metrics: Hot off the Presses


The 2012 edition of Key Metrics: Assessing Optometric Practice Performance is out in print form—and soon will be posted on MBA-ce.com, as well.

Key Metrics is an extensive compendium of essential metrics for managing and growing your optometric practices. The new 2012 edition contains newly updated data, as well as an expanded section on management best practices by leading optometrists.

 

 

"New Staff: Getting Off to a Great Start"

Mike Rothschild, OD

Mike Rothschild, OD, of West Georgia Eye Care, believes that for new staff members to perform well in a practice, they must get off to a great start. A new hire spends several days on orientation, learning and absorbing the practice culture. In the training that follows, new hires are not taught to perform isolated tasks. Rather, they learn to view their role in a "continuum of care" that is provided in an eye exam. Dr. Rothschild lectures on staff orientation and training at "Building a World-Class Staff," a new MBA seminar that premiered in 2011.

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How Does Your Practice Compare?

How Does Your Practice Compare?

Pachymeters and Retinal Cameras Are the Most Widely Used Advanced Diagnostic Instruments

Among established optometric practices, 78 percent use a corneal pachymeter, and 71 percent use a retinal camera. The penetration of diagnostic instruments is much lower in new optometric practices than among established practices.

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New MBA Management Surveys

Two new MBA management surveys have been conducted this year. Results for the first survey are found on the MBA site, and results for the second will be posted soon.

The MBA Contact Lens Management Survey reflects the practices of independent ODs in product usage, sales of annual supplies, soft lens inventory and other management processes.

A parallel MBA Survey on Prescription Eyewear is underway, and results are being compiled now and will be posted soon. Results will assess the prescription eyewear dispensing habits, mark–ups, and eyewear marketing tactics used by independent ODs.

Findings from a dozen MBA surveys conducted since 2008 are found on the MBA site. Click here.

MBA Updates


Carole Burns, OD


The first MBA seminar of the year will be held Sunday, March 25, at Vision Expo East. See below for a full list of MBA seminar dates and locations in 2012.

2012 MBA Seminars:


North Carolina Optometric Assoc., Myrtle Beach, June 7

American Optometric Assoc.
First Practice Academy
Chicago, June 28–30

Texas Optometric Assoc.,
San Antonio, July 28

Vision Expo West, Las Vegas, September 8

GWCO Congress, Portland, September 30

California Optometric Assoc., Monterey, November 8

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About the MBA

The Management & Business Academy™ (MBA) is a professional education program, sponsored by Alcon and Essilor, dedicated to assisting independent optometrists to improve business management processes. The MBA conducts live seminars, conducts on-going research to establish national optometric practice performance metrics, publishes MBA Insights (a quarterly practice management journal) and maintains www.mba-ce.com (a premier practice website with business-building resources).

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Copyright © 2012 Management & Business Academy™ (MBA). All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.