In this issue:

• Welcome to the Vision Source^® Gazette
• Breaking News
• Words from our Sponsors
• Member Services Update
• Around Vision Source

Contact Vision Source at 888-558-2020 or [email protected]

Welcome to the Vision Source^® Gazette

Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Vision Source^® Gazette, your one comprehensive source for information from Vision Source home office. Based on member requests for streamlined communications, The Gazette will take the place of the Network Support Update and individual emails from Vision Source vendors, consolidating the news into one eblast. Look for each issue to contain breaking news, departmental news, announcements for special offers and programs from vendor partners and updates from the Member Services team.

Because of the sensitive and proprietary nature of some of these announcements, you will need to follow the link to the password-protected section of the Vision Source website for full details.

  Breaking News

  Vision Source Member
  Reception at
  Optometry's Meeting

Vision Source and Optos will be hosting a reception for members and guests at Optometry's Meeting in San Diego on Friday, June 28, from 7–9 p.m. The reception will be held at the House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Avenue at Broadway. After the reception, guests can remain for the Incoming President's Celebration, honoring incoming AOA President Mitch Munson, OD, also sponsored by Vision Source and Optos. Bad Habits, "The Eye Docs of Rock," will perform along with a special surprise guest. For more information, click here.

  Jim Greenwood on Vision Source Radio

Earlier this week, Vision Source president and COO Jim Greenwood (pictured at left) was a guest on Dr. Walt West's Practice Management show on Vision Source Radio. Greenwood shared the efforts that he and Bobby Christensen, OD, Vision Source senior vice president, clinical strategies, have been making to help managers of managed health care organizations understand the value and strength of using Vision Source doctors to deliver quality, affordable eye care to their organizations. Greenwood also shared some results from the recent survey on managed care that Vision Source sent to its members. If you missed it, click here.

  The New Alphabet Soup

ACA is the Affordable Care Act. ACOs are Accountable Care Organizations. A PCMH is a Patient-Centered Medical Home. And MA plans are Medicare Advantage. What? Vision Source leadership recognizes that the health care landscape is changing rapidly. So Vision Source has prepared this Q&A on the emerging trends and what those might mean to your practice. Click here to gain a better understanding of the risk-sharing entities being created, what they need from vision care providers and how Vision Source can meet those needs—and drive patients into your practices.

  Words from our Sponsors

In this section, you will find the latest offers and promotions from Vision Source vendors.

  Splash into Savings

Westgroupe has introduced a Profit Plus Program, where Vision Source practices can save 35 percent off the list price on Fysh UK, KLiik Denmark, Evatik and Evatik Sunwear. Learn how to increase your profits by clicking here or on the image at right.

  Fysh UK Tales

Fysh UK introduces several new models for summer: the F-3496, a vintage-inspired, full-rim ladies zyl model highlighted with a lace pattern; available in nude, black, frosted purple and frosted grey.

F-3489 is a feminine, stainless steel model with a flattering modified rectangular eyeshape with high gloss, iridescent colors. Whimsical and airy, the model is available black peacock, purple seafoam, burgundy periwinkle and brown berry. F-3489 is available in 54-18-135.

For more information, contact 1-855-455-0042 or visit fyshuk.com. Practices in Western states can call 866-604-5700 or click classique-eyewear.com.

Fysh style F-3496	Fysh style F-3489 number

  Plus Powers for CooperVision Toric Lenses

The relaunch of Vision Source-exclusive AquaClear100 Toric, as well as the Avaira Toric, contact lenses now includes plus powers in inventory and ready for ordering. Fitting sets will be available later this year, when the -2.25 cylinder is available. However, these expanded plus powers can be ordered for trial and patient prescriptions effective immediately.

The current available parameters for AquaClear100 Toric lenses are now:

• Sphere Powers: +6.00* to -10.00D (0.50D steps after +/-6.00)
• New plus powers range for +0.25 to +6.00 in 0.25D steps
• Cylinders: -0.75, -1.25, -1.75
• Axis: 10° to 180° in 10° steps

Visit visionsource.com or click the AquaClear Toric box above for more information.

  Take Five from Viva

Viva is offering five specials for June. Whether you're new to the brands in the Viva portfolio or whether you're increasing your sales, there are five opportunities to earn points and merchandise credit with these month-long offers. Click the image or visit visionsource.com for more details.

  Get Started with Smith Optical

Smith Optical is offering new accounts within Vision Source very special savings on your initial order placed between now and Sept. 1. The company is offering a significant reduction on both Smith sunglasses and Smith ophthalmic frames. Read more here.

  Become an Exclusive Provider with Bio-Tissue

Vision Source doctors are the exclusive optometry providers of Cliradex Lid and Lash Cleanser from Bio-Tissue. The Cliradex formulation is all-natural and preservative-free, and the convenient towelettes clean the eyelids, lashes and face to help manage the symptoms and improve overall eye health for patients with conditions such as blepharitis, demodex, ocular rosacea, dry eye, conjunctivitis and meibomian gland dysfunction.

As a Vision Source doctor, your practice is automatically listed on the Bio-Tissue website. To join your colleagues as a provider, visit visionsource.com for more information.

  Member Services Update

  Kudos to Member Services Staff

Dr. Bobby Christensen received this email from a Vision Source practice staff member. She wrote, "I've always thought it unfortunate that people tend to only comment on service when it's poor. I thought I'd take a moment to let you know that I've had reason to call the corporate offices several times in the last couple of months. Each time I've been very impressed with the service I receive from the operators. They are warm, friendly, helpful, efficient and seem very well acquainted with whom to direct me to answer my questions. Yes, I know that's their job, but there is something about them that is markedly different from most businesses I call. This is no accident I'm sure."

  Share Your Successes

While the Member Services team works to provide excellent customer service to Vision Source member doctors and practice staff, we know you're doing the same with your patients. We encourage you to share your success stories—with patient service or with incorporating the Vision Source Gold Standard Book—by emailing [email protected].

  Around Vision Source

  Vision Source Education

Video Whets the Appetite for Education
In a 15-minute video presentation, Walt West, OD, Vision Source vice president, practice development, explains the two new practice growth programs: the Vision Source Experience and the Great Metrics Challenge. The latter shifts the focus from practice metrics being indicators of historical performance to using these metrics to "forecast, budget and manage the practice for greater profitability." Five more Great Metrics Challenge sessions will be offered this year, each limited to doctors, office managers and key staff from 20 offices. Watch the video to hear Dr. West outline the fundamentals of open-book management and hear from doctors and key staff members at Vision Source practices who are using the program and have noticed an almost immediate impact. Click here for more information.

Vision Source Experience—More Valuable than Ever
The coming changes in managed care have made this year's Vision Source Experience more important—and valuable—than ever before. Click here to watch a video message from Dr. Walt West on why you and your staff should attend. Then go to vse4you.com to find a Vision Source Experience near you and register to attend.

  Marketing Help, Anyone?

In February, each office received the Vision Source Marketing Tool Kit, a very important package with valuable tools to help you market your practice and services offered to new and existing patients. The kit covers five categories: advertising, branding, marketing, public relations and social media. From recall postcards to television advertisements, the Vision Source Marketing Tool Kit is a tremendous resource created by the Vision Source home office to provide members with the key to implementing an integrated marketing program. Whether you are a fully or partially branded Vision Source practice, we've got tools for you, including the promotional pieces that Vision Source has found to be the most effective. Each is strategically written, laid out and designed to maximize your efforts, while tightly following the Vision Source brand standards. Consistency in marketing is very important.

Read through the mailer and the accompanying disk. If you can't locate it, you can find it on visionsource.com, under Resources—Marketing—Marketing Tool Kit.

  Market Your Practice to Women

Vision Soure and Smile Source are offering a marketing seminar with Holly Buchanan, co-author of The Soccer Mom Myth, an analysis of today's female consumer. Buchanan has adapted her findings to optometry and dental practices, providing insights to make your practice more attractive to women, who control 80 percent of health care spending in the U.S. Join Vision Source and Smile Source at this important webinar, Marketing Your Practice to Women: Gatekeepers of America's Healthcare Dollars, on Wednesday, June 26, from 6–7 p.m. CDT. Space is limited. Reserve your webinar seat now by registering here.

  Tell Us What You Think

Please take a moment to provide your feedback on The Gazette here.