Viewpoint from the Co-Editor

A Time of Reflection

Practices can ride the roller coaster of change successfully.

Jane Shuman, COT, COE, OCS, Co-Editor

As we approach this holiday season, it is only natural to reflect on the year that was and the one that is yet to come. The roller coaster ride of change that we experienced in 2013 is undoubtedly going to continue well into 2014.

We saw sequestration cuts in addition to declining Medicare reimbursements, which forced many practices to add patients, providers or self-pay services in order to maintain a healthy bottom line. Difficult conversations with staff, providers, and vendors included the need for high-performing teams and how to cultivate one. Many practices succeeded in doing just that.

We are fortunate that many such practices submitted their success stories for our cover contest. These entries were judged by multiple members of the OP editorial board and staff. Practice identities were concealed to ensure objective judging. The criteria included contributions to areas such as patient care, productivity, practice management, customer service, teamwork, staff accomplishments and volunteerism. I am pleased to announce the winners are:

Asheville Eye Associates, Asheville, NC

Access Eye Center, Fredericksburg, VA

Lake Eye Associates, Tavares, FL

Staff from each of these practices will be featured on the cover of Ophthalmic Professional in coming issues.

In this issue, we take a special look at dry eye. With new advances in detection and treatment that can help patients like never before, we ask the question, “Are dry eye clinics a part of the future?” In addition, we take a closer look at communications: Staff meetings and incentives as well as conversations with patients who receive bad news. Communication is also key when developing a high-performance team to face the challenges we expect in 2014. These include the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, ICD-10 coding and those technological changes that have become part of our daily routines.

On behalf of my Co-Editor-in-Chief, Bruce Maller, and the entire Ophthalmic Professional staff, I would like to wish you a warm holiday season and peace in the New Year. OP

Ms. Shuman, president of Eyetechs, is a nationally recognized authority on clinical flow, scheduling and technician education. Prior to founding Eyetechs, she worked as an ophthalmic technician and clinical manager.