| Viewpoint from the Editor |

When the pace of change comes at warp speed

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

When I was a child, a year was such a long time; now I barely celebrate one birthday before I have to get used to saying a different number. No matter who I speak with, the commonality is that time passes so quickly. Helping this sensation of warp speed, we get news so quickly thanks to social media, news alerts and 24/7 TV.

Keeping up with HIPAA, MU, PQRS, and more

Therefore, it is no coincidence that the changes we face as healthcare providers are also moving so quickly. It is difficult to keep current of the regulations required for HIPAA, Meaningful Use, PQRS, and the newest technologies that help us provide quality care. This edition of Ophthalmic Professional covers many of the advances that have contributed to the way we provide care to our patients today.

Dr. Andrew Lam is the author of Saving Sight: An Eye Surgeon’s Look at Life Behind the Mask and the Heroes Who Changed the Way We See. In an interview with Senior Editor Zack Tertel, Dr. Lam offers a glance at innovations in cataract surgery from Sir Harold Ridley, inventor of the IOL, and Dr. Charles Kelman, the father of phacoemulsification to present day. The implementation of electronic medical records has affected many of us in the recent past. Members of the implementation team in the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami share their experiences.

Providing patients with a quality experience

Not only must we keep current with rules and regulations, we must provide our patients with a quality experience in a timely manner while keeping costs down. One way to accomplish this might be by cross training your staff. Both of these subjects will be covered in this issue.

So, while waiting for spring, take some time to read this issue and as always, please share your thoughts with us at www.ophthalmicprofessional.com. If time continues passing at warp speed, winter and its doldrums will be behind us soon enough. OP

Ms. Shuman, president of Eyetechs, is a nationally recognized authority on clinical flow, scheduling and technician education. Prior to founding Eyetechs, she worked for over 15 years as an ophthalmic technician and clinical manager.