| Viewpoint from the Editor |

Happy New Year!

Bruce Maller, Co-Editor

The arrival of a new year is an exciting time. I’m always full of optimism and anticipation. The holidays are a good time to reflect on the past year’s accomplishments while re-charging the battery and focusing attention on the year ahead.

Confidence in the New Year

I do not have a crystal ball, but I’m quite confident that 2016 is going to be a great year, especially for my company BSM Consulting. What is the reason for this optimism? At BSM, we actively plan for the future. While we celebrate our accomplishments and milestones, we’ve focused on the year ahead since our strategic planning meeting this past October.

Our team meets off-site for three days each fall. We engage in lively discussion about our vision, core values, long-term goals, and opportunities. Staff members participate in workshop teams that identify specific tactics that will help us to achieve our goals. Years of experience have taught us that the engagement of our team in formal business planning is a key to our success.

Always more to learn

However confident as we may feel, there is always more to learn…and this is where Ophthalmic Professional can help. In total, our authors have penned articles to help you and your team succeed in today’s exceedingly challenging medical climate. In particular, here are several of the articles I think will help you ring in the New Year:

Boling Vision Center: Treat Patients as “Guests.” Contributor Robert Calandra reports on how the practice excels in patient care — which includes the latest cataract and vision correction surgical techniques — through investments in equipment, facilities, outreach, and, especially, staff training.

What’s New in Glaucoma Surgery. Thomas W. Samuelson, MD, provides an update on the latest technology for glaucoma surgery, including stents, shunts, and combination therapy.

Therapeutics: When the Pharmacy Calls. Last issue, we presented the challenges that practices face when they receive calls from pharmacists to change a patient’s prescription. In part two, our experts tell you how to better manage these calls.

Overcoming Language Barriers. Sumáya Rodriguez, COA, OSC, ABO-AC, FNAO, USN Ret., explains how to communicate with patients who don’t speak your language.

Here’s to a successful and rewarding New Year! OP

Mr. Maller is the founder and president of BSM Consulting, which provides business management solutions to hospitals, ambulatory care facilities, medical trade associations, physicians, healthcare personnel, pharmaceutical companies, and medical device manufacturers across the globe.