Welcome spring. Winter was tough on most of the country this year, and I for one am happy to see the sun shining and hear the birds chirping once again. This theme of renewal fits nicely with Ophthalmic Professional’s goal of providing a fresh, positive perspective on patient care and practice issues.

A focus on training

As this is OP’s subspecialty issue, it is fitting to feature Concord Eye Care, in Concord, NH. This practice has two large multi-specialty offices only minutes apart from each other. Like many of you, the staff at Concord Eye have been challenged with training many technicians for both campuses during and since the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, they share their secrets to a successful training program.

Also sharing her training tips is Lisa Miller, COMT, COE, of Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston. Her approach differs from Concord Eye Care’s, yet is equally effective. Both training programs yield confident, engaged employees, greater practice productivity — and consistently high-quality patient care. Additionally, many techs in both practices have gone on to get certified as a COA.

Expert advice on pediatrics, oculoplastics, and more

If you have children in your chairs, you will benefit from reading Dr. Richard W. Hertle’s article. Dr. Hertle is the chief of pediatric ophthalmology and director of the Children’s Vision Center at Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Akron, Ohio. In the article, he offers advice for how staff can better establish relationships with pediatric patients and their parents/caregivers.

The request for oculoplastics procedures is on the rise, many of which are considered aesthetic, as opposed to medically necessary. Addressing blepharoplasty, ptosis surgery, and injections, Melissa Toyos, MD, explains the staff’s role in assisting with these oculoplastic and aesthetic procedures.

In other pages, Dianna Graves, COMT, provides an introduction to topography/tomography, including tips on how to perform the tests efficiently and effectively, as well as common testing errors to avoid. The article ties in nicely with the article on the STAAR Surgical EVO/EVO+ Implantable Collamer Lens, a surgical solution for myopia.

We hope you enjoy this issue, and as always, the OP team welcomes your feedback. Happy spring! OP