At VisionWeb, we are always looking for a way to reuse everyday objects. So, when the Optical Vision Site gave us 33+ ways to recycle common eycare practice items, we got excited. Get inspired! You may just find new uses for those extra frames and glasses cases you have laying around. You just can't beat creating something spectacular while simultaneously saving a buck!
Opportunities For Eye Care Practice Professionals
Always in the green and save mode and thinking of ways to reuse everyday optical-eyecare objects it occurred to me while we did a post on reusing eyeglasses cases to make a Train Set -we haven’t done a post about how many other ways can you reuse eyeglass cases. When I started listing all the ways you can reuse or use eyeglass cases.. WOW- what a great opportunity for eyecare professionals! Thinking out of the eyeglass box.. eyeglass cases are not just for eyeglasses anymore.. Why not set up a ‘Store Within A Store‘ concept just with different types of eyeglass cases and do up some demo- displays like the ones shown below.
1.) Reuse for Mani-Pedi Set
2.) Storage for Ear Buds
3.) Reuse Eyecase Case and Make a Clutch Purse
Because I don’t have images, I am using Altoid Tins as an example of how you can reuse Eyeglass cases.. since it’s the same concept:
4.) Make a Miniature Garden
5.) Miniature Emergency Kits
6.) Create a Secret Stash
7.) Make Steampunk Art
8.) Reuse and Hold Crayons
9.) Hold Painting Supplies
10.) Make a Miniature Suitcase
11.) Make a Pool Table
12.) Make a Zen Garden
13.) Make a Solar Charger
13.) Make a Solar Powered Radio
14.) Hold Kleenex or Other Like Materials
15.) Make A Catapult
16.) Make a Candle
17. Make a Photo Album
18.) Use as a Soap Dish or Store Extra Soap When you Travel
19.) Store Flashdrives and Other Small Desk Items Such as Paper Clips, Safety Pins, or Rubber Bands
20.) Make a Small Sewing Kit or Organize Sewing Kit Items
21.) To Keep Pocket Change in Purse or in the Car
22.) Store Hair Accessories Such as Barrettes, Scrunchies, and Bobby Pins
23.) Use as an Ashtray
24.) Store Keys so They Don’t get Lost
25.) Store Jewelry, Great for Traveling
26.) Put Potpourri Inside
27.) Store Fishing Lures
28.) Hide or Store Snacks or Food for Later
29.) Put Postal Stamps Inside
30.) Store Small Game Pieces
31.) Store Smaller Medical Equipment like Inhalers or Insulin
32.) Store Scissors
Source: www.thriftyfun.com/
33.) Use as a Mini-Tool Kit
There are hundreds of ways to reuse eyeglass cases of all types… why only use for just a pair of eyeglasses?
This post is sponsored by Rons Optical And Hilco.
We'd love to hear what you create with your extra frames and glasses cases!
With the complete launch of VisionWeb's 2013 rebrand in the books, I think it's safe to say that our brains here at VisionWeb have been on creative overload the past couple of months. Undergoing a project as extensive as a rebrand can be mentally and creatively draining!
And for those of you we missed at Vision Expo East last week, check out some of these shots of our newly designed and rebranded booth! It's completely redesigned and a major upgrade from our old booth. Obviously we're in love with the new look, but we also got a lot of positive feedback from our visitors at the show too! Plus, we were kind of hard to miss with all our booth employees rockin' matching bright orange attire!
VisionWeb at Vision Expo East 2013
Finding Inspiration at Your Practice
Something that we learned earlier this week from our Director of Marketing, is that one of the best ways to get inspired is to look outside of your industry. And, as most of you in eyecare know, as a whole, we may be lagging behind other industries in terms of innovation. So, it's time to break the mold and start getting inspired!
Every single one of us hits creative roadblocks every now and then, no matter the job, or the industry. But we want to help you beat the obstacles when it comes to marketing your eyecare practice. Maybe you're struggling with the development of a new ad, new campaign, social media discussions, blog ideas, logo design, etc. We're here to try and help you beat this block, so let's get started!
While in New York, we thought, what could be more inspiring than visiting one of the best art museums in the country: The Museum of Modern Art. Here are a few of our favorite pieces that we thought displayed great avenues of inspiration:
Be Iconic: This Andy Warhol Campbell's Soup Can installation is one of his most iconic and recognizable pieces. And Campbell's soup itself is one of the most recognizable food brands around. This kind of powerful brand recognition is something all marketers strive for.
Break the Mold: In this industry it's time we step out of the mold of how things have always been done. There are many companies out there these days doing some pretty amazing things. So don't get stuck being defined by the industry you're in.
Be Show-Stopping: Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night is one of the main attractions at MoMA. This piece is recogniable all around the world and there was a crowd of people stopped around this piece at the museum. And at a place like Vision Expo, show stopping is exactly what your company needs to be!
More Ways to Get Inspired
Our Marketing team here at VisionWeb has definitely spent a fair amount of time over the past few months overcoming creative roadblocks. Here are a few more ways that helped us get inspired, and maybe they will help you too:
- Start your day off catching up on your favorite blog (before you even open your email)! Do you have a favorite blog author? Follow them Twitter too. You never know when you'll get inspired!
- Listen to music! This is a big one for us. Music definitely gets us all in the writing mode.
- Keep your goals visible. Goals can be a great motiviator, and help you come up with a great idea when in a time crunch.
- Keep a stash of chocolate at the office. Chocolate contains caffeine, right?
- Brainstorming and free association exercises - they may seem kind of silly at first, but they work!
Share with us any tricks you have for staying inspired at your eyecare practice, and be sure to follow us on Twitter for more inspiring stories!
The Fun Resources Behind Effective Eyecare Practice Management
We all know how dull it can be reading the same dreary black words on a white paper page after page after page. How boring! We’ve compiled recaps of our favorite infographics and tips for ECPs on making your own infographics to use as optical resources for your own patients! These colorful and useful eyecare practice resources ultimately make managing different facets of your practice a breeze.
Your business is flourishing, but it’s time to set aside your role as an eye care provider and make your way to a tradeshow! Making the most of a tradeshow is definitely an important eye care practice resource because these shows contain a wealth of knowledge and are pretty darn fun!
With Vision Expo East coming up in a month, find out how to make the most of your tradeshow visit by finding out what kind of attendee you are! Or if you are an exhibitor, like us, find out which kind of attendees you might see stopping by at your booth! Are you a Scholar, Explorer, Detective, Shopper, Fashionista, Pillager, Social Butterfly, or Judge? The results may surprise you!
Did you know that 38 percent of ODs in the US are women? Or that 67 percent of graduating ODs in 2010 were female? The growing number of women in the eyecare industry is very exciting; however, there is still room for more progress! Knowing the roles women play as well as the trials they face is an essential eyecare practice resource. Through knowledge, women will undoubtedly soar to new heights!
You have all the bells and whistles, but where do you go from there? The internet is completely at your disposal! What can your practice gain from going online? See the honest opinions about online practices, and learn how other eye care providers utilize the internet.
When it comes to customers, you’ve experienced them all: the good, the bad, and the ugly. But, just like family you gotta love ‘em all! Admit it. They make your days so much more interesting! To help manage any office gossip, we’ve created a resource that matches the stereotypical customers with their bird counterparts. Are you ready for some bird watching? Let the fun begin!
Grandpa always told you how back in his day he walked to and from school uphill both ways, and in the freezing snow. Well, times have changed. Children now can ride a bus to school. The way companies market their businesses has also changed with the times. Social Media is now an integral eye care practice resource that can boost the image of your company. But how effectively are you utilizing this tool? Find out if you are a social savant amongst the crowd or a lurker behind the scenes!
In order to effectively manage your eye care practice, knowing the inner workings of the processes is a valuable eyecare practice resource and can be useful when making decisions to help streamline your practice. This infographic illustrates the path of a claim when it is processed electronically. Are electronic claims processing services right for you?
By now, you can see how enjoyable and informative infographics can be! They are a great resource for your patients, friends, family, followers, and networkers. Who wouldn’t want to read these exciting visual images of data? If you enjoyed the infographics above, learn more about the top tools for creating your own incredible infographics!
Here are some FREE tools to help you get started!
Like what you see? Follow us on Twitter to see more infographics. We love to share them when we see them!
Claims, claims, claims; we all know insurance claim filing is never fun. Patient eligibility, claim reports, is it rejected or accepted? It can all get rather overwhelming in an eyecare practice and without something entertaining to get you through a day full of claim filing, the day probably seems to last a lot longer than it shoul
d!
Now, there are three things we love at VisionWeb: claim filing efficiency, ordering efficiency, and of course music. So we want to take you on an electronic claim filing journey that takes you through the ‘Lifecycle of a Claim’ with a playlist that relates to each stage of the process. Put on your headphones to begin claim filing with a great playlist to go along with it!
Your Journey to Eyecare Practice Claim Filing Efficiency Playlist from VisionWeb on GrooveShark
9 Tracks for Eyecare Practice Billers
Track 1: Kokomo – The Beach Boys
(Checking Online Patient Eligibility)
"That's where we wanna go; way down to Kokomo". We all need a day off here and there, especially as an eyecare practice biller. And checking patient eligibility online can save up to 2 weeks of time each year! This real time info may not convince the boss you need an extra 2 weeks of vacation each year to the Bahamas, but it might just give you a little extra time to do a few different things around the office! And on top of all of the time you will be saving, 95% of eyecare practice’s that use online services say it allows them to take better care of their patients, and that should be #1!
Track 2: Dance Yourself Clean – LCD Soundsystem
(For Submitting Claims)
“Go and dance yourself clean, oh. Go and dance yourself clean, yeah". We hope that’s what you're doing when you finish submitting claims for the day through your insurance claims processing system, because submitting claims online allows you to create claims quickly with an option to even submit batch claims. And the direct data entry feature we have on VisionWeb allows our users’ claims to go through a ‘claim filing scrub’ to ensure cleaner claims and fewer rejections – chaaaching – IMPROVED CASH FLOW! So, as soon as you start submitting your claims through VisionWeb, dancing yourself clean will be the only thing you have to worry about!
Track 3: Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
(Claims Confirmation Report)
“I'm walking on sunshine, woooah"! Within 4-24 hours after submitting your claims you will receive a Claim Confirmation Report, which tells you which claims have been accepted or rejected by claims clearinghouses. Getting rejected claims here and there is inevitable regardless of what service you are using, but with VisionWeb's claim scrub mentioned in the last song, rejected claims occur a lot less often. Plus, if you do have a rejected claim, it's much better to find out in the first day of the process! There is nothing like receiving a Claims Confirmation Report with claims that are all accepted - what a feeling of success. All of your hard work has paid off, and you deserve a walk in the sun!
Track 4: Be OK – Ingrid Michaelson
(Checking Reports)
After submitting claims you are probably thinking, “I just want to be ok, be ok, be ok; I just want to be ok today,” but I hope it’s not worth biting your nails over! Remember, claims filed online have fewer rejections. And after using VisionWeb, many of our users quickly see the difference! Janet Nelson from Ridgeland Eyecare Center quotes, “With VisionWeb, I get reimbursed faster and have fewer rejections than ever before. This service is a must-have for my practice”. Now that’s something to think about!
Track 5: Analyser – Alunageorge
(File Detail Summary and Batch/Level Rejection Reports)
“I hope you find a new direction - I know you're reaching for perfection; All the words will help you understand”. Within 2 days you will receive a File Detail Summary and Batch/Level Rejection Reports, which is from the payer and shows a list of accepted and rejected claims along with details of why specific claims were rejected. Nothing is ever perfect, but the great thing about electronic claim filing through VisionWeb is that our service offers reporting and analytics that give you the knowledge and ability to analyze your top ten rejection reasons, so finding a new direction is right at your fingertips! And we all know being aware of mistakes is the only way they can ever be fixed!
Track 6: Just Got Paid – NSYNC
(Payer Adjudicates Claims)
“Thank God it's Friday night and I just-just-just-just-juuuuuuust got paid!" With online ordering you can expect to get paid in about half the time that it takes when you file on paper, so instead of singing this once every month, you get to sing it twice! 14 business days opposed to 30? I don’t think there is a question!
Track 7: 3 R's – Jack Johnson
(ERAs and EOBs are Received)
“We've got to learn to reduce, reuse, recycle”. Going green was a trend that has become the norm these days. Not only does it help the planet, but it also saves space in your practice! Our ERA management service simplifies your billing by automatically interpreting remittance information received from your payer and delivering it to you electronically in place of paper EOBs. So within 14 days you have easy to read summaries with powerful searching options! And if you ever do need a paper copy, just find and print!
Track 8: Lean on Me – Bill Withers
(Contacting Customer Service)
“Just call on me brother when you need a hand…I just might have a problem that you understand. We all need somebody to lean on”! No matter how much you know about claims, things are constantly changing in regards to insurance benefits and compliance! And at VisionWeb, because we exclusively serve the eyecare community, we are on top of all of it for you! We are committed to providing a professional and friendly customer service team available to support you and your staff!
Track 9: Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
(All Claims Successfully Reimbursed)
“Risin' up straight to the top; had the guts, got the glory”. After all claims are successfully reimbursed, this is how you should be feeling. Because that’s what electronic claim filing does; it sets you apart from the rest of the crowd and can quickly increase your performance if you're using a great system to manage electronic claim filing. So embrace the opportunities technology has given eyecare practices and take advantage of them! We want you to have all of the glory and know exactly where you’re going!
If you haven't started listening to The Journey to Eyecare Practice Claim Filing Efficiency, I think now is the time to click play!
Let us know which part of the journey you enjoy the most!
Summer is officially here and with the hot temperatures, outdoor activities don’t sound appealing at all! Our friends over at The Optical Vision Site put together an awesome post with creative DIY eyewear racks. What a better way to beat the heat this summer then by staying inside and making a DIY eyeglasses rack!? Check it out:
One of the big advantages of Pinterest is the ability to find all sorts of cool ideas, such as what can you and your patients do with multiple pairs of sunglasses and eyeglasses? What would be cool, is set aside a little wall and put up some of these DIY eyewear racks to show your patients how multiple pairs of eyeglasses can be a bit of fashion decor.
1.) This is a nice little DIY project. A piece of reclaimed wood, some string, rubber, cords stretched across the board and how cool is this. Even in the office you can showcase various colors. Paint the boards, color coordinate with fun glasses.
2.) Simple hangers - All you need is wood hangers and a few nails or hooks to put these hangers up.
3.) For crafters, this eyewear rack comes with it’s own DIY instructions. Multiple prints and colors displayed in the office could be seasonal fun!
4.) I want this one! Check out the sunglass rack on the inside of the closet door. Good for small spaces!
5.) Check out this great idea; take an old picture frame and hang some eyewear. Again, paint the picture frame and this could be a great way to showcase your 'Eyewear of the Month' or 'Trending Colors.'
6.) I like this idea, never leave home without your keys and your sunglasses!
7.) Along the same concept as the picture frame, these are old window frames! You can take a wall and showcase ‘eyewear stories’ in each section. Old window frames and doors are easy to find on sites such as Craigslist for free. Instead of "Family", Put in "Trends".
8.) Old Rakes - Do It Yourselfers are using old racks for Wine Glasses and necklaces. The same idea can be used for Eyewear!
Do you have any ideas about how to display your eyeglasses in your home or eyecare practice!? Leave us a comment and share your creative ideas!
Our friends at The Optical Vision Site have a great post about a new marketing event for your eyecare practice; they're always just full of optical marketing resources!
I got to tell you, who has ever heard of such a thing, but there it is in Record Setter: Googly Eye World Records. I love this kind of stuff, as do most people. Who doesn't read about the most hot dogs one person can eat in a minute?!
New records were set as part of Toyota Prius Records, a two day event, streamed live on the Internet. In a 48-hour period, URDB officials adjudicated 200 Prius-related world records. 48 Googly eyes were put on the squash breaking a previous record of 45 eyes. Read more here.
How much fun would this be to hold an event like this in your eyecare office? Facebook it, Tweet it, and Foursquare it! The best part is, it would be so much fun and very affordable. All you need is a bunch of googly eyes that can be purchased at any craft store, and some fruit or veggies. You could run an event like this for a week, and for every patient that comes in, ask if they want to praticipate (it only takes a minute). Give them the item to be googly-eyed, a bunch of eyes, and a timer. Do the count, and the winner of the week gets a FREE pair of something.
You could also run in conjunction with a charitable cause. For each eye that gets put on, you can donate "x" amount to a charity of your choice. Keep a big jar on the front desk and load it up with dollar bills. People get excited about that, and guess what? I bet they add some money of their own.
Easy, fun, engages your patients, and increases your talk factor. You could even notify local TV or radio stations and ask if they want to participate. How great would that be?
It's time for Spring Cleaning! Why not have an EyeSwap Party with those spectacle lenses you're just not that into anymore?
I’m sure that those of you who have -12.00 would love to swap eyes- but
I’m ta
lking about having an ‘I'm broke' event to swap eyeglasses! It is coming up to my 25th annual clothing exchange. We clean out closets, swap clothing, and donate the leftovers to a women’s shelter. People get a whole new wardrobe, and we donate tons of clothing and household items to support battered women.
Why not do the same thin
g with eyewear and sunglasses? Have an EyeSwap Party! If you think about it- many of your patients want a new look, and right now they are being very conservative with their purchasing and maybe even walking out without making a purchase (horrors). They might need a new pair of sunglasses, glasses for work, or just want to beef up their wardrobe but are reluctant to spend money. In addition I’ll bet many of your patients have eyewear and sunglasses sitting around collecting dust that they would love to swap or donate.
Something to think about - after all, it's time for spring cleaning! Time for a fresh new look and uncluttered drawers!
Article provided by our friends at The Optical Vision Site.