The Official VisionWeb Blog

As we set into fall, there is a lot to look forward to: cooler weather, cozier clothing, and pumpkin flavored everything. On the reverse side, there are some things about fall you may be dreading, one of those things being the fall slump. As the end of the year approaches, it seems we become unmotivated in various aspects of our lives, including work.

With the back to school rush coming to a halt, and the end of the year being a few months away, you might also be suffering from a fall slump in your sales as well. You don't have to let your practice become a victim of the fall slump; there are some things you can do in your practice to get your books and your staff through the rest of the year.

I would like to bet that if I asked some of the most successful practice owners what their most valuable practice asset is, they'd tell me that it's their people.

Your staff can make or break your patient's experience and the daily workload in your office. But, we also know that finding and hanging on to your practice's top performers can be a challenge.

As part of our Game Changing Moves for Your Optical Practice Series, we want to focus on some of the best advice when it comes to developing the team in your office. 

Your appointment schedule defines your day. In an optometric practice, having a full schedule means more money that you can use to invest in your practice. Unfortunately, there are times where your staff may hack your patient schedule by booking placeholder appointments and assigning the “no-show” status to them.

These bogus appointments may be scheduled to help your staff leave early or give them more time to catch up on their administrative duties. But, in the end, they’re driving away legitimate patients, hurting your practice, and jeopardizing you and your staffs’ income.

This post provides a few telltale signs that your staff may be sabotaging your patient scheduling with fake appointments.

They love you; they love you not.

It’s not easy being a medical professional. And, for an OD, the challenges of running an optometric practice, stocking your frame boards, and collecting on insurance claims can make it difficult to focus on pleasing your patients.

But, pat yourself on the back, because even though the industry continues to throw new challenges at you—like social distancing—many of you ODs are still going out and putting your focus on the most important aspect of your practice; your patients.

Below are seven reasons your patients love and hate your optometric practice.

Whether you’re fresh out of school, an OD with years of experience, or you’re looking for new experiences, having a mentor that you can bounce ideas off of will assist you in your career by helping you discover the tips and tools that will propel you and your optometric practice into the future.

Regardless of your experience in optometry, there’s always a benefit for finding a mentor to help you reach the next level in your career. Below are four reasons to find a mentor.