Eye Own a Business

Managing billing operations has historically been one of the most challenging tasks of practice ownership. In this episode we explore the reasons for this, how practices are handling (or not handling) these challenges, and the evolving role of technology in billing. One of the more exciting platforms to hit the market is OneSpot, a centralized digital hub to streamline billing processes. OneSpot is productivity software for your in...

Resistance to a sale is often countered with additional patient education, assuming that more information will lower the barrier to a sale. In reality, many of our purchase decisions are not driven by what we KNOW about something, they’re driven by what we FEEL about something.  

Fear, excitement, anticipation, trust, safety, confusion, curiosity, and certainty are some examples of emotions that influence our purchase decisions. Re...

In this episode, Selin Olmsted (founder of Selin Olmsted Studio) shares her expertise on a topic many ODs marginalize. Eyewear fashion and design! 

A few things we discuss are insights on the latest eyewear trends, factors to consider when selecting frames, options for implementing private label, and adapting to future trends. 

Doctors know a lot about the clinical side of eye care. Patients want great vision and healthy eyes, but ...

In this episode, Sharon Carter shares her strategies for getting “unstuck” and taking your practice to the next level.  

We cover a lot of reasons practices fail to reach their full potential and how to put strategies in place to maintain growth. Spoiler alert! You can’t do this alone. After a certain point, designating a leadership team is necessary. However, those efforts can be sabotaged by putting the wrong people in these role...

In this episode, Dr. Mike Neal shares how he transformed his practice by removing many of the obstacles that prevent practice owners from building a great team.  

A few things we discuss are taking emotion out of the interview process, the importance of focusing on talents and strengths rather than just experience, what we can learn from companies like Disney to ensure better hires, and how to get clear on which applicants to rejec...

In this episode, we explore the key elements of a successful staff meeting that leaves a lasting impact. The planning phase takes center stage, emphasizing the importance of identifying the need, purpose, and intention of the meeting. The episode highlights the perpetual nature of issues to address and emphasizes the value of delivering a clear and focused message, recognizing that less is more when it comes to information absorpti...

In this episode, Dr. Aaron Neufeld shares his strategies for leveraging referrals from other doctors to grow his practice.  

When it comes to marketing your practice, many ODs think of traditional marketing strategies such as social media, online or print marketing, and having a great website. These are all important to grow a practice, but in this technological world we often marginalize face to face marketing. 

In this interview,...

In this episode, Stanford lecturer Matt Abrahams shares valuable insights about listening and communication from his book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You’re Put on the Spot  

Doctors are tasked with solving problems for their patients, but as Matt points out, it’s not hard to solve problems, it’s hard to find the right problems to solve.  

In this interview, we focus on asking better questions and sh...

The best practices are NOT constantly trying to motivate people, they just have better systems in place, and they manage the systems. That's much easier than constantly managing (and motivating) people. 

Do you agree or disagree with the above? In this episode, I take on the interviewee role as Erich Mattei, President of Akrinos, interviews me on this topic for his podcast. We attempt to answer the question, “Which is more effectiv...

One of the biggest checks you write is to your lab, yet many practices seem to tolerate a lot of bad service from the labs they partner with. Dr. Barton Higley is one doctor who had enough, ultimately partnering with an independent lab out of Pittsburgh called Three Rivers Optical. 

In this episode Dr. Higley describes his struggles with the labs he used prior. Poor customer service, poor quality, and inexperienced reps led him to ...

Approximately 50 percent of doctors are experiencing professional burnout. In this episode we explore the most common reasons for this and what you can do to overcome it. While much of the attention for reducing physician burnout has been focused on getting away from patient care, also called escapism, this isn’t a realistic option for all doctors and it’s also not always the most effective option. A more sustainable approach is no...

Are you struggling to make specialty care a meaningful part of your practice? Maybe you’re trying to solve a medical problem when you should be trying to solve a marketing problem. 

For many ODs, time is the biggest culprit when it comes to growing a specialty service. Doctors are trying to cram medical conversations into comp exams and failing to get the patient’s buy-in. In this episode with Bob Miglani, founder of Hoot, we explo...

In this podcast, Nathan Hayes, IDOC’s Director of Financial Services, highlights the essential factors involved in determining the value of a practice, including revenue, profitability, market conditions, and competition. The role of financial statements and historical performance metrics, such as EBITDA, is emphasized as critical tools in the valuation process. 

The conversation also explores the challenge of quantifying intangibl...

In this enlightening podcast episode with Dr. Carmen Simon, the renowned author of "Impossible to Ignore: Creating Memorable Content to Influence Decisions," we delve into the fascinating world of memory and message retention.  

Would it surprise you to know that people typically only remember about 10% of the messages they encounter, and most of this information is forgotten within the first 24 hours? Memory challenge not only aff...

When physicians contemplate HIPAA compliance and the safeguarding of patients' protected health information (PHI), their primary focus typically centers on internal aspects. Questions such as, "Do our practice's written policies align with HIPAA requirements? Have we adequately trained our employees on HIPAA regulations? Is our computer infrastructure and software adequately secure?" often dominate their concerns. However, one cruc...

In this episode with Colin Carr, founder of Carr Realty, we explore the intricacies of securing an optimal space for your practice. Our conversation begins by highlighting the significance of leaving room for growth over the coming years. To gain a tangible grasp of spatial dimensions, Colin recommends using tape to visualize and assess potential layouts. 

Delving into the realm of property procurement, our discussion underscores t...

In this episode with Ankit Patel, founder of My Business Care Team, we delve into a transformative approach that Ankit implemented in his practice. By leveraging a remote workforce in the Philippines, Ankit's practice achieved remarkable results. Most notably a 33% increase in revenue per patient and a 28% reduction in payroll.  

Previously, distractions and administrative tasks limited the support on-site employees could provide. ...

In this episode with Dr. Kerry Giedd, we uncover a wealth of actionable tips to enhance your practice's success in boosting the sale of daily disposable contact lenses. 

Dr. Giedd stresses the importance of keeping your patients informed about the latest advancements and unique features in the world of daily disposable contact lenses. Did you know that a staggering 70% of patients express a strong desire for their optometrists to...

In this episode with Dr. Kristina Pusz, we delve into the transformative impact of scheduling more staff meetings. While many practices struggle to carve out adequate time for meetings, Dr. Pusz schedules 1.5 hour leadership meetings and 1 hour departmental meetings every week! We discuss the impact this has had on critical areas such as staff turnover and communication challenges. Dr. Pusz shares personal insights on transitioning...