Power Hour Optometry

Student advocacy leads to running for Congress. Meet  Bimal Patel, OD , and learn how he will offer his constituents a new lens and a new vision in 2020.

Art Epstein, OD, FAAO, joins Power Hour once again for a wide-ranging, no-holds barred conversation on: Hubble Private equity Online refraction Too many meeting/schools/students Cost of technology Healthcare politics VSP's end game Refractive optometry's future Be sure to join us because chances are we will talk about more!

It might seem elementary, but being able to communicate effectively to your patients may be the most important factor in building a practice. Communication skills can have a major influence on the success of a practice.   

Ripped from the headlines! David Friedfeld from ClearVision Optical discusses how tariffs are affecting optometry. Will your practice feel it? What can you do? Tune in to find out!

Gary digs into the details about bringing on an associate. You need to think about it BEFORE you're ready!

6 things you're doing you should stop right away – and the last one is likely to shock you!  Tune in to find out more.

Dr. Richard Shuldiner is the Founder and President of The International Academy of Low Vision Specialists. The IALVS consists of 39 low vision optometrists throughout the USA and Canada personally trained by Dr. Shuldiner. Dr. Shuldiner is Clinical Director of Low Vision Optometry of Southern California and has seen over 10,000 low vision patients in his 45-year career. His impressive patient list...

After staff salaries, the optical may be one of the most expensive parts of your practice. Many ODs are looking for ways to maximize their ROI, especially with frames. This week, Gary outlines the best frame board strategies you're likely not using.

Listen to the replay of this widely listened to episode from August 15, 2018. It's that time of year again…back to school. If you haven't already ramped up your marketing, this week's show will offer tips on making eye exams part of the back-to-school routine. Don't forget contact lenses, sports goggles, and more! Kick-start the back-to-school season with the Power Hour!

The person who answers the phone at your practice is more important than you think. The voice on the other end of the line is a patient's first introduction to your practice.  Don't you want to make that first impression a good one?

Gary and his consultants have talked with many private-practice ODs and visited many practices. Although all are different, there are trends in the challenges these doctors face. Tune in to Power Hour this week to learn the Top 5 challenges Gary and his consultants have seen. Chances are YOUR practice is experiencing them, too.

Jim Thomas, editor of Optometric Management , joins Gary this week to discuss his favorite articles, topics, and trends. Did you know that Jim is also a stand-up comedian? He shares how to use humor in the office and in life.

Dr. Gary Gerber and Dr. Dwight Akerman discuss Myopia Management. Topics to be discussed will include: • Axial length – is it really necessary? Why not watch for changes in Rx? • Is myopia management a specialty service or part of "core" optometry? • What's so bad about being a low myope? What about the optical advantages? People will be calling in on both sides of these and other questions so mak...

This week, Gary discusses taking advantage of failing and why ODs shouldn't be afraid to fail. Fostering a culture of creativity means that sometimes plan will fall apart and things don't work out.

Patient testimonials can work for your practice…but only if you use them to your advantage. Gary gives you the scoop on how to get better patient testimonials and what to do with them.

Scleral expert, Dr. Elise Kramer, shares her tips on how to bring this specialty into your practice.

In what may be the shortest Power Hour episode ever, in only about 5 minutes Gary will discuss a 5-minute technique that will have a profound and lasting impact on your practice. Many practices have reported this simple 5-minute technique is one of the best things they've ever done in their practices!

Looking to kick your marketing into high gear? Learn what DOESN'T work. Find out the top marketing blunders seen in most practices. This week on Power Hour, Gary outlines the most common marketing tactics that don't work.

Both options have pros and cons. This week, Gary outlines the pluses and minuses of buying a practice and opening cold.

Find out how fear of failure and resistance to change can take a toll your practice. This week, Gary talks about the top 7 "should haves" and how they can lead to regret.

Guest Stephen Hamilton from Walman Instruments in a previously recorded episode gets you up to speed on: • New vs. used • Extended warranties: good or bad idea? • Workflow considerations • ADA compliance • Effect of recent company mergers • Best time to buy

Asking staff answer the phone with a script is a mistake. No matter how skilled, they will sound like they're reading from a document instead of delivering personal information. Instead, staff who take phone calls should know the practice intimately enough to respond to any calls. Find out how to train your staff to answer the phone like a human, not a robot.

It might seem elementary, but being able to communicate effectively to your patients may be the most important factor in building a practice. Communication skills can have a major influence on the success of a practice.

What 3-minute free technique can increase eyeglass sales by 32% and contact lens patients by 20%? A contact lens trial! Find out how and why this works on this week's show.

You bought a practice. Now what? Tune into this week's Power Hour to find out what changes to make (and not make) and how to transition doctors.