Practice Advantage

On today's episode, I sit down with Masoud Nafey, OD, MBA, FAAO and Khizer Khaderi, MD, MPH, founders of Monokul , to discuss the future of eye care. As more and more Gen Z'ers join the metaverse, meeting our patients where they are means having a Web 3 presence.  Key Takeaways: Performance lenswear has the potential to provide greater visual performance for patients on a more customized level. Th...

In this episode, I sit down with Shelby Wade, HEA+PECAA's Marketing Member Business Advisor to discuss keys to a successful marketing strategy within your practice.  Key Takeaways Marketing isn't just about growing sales. It's about helping patients feel connected to your practice before they step foot and after they leave. 9 Key Tasks to Marketing Success Google Advertising Social Media Email Mar...

On today’s episode, I sit down with Tom O’Neill , President and CEO of Cognivue , a cognitive screening startup dramatically impacting independent ECP offices. In this episode, we discuss practice culture, people management, and preventing the effects of the Great Resignation within your practice.  Key Takeaways Creating a great culture where employees can provide feedback and have their voices he...

Our guest today is Dr. Riley Uglum, co-author of the book The E-Myth Optometrist and business owner of Eye Care Associates of New Hampton. In this episode, Dr. Uglum shows us how to break out of the entrepreneurial myth so we can run our practices as the businesses they are.  Key Takeaways: Each business owner has within them a Technician, Manager, and Entrepreneur. Many small businesses are overr...

On this episode, Bart Foster , founder of BusinessOutside , shares his insight into how taking your business outside its four walls fosters stronger relationships, happier people, and drives greater success. Get started now! Key Takeaways: To foster happier, healthier people in your business, you need to create an environment for authentic conversations. Being outside your business and in nature h...

On this episode, Dr. Derrick Artis rejoins the PracticeAdvantage podcast to discuss the value of alliance groups, buying groups, and the roles they play in your business success.  Key Takeaways Buying Groups were born in the 80s as a response to retailers entering the eye care space. The broad vendor discounts and consolidated billing allowed independent eye care professionals to compete with the...

Bryan Hoban, EVP for Member Business Advisors is back for another episode, this time focusing on Key Production Indicators and how best to leverage them in your practice as you look to 2022.  Key Takeaways: Always look at data with the goal of hearing the whole story. Numbers are only so important - the context surrounding the numbers is what is most important. Tracking and following your metrics...

On this episode, we chat with HEA+PECAA's EVP for Member Business Advisors Bryan Hoban on the importance of diving into your practice's finances, what numbers to look at, and how to begin budgeting for 2022.  Key Takeaways: Avoid the elevator analysis. If some data metrics are up, avoid immediately jumping to things being good. It is critical to ask why and understand what reasons revenue is up or...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Derrick Artis , optometrist, former industry executive, and one of the most sought after industry consultants to discuss practice exit strategies in this brave new world of private equity.  Key Takeaways: Consolidation in the eye care industry has been going on for more than fifty years. Consolidation on the practice side has been happening for the last 10+ ye...

On this episode, we chat with the world's leading membership and subscription economy expert Robbie Kellman Baxter about ways to create patients for life within your practice. Robbie is the founder of Peninsula Strategies and has worked with large  companies and organizations alike, including Netflix, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, The Wall Street Journal, SurveyMonkey, and The National Restaurant As...

Building your practice brand that transcends patient care isn't easy. Built on emotion, experience, and psychology, your practice can have a brand that attracts patients for life. Here are key takeaways from our conversation with Daryl Trust, CEO of  BrandTrust :  The COVID-19 pandemic caused consumers to rethink their loyalties to their brand, providing significant opportunities for practices to...

On this episode, we sit down with Lee Ann Pond, CEO of Engaged Leadership and author of the Amazon best selling book, The Engagement Ring , to discuss the power of engaged employees and how you take your team to the next level.  Key Takeaways: According to gallup, engaged employees drive a 21% increase in revenue, will have less absenteeism, stay longer, and provide better customer service. An eng...

There are four pillars of a business operating system: Purpose, People, Playbook and Performance. In this second episode, we sit back down with Brian Turchin, CEO of Cape Horn Strategies to discuss creating a Playbook for your success and managing your team's and business's Performance. Key Takeaways: Your systems are perfectly designed for the results you're getting. If you're not getting the res...

There are four pillars of a business operating system: Purpose, People, Playbook and Performance. In this first of two episodes, we sit down with Brian Turchin, CEO of Cape Horn Strategies to discuss how critical your business purpose and your people are to your success as an independent eye care professional. Key Takeaways: Do you have a purpose for your business that goes beyond your personal pu...

In this episode, Dr. Manning chats with JC Quintana , internationally recognized author, speaker, and expert on customer experience and innovation. JC shares strategies for understanding our patients and customers better and innovating within their journey within a practice.  Key Takeaways: Innovation within the customer experience begins with creating greater value with patients for the products...

In today's episode, Dr. Lance Anderson joins the PracticeAdvantage podcast to discuss HEA's acquisition of PECAA and what this means for the success of independent eye care professionals.  Key Takeaways: Your competition is getting more and more sophisticated. To be successful, you have to be leveraging data and metrics and spend time focusing on your business. Community is critical to success. Be...

In this episode, Dr. Manning sits down with Lauren Harmon, Office Manager at Heber Springs Eye Care Center to discuss strategies for building an efficient front desk and check in process.  Takeways: Prepare, prepare, prepare. If your front desk team is not prepared for any scheduling challenges, insurance issues, or who is coming in that day, you're already behind. An efficient check in process le...

In this episode, we sit down with Dermot Walsh, Chief Revenue Office of Ocuco to discuss the power of e-commerce for glasses and eyewear and how an efficient practice can increase your capture rate and eyewear sales.  Key Takeaways: Patients want to be empowered and knowledgeable when it comes to purchasing your treatment plan. They will be doing research at home before stepping foot in your pract...

In this episode, Dr. Manning and Dr. Brianna Rhue, founder of DrContactLens discuss the efficiency implications of offering e-commerce to your patients in the contact lens space.  Key Takeaways: Patients want to purchase from you and want the convenience of ordering from an e-commerce platform.  Patients are also consumers and often make decisions in the context of being a consumer. Thinking of th...

Being efficient in the optical is critical but can be a significant challenge for your entire team. Shaun Damico, Director of Operations and Business Development at Williams Group , shares the best strategies for improving your optical's efficiency.  Takeaways:  Engage your entire team in the optical sales process. Everyone on your team should be able to sell eyewear. Reevaluate your approach to c...

On this episode, we talk with Dr. Maria Sampalis on ways to build a more efficient practice in the areas of pretesting with your team.  Key Takeaways: Engage your team with their ideas for improving your pretesting process. Host regular meetings to do this.  Schedule optimization is critical to practice efficiency.  Put an emphasis on cross training your team. Each team member should be skilled en...

On this episode, we sit down with Dr. Masoud Nafey, Chief Medical Officer of Vision Web, to discuss becoming more efficient in the exam room.  Key Takeaways: Leverage your EHR platform to improve charting efficiency. Take the time to train yourself and your team on utilizing your platform more effectively.  Consider passing off additional exam room elements to your staff to improve efficiency. Giv...

Join Dr. Manning and Dr. Carla Mack as they discuss the power of efficiency in an eye care practice.  Key Takeaways: To become more efficient in your practice, begin with your team, both doctors and employees. They are closest to their roles in patient care. They likely have ideas for how the office can be more efficient. Build a culture of sharing, where everyone's opinion is valued.  Don't be af...

Change is difficult. Change is scary. Change isn't easy. Join Dr. Manning and Dr. Wan on this episode as they dive in to the power of change and how to effect positive change within your practice.  Key Takeaways: Change Management is a science. To effectively change your practice Start with a vision for change and cast it. Equip your team with the skills needed to implement a new process or proced...

On this episode, we sit down with Dr. Larry Wan to discuss the power of new technology and secrets to implementing it and gaining staff buy-in.  Key Take Aways: Start with your team. When it comes to implementing a new technology, ask your team members first their thoughts and how they think you can be most successful implementing the new technology.  Always remember WIIFM (What's In It For ME) wi...