Know What to Delegate

 

Knowing when and what to delegate to the staff is crucial for any clinic. Regarding the “what,” examples include the patient history, review of systems, VA, pre-testing, exam room prep, scribing, maintenance post-procedure, and more. “Where I practice, the criterion for delegation is tasks that do not require my skillset as an optometrist. That is, I perform the tasks that only I can perform.” – Selina McGee, OD, FAAO, “Delegate Duties to Staff."

 

Detect Conditions Early With OCT-A

 

OCT-A offers several useful and unique capabilities for optometrists; one of the advantages it offers is help with early monitoring of diabetic retinopathy. “A study by Schaal et all determined that using OCT-A allows earlier detection of DR, even before it is seen clinically on dilated exams or with fundus photography.” – Jenna Pyle, OD, and Scot Morris, OD, “Know the Many Functions of OCT-A.” 

 

Use Telemedicine for Emergency or After-Hours Visits

 

In this article, Christopher Wolfe, OD, FAAO, Douglas Jones, OD, and Matthew Marsich, OD, discuss how telemedicine has changed their practice. For example, Dr. Wolfe says he typically uses telemedicine for emergency or after-hours visits. “With telemedicine, I am now on call 24/7 with my patients, but in a way that is reasonable, and I am comfortable doing,” Dr. Wolfe says. He recently used it to prescribe treatment for a patient when both parties were out of town. Dr. Wolfe recommends telemedicine as “an intermediate step” to connect with patients when away from the office. – “Is Telemedicine Here to Stay?” 

 

Consider a Health Information Exchange

 

Health Information Exchanges can securely share patient information between practices and other health providers; clinics that make use of such systems can be more convenient and attractive for patients, especially if patients are used to being seen in a system that uses the same EHR. “Providers who continue to ask patients a number of health questions, or provide a questionnaire on a clipboard in the waiting room, may appear behind the times.” – Ronald P. Snyder, OD, FAAO, and Michael J. Lipson, OD, FAAO, FSLS, “What Is a Health Information Exchange?” 

 

Summarize Refraction Results in Terms Patients Can Understand

 

The latest iBusiness column offers advice on how to improve the patient experience. “At the conclusion of every refraction, provide patients with a summary of their refractive error and how, if left uncorrected, it will affect their vision and visual comfort. Summarize the realities of how nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia affect ocular comfort in terms that the patient understands.” – Timothy Earley, OD, “An Outstanding Refraction."