Posted on

Ten Ways to Grow an Optometry Practice

Optometry Growth

Number 5 in the Hanks Monograph series has proven suggestions for growing an optometry practice in any country.

Written by an experienced optometrist, the advice is practical for easy implementation with practice staff.

There are different areas to grow – for example . . .  New and Existing Patients;  Retail Pricing and Community Groups;  Auditing the Standard Procedures;  Local Doctors, Traditional Media and Social Media;  and improving the Ability to Handle Low Cost Competition.

TIP: Take the suggestions one at a time as a project and discuss them at a staff meeting. By involving your staff the tasks become more achievable and there will be a positive feeling of “ownership”.

Click here to go to the page.

Posted on

Near Reading Card Collection

Near Reading Cards

Number 9 in the Hanks Monograph series is a newly revised collection of reading cards for use by optometrists. These are available by instant-download and can be printed and replaced as needed.

These high-resolution printable reading cards are for measuring near visual acuity (NVA) and visual performance with different tasks. Each of the Reading Cards is A5 size (1/2 A4).

Cards are included for many popular hobbies and activities. Patients are familiar with them and they can easily relate to them. These include music, playing cards, crosswords, computer display, telephone book, mobile phone screen, textbooks, etc.

The collection also includes cards for special clinical tests at the near point. These clinical Reading Cards include Near Snellen Chart; Astigmatic Fan, Blocks & Clock; Fused Cross Cyl; Muscle Balance; Paediatric Optotypes; Tumbling E (Illiterate E); Near Phorias and Ductions.

Another section of the Reading card Collection is devoted to multi-cultural reading texts. These are especially useful for those patients who do not read English. The languages included are Italian; Greek; French; Spanish; Vietnamese; and Chinese

TIP: These reading cards can be printed and laminated, or simply re-printed as needed after use.

Click here to go to the page.

Posted on

One Percent Improvements for Optometrists

Optometry Practice Management

Number 4 in the Hanks Monograph series by instant-download is a Project of 1 Percent Improvements for Optometrists.

For an established business it is very difficult to achieve one single big improvement, but making multiple 1% improvements is much more achievable.

These ideas can be used to engage your practice staff on this project. By engaging them the results will be easier and there will be a positive feeling of “ownership”.

TIP: Take the suggestions one at a time as a project – discuss it at a staff meeting; circulate a copy to each staff member for implementation; then follow up to monitor progress and reinforcement.

Click here to go to the page.

Posted on

Attracting New Optometry Patients

Attracting New Optometry Patients

Number 2 in the Hanks Monograph series is a Plan for Attracting New Patients.

The biggest challenge for most new practices is having enough patients. This is a practical plan that can be implemented to address this problem.

This plan covers the following areas: • Standard Patient Letters • Ongoing Patient Contact • Advertising • Spectacle Deliveries • Printed Materials • Samples for Local Businesses • Local Doctors as Referral Sources • Community Involvement • Talks About Eyecare.

Importantly, this monograph includes a complete example to show how the Plan for Attracting New Patients is actually used in a practical sense.

TIP: The plan format is easy to follow and work your way through. Then involve practice staff to achieve engagement and share the tasks that need to be completed.

Click here to go to the page.

 

Posted on

Improving Optometry Recalls

Optometry Recalls

Tony Hanks has studied what makes patient recalls effective over many years. People have opinions, but research is the best way to get the real answers. Here is the complete report (Monograph number 3).

This report presents the results of 6 different research studies about patient response rates to optometry recalls.

Standard recalls? Second recalls? Different recall methods? The benefits of repeat recalls? Demographic effects? Comparisons to other healthcare? All of these things are considered; and more.

TIP: Previous patients cost much less to attract than new patients. Use this report to learn how to maximise your recall success rates and therefore save money.

Click here to go to the page.

Posted on

Vision Training Resources

Number 8 in the Hanks Monograph series is a set of Vision Training exercise sheets – ready for use by optometrists in their practices.

The sheets cover Amblyopia and Suppression; Accommodation and Convergence; Visual Motor Skills and Visual Perception.

The author has also created a handy Planning Form, that can be completed for each patient.

TIP: If you want to add Vision Training to your practice, or expand it in a professional way, check out this great new resource.

Click here to go to the page.

-or-

Click here to view the ‘Table of Contents’.

 

Posted on

Growth Plan for Optometrists

Optometry Growth Plan

Number 1 in the Hanks Monograph series is a detailed and practical plan for achieving growth in your optometry practice.

The plan format is easy to follow and work your way through. You can then involve your practice staff, so achieving engagement and sharing the tasks that need to be completed.

Importantly, this monograph includes a complete example to show how the Growth Plan Worksheet is used.

TIP: Make this growth plan a project with your practice staff. Involve them and embrace their enthusiasm.

Click here to go to the page.

Posted on

Library of Forms for Optometrists

This resource is getting a great response from optometrists in many countries – it’s a library of forms that are ready for use in their practices.

There are over 200 pages in the collection and they are indexed into 14 areas:  For Use In-Practice;  Schools;  Staff Meetings;  Calculators;  For Clinical Use;  Dispensing;  Contact Lenses;  Practice Management;  For Use by Others (like referral sources);  Patient Education;  Employment;  Community Talks;  Press Releases;  Reference tables;  In Practice Signs.

TIP: Print your choice of forms and make photocopies for use in your practice, or copy them onto your letterhead where appropriate.  This is an outstanding resource.

Click here to go to the page.

-or-

Click here to view the ‘Table of Contents’.

 

Posted on

School Vision Screenings

This is a plan for implementing a program of Vision Screenings as a community service for a local school.

There are 3 resources making up this program:

  1. A letter to offer the Vision Screenings to the school principal. You can use this form, or use it as a template to write a letter on your practice letterhead.
  2. A feedback form for teachers to record there observations about the vision of each child.
  3. The report form for sending Vision Screening results to the parents or guardians.

TIP:  Use this program as a community service and to help raise awareness of your optometry practice.

Click here to go to the page: Then scroll to >Forms & Misc.

Posted on

Explain ocular coherence tomography (OCT)

Educating patients about their eyecare is always a good idea.

The website linked here has a Patient Education handout about Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT). It supports the clinical need for OCT and is designed to result in increased uptake of this additional service.

TIP: Print the handout and make colour photocopies with the header banner replaced by your letterhead. Then use these as handouts to support the clinical advice that you give to your patients.

​Click here to go to the page: Then scroll to >Patient Education

-or-

Click here to view the OCT download.