News from the AOA's Blog

Numerous studies have shown the link between engaged, actively educated patients and better health outcomes.  It is clear that engaged patients are more likely to adhere to medications, keep appointments, and take an active role in their care.  Offering patients educational resources and things like product coupons directly increases their satisfaction, which is also good for your business.  As an optometrist accountable for both the results of the patient and your practice, what can you do to provide meaningful education and support that drives positive results? Read the rest of this entry ?

A variety of factors affect the fees associated with card acceptance. By effectively managing factors you can control, you can help minimize transactions with higher than usual fees assessed — ultimately reducing your monthly processing expense.  Read the rest of this entry ?

After the Stock Market Crash of 1929, John D. Rockefeller said, “These are days when many are discouraged. In the 93 years of my life, depressions have come and gone. Prosperity has always returned and will again.” 

In many ways, the Great Recession from 2007 to 2009 was the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. In addition to all the financial hardships experienced by millions of working families, economic security for future retirees could also be eroded.  Read the rest of this entry ?

When a caller is placed on hold, there is always an inherent risk of losing that patient, or prospective patient, forever. The answer to these lost opportunities is a professionally produced Telephone On-Hold message program.

Imagine the possibilities of what you can tell your callers while they are waiting: important eye health information, hours, products, services and/or current promotions you are providing. An On-Hold message program is like having a customer service staff that never takes a coffee break or day off. Read the rest of this entry ?

The AOA recognizes that the malpractice insurance marketplace for optometrists is full of competition. It can be a challenge distinguishing the differences between the various insurance programs in order to fully understand which program truly brings the most value to its customers.

The AOA conducted a very thorough process to find a program administrator and insurance company that understand the coverage needs of optometrists. Read the rest of this entry ?

Accessing reliable drug and disease information at the point of care can be challenging for health care professionals.

Epocrates, Inc., the leading provider of point-of-care reference solutions for more than 1.3 million health care professionals worldwide, develops mobile products that include eye care-specific drug and disease information.

Epocrates was recently ranked in the top 10 on the world’s 50 Most Innovative Companies list in 2011 by Fast Company magazine as a result of its mobile drug reference tools that help medical professionals make more informed decisions. Read the rest of this entry ?

Accepting and processing insurance claims plays such a big role in today’s eye care practices that the need for an efficient, electronic solution for managing this side of the business is more important than ever. While many practices have embraced the electronic factor for claim filing, they are often choosing solutions that are significantly lacking in terms of efficiency. In fact, in a recent survey of VisionWeb members, 41 percent of respondents said they file claims through their payers’ Web sites; with 54 percent of those claiming this was the easiest method available. These practices assume they are getting the full benefit of electronic claim filing, but what they don’t realize is that visiting multiple sites not only wastes time, it is also much more difficult to manage. When choosing a solution, it’s important to find one that is not just electronic, but is also comprehensive in its functionality and makes claim filing more efficient for the practice. Read the rest of this entry ?

In order to buy a home, get a loan, deal with emergencies, shop online, or do most traveling, you must have a credit card. By using credit wisely, you can make the most of having it and limit the risks.

 Having good credit makes accomplishing your financial and personal goals much easier. You’ll be free to pursue short-term plans while saving for the future! Read the rest of this entry ?

Three out of four Americans are on Facebook and using it to find local businesses such as eye care providers (ECPs) and optical stores.  If you are not using Facebook to promote your practice, you may be missing out on a great opportunity to get noticed and get new patients. Social media is quickly replacing traditional advertising as the power of the business-consumer relationship grows. Facebook and Twitter profiles can not only help you attract new patients, but they can help your Web site show up higher in the Google search results too.

EyeCarePro.net, the optometric industry’s leading provider of online marketing solutions for ECPs, works exclusively with optometrists to generate more revenue for their practices through a strong online presence – with an emphasis on social media. Read the rest of this entry ?

The AOA is excited to announce that all products and services of PMI, LLC, Consultants to Eye Care, are now available to AOA members at significant savings. PMI was formed in 1989 to assist optometrists and their staffs to become more comfortable with the challenges related to medical record-keeping, choices of codes, claims submission, fee schedules, and dealing with insurance companies. With PMI’s assistance, hundreds of optometric practices have developed new fee schedules and internal protocols for better patient care and more accurate coding of visits and procedures.

PMI consultants Ryan Ames, O.D., Charles Brownlow, O.D., and Joyce Josie, LPN, confer with doctors and key staff regarding payer audits and insurance company contracting, provide internal, “friendly” audits of patient records, assist in redesigning medical record forms, case history forms, and route slips to aid in compliance with national rules for record keeping. PMI also offers preprinted forms for use in eye care offices, with each designed to improve the thoroughness and accuracy of medical records with the additional benefit of making it easier to choose codes correctly. Read the rest of this entry ?