Learning experiences

Optometric Management, Sep 2000 by Christensen, Bobby

In this regular feature, a leading practice management and clinical expert offers advice on using strategies, mentors and new experiences to strengthen and grow your practice.

How can you benefit from spending time with colleagues?

It's important to reflect now and again on colleagues who've aided you with your success. I was fortunate to be influenced by individuals who've helped lead the eyecare profession to where it is today.

In this month's column, I'll share a few stories about my mentors, with the hope of showing you how important spending a few minutes with a new graduate or distant colleague can be to your career.

The academy decision

While I was a student at the University of Houston, Troy Fannin, O.D., often commented to our class that "the optometrists in the Academy of Optometry are the cream of the crop you all should consider joining."

When I took my state board exam, Garland Clay, Sr., O.D., urged me to plan to join the Academy. By then, I'd already assumed that it was my responsibility to apply for membership. I became a member the year he was president of the Academy.

Encouraging creativity

Leroy Oxford, O.D., executive director of the Oklahoma Optometric Association, had his Ph.D. in journalism. He constantly urged me to get involved in writing, but I'm sure after he reviewed my first few articles, he wondered why he'd talked me into such nonsense.

Nonetheless, without his faith in my potential, I would never have attempted to write.

An author is born

Dr. Oxford's encouragement paid off. On a 10-hour drive to Colorado in January of 1980, Jack Melton, O.D., and I decided we should write a book on practice management. Using the notes from that trip, we laid out the outline for the text. We conned my partner, Bob Baldwin, O.D., into joining our crazy scheme.

Our combined literary skills wouldn't have landed us the job of "recipe editor" at the local newspaper, so I asked Dr. Oxford for his advice. He suggested that we get some expert help.

We called Milton Eger, O.D., who at the time was the editor of the Journal of the American Optometric Association. He flew from Pennsylvania to Oklahoma City - I'm sure mostly out of curiosity to see what we three O.D.s were trying to accomplish. He agreed to become our editor and mentor and as such, freely shared his journalism skills. The outcome was the book Rx for Success.

Jack, Bob and I were fortunate to learn from this expert -- and most of all, we were blessed with his friendship for the rest of his years. Paul Freeman, O.D., Milt's former partner, is the current editor of the journal. Milt indeed planted seeds wherever he went. God bless him.

A beneficial introduction

Milt seemed to know everyone, and I'm thankful that he introduced me to Jack Runninger, O.D., former editor (currently consulting editor) of Optometric Management. I enjoyed reading Jack's editorials and articles. His style was easy and his philosophy about life and patient care was right on target (in my humble opinion).

When Jack asked me to write a few articles for him, I was flabbergasted, but honored. Jack has mentored me over the last 15 years on writing style, humility and much more.

Most of all, he's taught me that nice guys really do finish first. I salute Jack and Mary Runninger - what a great optometric family legacy.

Learning from others in action

My partner and I have spent our careers visiting other optometric practices while on vacation or at continuing education meetings. It's our recipe for "Rx for Success."

One half-day visit to the practice of Robert Koetting, O.D., in the early `80s caused us to change the following in our own practice:

staff delegation of many contact lens and screening responsibilities

an in-office light system and chair sensors to let us know which exam rooms are occupied by patients

the addition of extra examination rooms

same-day contact lens dispensing (inventory rigid gas permeable [RGP] and soft contact lenses)

time management: monitoring patient waiting time and staff time with patients.

A visit to the practice of Drs. McEachern, Cannon and McClay in Columbia, S.C., provided us with insight on how to build a successful contact lens practice without de-emphasizing the optical business.

Their association was an early example of a successful multidoctor partnership that had delegated responsibility among themselves. Drs. McEachern, Cannon and McClay always seem to be one wave ahead of everyone else. Incidentally, all three are also diplomates of the Academy's Cornea and Contact Lens Section.

A lesson in recognition

Public relations equals recognition equals Stan Yamane, O.D. I learned a valuable lesson from Stan - spend the time to recognize others for their accomplishments and be sure to let them know you care.

He always sent a personal letter to those he was in contact with, whether it be at a seminar or a chance meeting at the airport. This small gesture made everyone in contact with Stan feel important.

Business pearls

Irving Bennett, O.D., has been a catalyst behind modern practice management education. He was the founder of Optometric Management and of Opti Fair, the precursor to Vision Expo.