Are you considering starting or buying a new optometric practice? Being an independent eye care professional doesn’t mean you’re alone trying to figure out the day-to-day challenges of running a practice.  By leveraging the power of numbers, today’s buying groups have evolved from providing ‘just a discount’ to offering a full array of resources and tools for the new independent optometric practice.

With so many diverse groups to choose from, the choice (and exactly which group to join), can be a challenge. To determine the right group for your practice, ask yourself the following questions:

  •  What do I want from my group? What is it I need the most help with? Discounts? Marketing? Financial management? Education? All of the above?
  •  What type of group do I want to join? One that offers just good discounts? Or am I interested in education and networking opportunities with other practice owners?
  •  Who are the vendors in my group? Do they align with my offerings?
  •  How is the group managed? Do I still make the purchasing decisions? Will my practice remain autonomous? Do I need to report my earnings?

Let’s take a closer look at the key buying groups available the country – each offering programs to support your business, save you money and help you succeed. The question is – which one is the best fit for you?

The Optical Group

For 33 years, The Optical Group has been servicing eye care professionals across Canada. With over 600 clinics, this group offers discounts, consolidated monthly billing, marketing, private label product and education. Recently, The Optical Group has partnered with New Look Vision Group to offer members a broader range of services.

“Not only do our members enjoy great discounts and programs, but they also receive industry leading customer service and care. We also believe in giving back. We support Seneca and Douglas college opticianry programs in addition to our Business Enrichment Grant,” says Ruth Priebe, Director of Operations, The Optical Group.

The Optical Group negotiates with over 110 vendors providing members with exclusive discounts and programs.

Members will benefit from the group’s multiple programs including website and digital marketing, social media and SEO (search engine optimization) to help promote members’ practices. In addition, accredited education including events and webinars are also part of the offering.

Members have access to a new and improved website that provides more in-depth information on available programs.

Founded: 1988
Division of Private Canadian Corporation
Membership: 600 clinics
National
$300 annual fee for first location only
www.theopticalgroupcanada.com

OSI Group

OSI is the original quintessential buying group in the Canadian landscape, having originated over 35 years ago.

OSI Group offers a wide range of training and services (financial, marketing, technology, for example). It also strives to prepare for the next generation of professionals, supporting young professionals who are starting their own business and helping those who are retiring to hand over their practice to another member.  Younger ODs looking for a practice mentor and have an interest in migrating to ownership of an existing practice may find this option of interest.

“One of the major benefits of our buying group is of course the possibility of obtaining advantageous prices from certain suppliers and access to our private brands of contact lenses and our collection of Avenue Eyewear frames,” says CEO Patrice Lacoste.

OSI Group helps independents compete with the big chains. “What sets us apart is our Optosys® clinic management platform, the latest version of which we launched last November,” adds Patrice Lacoste. This all-in-one system makes it possible to streamline the management of areas such as appointments, orders, patient relations, inventory, and sales.

“In a context of labour shortage, the automation of certain tasks frees up a lot of workers’ time,” says Lacoste. Members can choose to use a number of modules of the platform, depending on their needs.

Founded: 1982
Private corporation
Membership:  1,600 members in over 850 clinics
National
No membership fee
www.opto.com

Eye Recommend

Eye Recommend

With a focus on training networking, technology, and shared resources, Eye Recommend (ER) was founded in 2001 in Alberta but has since expanded to over 1,300 optometrists coast to coast. Their mission is to support independent optometrists by providing freedom of choice, business management and personal resources to ensure practice success.

Lee Raffey, newly appointed CEO says that Eye Recommend is member focused. “We encourage networking and sharing of ideas amongst our members and leverage the power of our network to bring the best technology, resources, and services in order to enhance the business performance of each practice. Before making a decision, we always ask – ‘How will this benefit our members?.

ER members benefit from choices with a variety of business solutions, consolidated monthly billing, suppliers’ discounts and, exclusive access to Doctor Recommends (D|R) lenses. With over 500 clinics across Canada, ER has considerable power to provide members with the resources needed to be successful.

Each practice has a dedicated certified business coach and trainer who, as a combined team, provide hands on support. These optical industry experts work to help identify opportunities and challenges to assist in the overall success of the practice.

ER conducts one of the most comprehensive training events for practice owners and staff called National Training Event. These events are led by industry professionals who have years of training experience. Two events are held yearly– one in the West and one in the East – featuring guest speakers, accredited continuing education, and team building.

Founded: 2001
Membership:  Full scope optometry only
Registered Alberta Co-operative
1,300 ECPs, 531 practices
National (excluding Quebec)
$1,000 one-time administration fee per clinic
www.eyerecommend.ca

 

Digital ECPDigital ECP

Digital ECP Inc. offers Canadian eye care professionals business solutions that save members time and money. Their focus is offering flexible payment programs and access to supplier’s discounts and support.

Founder and President, Karen Ouellette provides a summary: “Many of our members come to us by word of mouth, recommended by colleagues or suppliers. Our members are independent and have the choice on who they want to purchase from. We offer access to promos and discounts to over 80 suppliers”.

The group features many offerings on the financial side. Members gain access to suppliers’ promos, discounts, and product training. In addition, billing is consolidated in one monthly statement. Members may choose to pay their bill early for a prompt payment discount. In addition, this group offers the flexibility of split terms: Members can split their bill over 30, 60 or 90 days.  Particularly in a start-up situation, this benefit can be helpful for cash management

Founded: 2014
Membership: Opticians and Optometry
Privately owned Canadian Corporation
78 ECPs
National (Excluding Quebec)
One-time Membership fee: $150
www.digitalecp.com

Do Your Homework
There are many buying groups to choose from, so do your research to find a group that best aligns with your business needs.

Speak to your colleagues, and other group members. Some groups focus predominantly on financial (consolidated billing, discounts, and inventory tools); others focus on marketing, coaching, and training; and some do a bit of both. Finding the one that best suits your practice will take a bit of time, but it’s a step towards your practice’s success.

Note: The above mentioned organizations operate in English Canada. Among these four, only OSI operates extensively in Quebec.  Readers interested in the buying groups servicing the Quebec market are referred to a feature article in Optik Magazine

 


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Career Pathfinders

The employment market in eye care has always been a challenge but today, catalyzed by the new opportunities from eyecare organizations eager to acquire new talent, the challenges, options and opportunities are greater than ever.

An overview of the employment situation will be shared with attendees as well as some sage advice from employment gurus.

Hiring organizations will provide insights into their culture and benefits. Attendees will be able to meet with the leaders behind Canada’s largest organizations and get first-hand perspectives. OD members of the Canada’s largest optometric buying groups share their perspectives on independent optometry. 

This interactive event is ideal for early career stage eye care practitioners looking to chart their course and those, at any career stage, considering upon a change in direction.

SPEAKERS:

  • Tim Brennan, Chief Innovation Officer, FitFirst Technologies
  • Dr. Michael Naugle, VP Optometric Partnerships, FYidoctors
  • Dr. Daryan Angle, VP Business Development, IRIS Group
  • Dr. Laurie Lesser, Eyecare Director,  Canada/UK, Bailey Nelson
  • Nicholas Perry, Cofounder & Managing Director, Canada/UK, Bailey Nelson
  • Dr. Kyla Hunter, Aurora Eye Care, Grande Prairie, AB , Eye Recommend
  • Dr. Trevor Miranda, Cowichan Eyecare BC
  • Dr. Maria Sampalis, Founder & Owner, Corporate Optometry
  • Naomi Barber, BOptom, Director of Optometry, Specsavers

All events will be hosted and moderated Roxanne Arnal, OD, Certified Financial Planner. Dr. Arnal brings a unique combination of experience as a former independent practice owner and certified financial planner to the proceedings.

Mingle with your colleagues and presenters in conversation rooms following the presentations.

INTERACTIVE MEETING FORMAT, INCLUDING:

  • Presentations and Moderated Panel discussions
  • Private Video Chat tables
  • Interactive Text Chat
  • Direct Links to valuable information

Event registration is now open. Click Here for Details. 

PREMIER SPONSORS

 

 

 

PARTNER & FRIEND SPONSORS FOR THIS EVENT  

       

 

 

 

 

 

Events in the Series:  

Registration for the first event Monday October 25th,  “Technology Drivers of Change” is still open. Click here for detailed information on this event. 

Registration for the second event Monday November 1st,  “Selling & Buying a Practice” is still open.  Click here for detailed information on this event. 

Click here to register for any of the Changing Landscape Events 


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Buying & Selling a Practice

The second event of the “Changing Landscapes: Opportunities & Options for Canadian ECPs” will focus on Selling & Buying a Practice and will be held Monday November 1st (7:30 PM Eastern).

The Canadian market has experienced transformational change in the past year.

Major players have had substantial capital injection and new Canadian market entrants are making their play for market share, creating more opportunities and options for Canadian ECPs.

Join leaders and spokespersons from the world of independent optometry supported by B+L and major eye care groups/organizations including IRIS, FYidoctors, Vision Alliance Corporation, OSI/SOI, Eye Recommend and, new to Canada, Specsavers. ROI Corporation, Canada’s leading health practice brokerage will also share their experience.

This event is a must-attend for any practitioner looking to exit their business, start a new practice or formulate a strategic partnership.

Speaker List Includes:

  • Jackie Joachim, Chief Operating Officer, ROI Corporation
  • Dr. Daryan Angle, VP Business Development, IRIS Group
  • Dr. Wes McCann, Central Optometry, ON, Eye Recommend
  • Dr. Michael Naugle, VP Optometric Partnerships, FYidoctors
  • Gord McFarlane, Managing Director of Corporate Development, FYidoctors
  • Dr. Skylar Feltis, YXE Vision Group, SK, OSI Group
  • Dr. Warren Toews, YXE Vision Group, SK, OSI Group
  • Dr. Trevor Miranda, Cowichan Eyecare, BC, Independent Practice
  • Dr. Robert Allaway, Chief Optometry Officer, Vision Alliance Corporation
  • Mike Protopsaltis, Partnerships Director, Specsavers 

The event series will be moderated by Roxanne Arnal, OD and Certified Financial Planner (TM), bringing an informed and unique perspective to the events.

Event registration is now open. Click Here for Details. 

PREMIER SPONSORS

 
SpecSavers  

 

PARTNER & FRIEND SPONSORS FOR THIS EVENT  

 
Digital ECP  

Follow up Events: 

The final event in the series will be held Monday November 8th  7:30 PM (Eastern). 

Career Pathfinders| Making Informed Choices (November 8th)  
Career options and opportunities for both young and experienced ODs have never been greater as new organizations offering unique business models enter the market and established entities respond to the changing environment.
Click Here for Detailed Information.

Registration for the first event Monday October 25th,  “Technology Drivers of Change” is open. 
Click here for detailed information on this event.  

Click here to register for any of the Changing Landscape Events 


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Michelle McLeod, Western Regional Director of Optometric Services Inc. (OSI), is an accomplished optician with over 20 years-experience in the optical field in a variety of dispensing and management positions. Today, she pursues her passion for the industry by helping optometrists reach their full potential by shaping practices to reflect their owners’ purpose. In 2018, the BC Association of Optometrists bestowed the Industry Representative of the Year Award to Michelle, recognizing her dedication and support to BC Optometrists.

CECBR sat down with Michelle to tap into her insights on how to achieve Optometric Practice growth and success.

CECBR: First, give us an overview of what you do for Optometric practices, and why you do it?

Michelle: In short, we help grow optometric practices to reflect the doctor who owns them and  the neighbourhoods and cities in which they are located. We do so by helping doctors to find their own voice and yet not be alone. My background is in helping optometrists develop business skills and a sense of understanding of what patients are looking for beyond the medical practice. For years, I’ve been observing how patients evaluate practices and make their decisions on staying with them. That experience, combined with the support of the OSI team, is what we provide to practices.

Why do I do it?  I’ve been driven to help small independent businesses maintain a voice in the face of extraordinary competition so that the patients have choices in their eye care. I think OSI members will all say that they feel that they have somebody that they can confidentially come to and talk about their unique selling proposition and find a way to develop it. That’s tremendously rewarding to me.

CECBR: How does the practice owner recognize that they need help? What prompts the initial discussion?

Michelle:  I’m always impressed that optometrists are constantly looking to measurably improve their practice. So often, proactively, they will come to work with OSI.  Of course, financial metrics are critical to the diagnosis of practice health, so higher than normal staff turnover and patient drop outs may also be indicators that something needs to be addressed. These may point to a team that is uninspired, doesn’t feel that the practice is interesting to work for, or perhaps is experiencing internal conflict.

A powerful driver nowadays is poor online reviews. Seeing a negative impression spread over the internet is a really hard hit in the gut for practice owners.

CECBR: Once recognizing the need for support, typically what are the first steps in the process?

Michelle: When we listen to various elite leaders, we’re inspired by what they have to say because they have an extraordinary clarity of purpose.  I encourage our business owners to think that way.  Why did you go into private practice?  What do you want to do for patients?  How is your practice going to look in five years and what do you want to do to get there?  Clarity of purpose is a grand, big plan. The idea is to dream big for your practice and then connect the dots to go from where you are to that goal.

Collaboration and communication with the team to make sure that that goal is well understood is essential. The team can bring ideas and creativity to implement or even enhance the goal.

When other people see what you’re trying to achieve and it’s clear to them who you are and what you’re about, and it is easy for staff and patients to become your ambassadors. Clarity of purpose is something that you do every day and that you are actually living and not just a Mission Statement on a pretty piece of paper on the wall.

CECBR:  So once a practice recognizes the need for improvement and defines and communicates Clarity of Purpose, how is it brought into reality?

Michelle:  You can draw a parallel between a patient treatment plan and a practice treatment plan. A patient plan has three elements: diagnosis, prescribed therapy and expected outcomes.  The practice growth plan is no different. In our approach, technology and training are the twin tracks to successful outcomes.

CECBR:  Let’s start with technology. What are the important technology aspects that need to be addressed in the practice treatment plan?

Michelle:  Technology is, of course, the foundation of patient health evaluation. But it’s always changing and growing.  If a clinic looks at their clarity of purpose and says, “I am looking to provide my patients the very best eye care possible,” technology is going to have to be part of that aspiration.  That may mean expanding the amount of special testing that’s done, or the amount of evaluation that can be done before the patient is referred.  So, it starts often with optometrists.

CECBR:  But what about technology outside of direct patient care? Is that part of the equation?

Michelle: Doctors often get very excited about the technology to deliver medical care, but then they have really insufficient clinic management software that doesn’t facilitate an outstanding patient experience. It just sits in the corner and collects data.  We’d like to see clinics consider that the software they use should do more than store patient information.

It should help them drive patient attraction and loyalty. This can be through online appointment booking, easy insurance billing, or the ability to browse clinic frame selection online. Over time, even portals where patients can access their own medical information will be possible. All of that is part of a technology that we believe becomes the backbone of the clinic and the Optosys software has been developed to achieve that goal. 

If an optometrist wants to be perceived as medically superior by their patients, it’s not just the quality of their eye exam that a patient evaluates. It’s their whole visit. So, the definition of technology also reaches into the eyewear gallery.

Independent practices don’t have to take a back seat to large corporate retailers. Independents have the advantage of being faster to make changes.  We can bring practices a technology ecosystem that includes digital eyeglass measuring devices, and, of course, a world class clinic management system that brings all technology, including medical tech, practice management and patient communication together.

CECBR: Earlier you said the tech and training go hand in hand. Can you please elaborate on the training side of this equation?

Michelle: Both of my parents were teachers.  I’ve had inspiring mentors in my life.  And one of the things that they have really shown me is that the best way to deliver excellent patient care is to constantly be finding out what the new version of excellence looks like.

Training includes absorbing new ideas, evolving how we take care of patients, maybe correcting some mistakes.  As a trainer, I ask two questions, “What do you feel you’re doing right and what would you like to do better?” These questions open the training discussion.

I enjoy teaching.  I think a lot of people in this profession do.  We’re blessed to have a lot of people in our industry who are willing to take their personal time to teach others, imparting knowledge and new ways of thinking.  So to me, training should be done on a regular basis.  If it isn’t, it may be an indication that the clinic is getting stale.

If training is left organically to the staff to do on their own, there may be a lack of clarity of purpose that the patients will experience.  Some have advanced their skills.  Some people haven’t.  This alters the consistency of patient care.  To me, training is a way to keep the whole team powering your clarity of purpose. That’s the reason OSI offers training programs and conferences that benefit clinics.  It’s a way to keep everybody on the same track to give responsible information to patients and find new ways to take care of them.

CECBR:  What specific best practices do you observe for effective training within the clinic?

Michelle: Having the practice owner prioritizing training as part of the routine is important.  We find that clinics that are really great at keeping their team educated invite OSI certified trainers to present on topics related to their clarity of purpose three to five times a year. This helps the team update their knowledge, keep their style consistent and ultimately deliver care that’s reflective of that practice.

We also encourage practices to leverage industry partnerships. Many suppliers have entire teams dedicated to coming in and developing the practice’s ability to promote their service or product.  The power of partners can help the practice team understand how to sell a product or how to claim a service.

I often hear, “We hired somebody because they have 10 years of experience”.  But the interesting thing is that person has 10 years of experience with somebody else’s clinic’s goals and dreams.  Ideally, training is a way to help craft a team which reflects the doctors’ goals and dreams.

CECBR: It sounds as though the OSI team, through you, are offering comprehensive Practice Consulting services.

Michelle: Yes, OSI practice management advisors are the conduit to help doctors find what they need and to access our specialty services.  For most doctors we can fulfil all of their needs internally through OSI. We have incredible internal capability in most disciplines; including marketing, web services, clinic management software and financing for equipment to name a few. When we have something that is more specialized we can refer them to a trusted partner.

I must say I’m lucky to work with extraordinary people.  The amount of care shown to patients is an extraordinary thing to watch.  Often for me, it’s taking all that same level of care that they put on patients and asking them to put it on themselves and their business.

Article sponsored by Optometric Services Inc.

 


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It’s important to choose wisely when it comes to selecting a new practice system.  The decision may be daunting. There are many products and options to choose from. Choosing Practice Management Software (PMS) is a long-term decision as technology has a growing impact on all types of businesses. The solution needs to be aligned with your current and future needs, it needs to quickly evolve with the Canadian eye care industry, and be able to integrate new features with the changing expectations of customers.

Here are six key questions to ask yourself when evaluating a new practice management software.

  1. What should Practice Management Software do for the ODs, the staff and patients?

Initially, any new system requires an adaptation. Change management needs to be a key component of the overall project. But once this phase has passed, the PMS should offer you the following:

  1. Improved efficiency of the staff and the ODs
  2. Enable electronic communication with patients, suppliers, insurance companies
  3. Allows you to evolve with the digital needs of today’s patients with respect to communication and online shopping.
  4. Integration with the clinic’s website for patient oriented applications
  5. Support the migration to a paperless environment

Optosys, the PMS developed by Optometric Services takes into account all these requirements that will make a clinic both user friendly for patients and more efficient to manage. A good PMS can help attract new patients and improve the efficiency in the clinic.

  1. What does it mean to get ready for the Clinic of the Future?

Today, you would never buy a smart phone that doesn’t offer you the possibility of taking pictures or accessing the internet. In a PMS, you need to look for a system that will provide online appointment booking, online ordering, KPI reporting and submitting insurance forms for patients online. Supporting text messaging and online frame viewing linked to your existing frame inventory are customer expectations that are emerging quickly and not generally available in older practice management systems.

The first thing a patient wants to be able to do is schedule an appointment at any time of the day without having to depend upon someone answering the phone at the other end. The eBooking module in Optosys gives the patient online access to pre-selected time slots determined by the ODs. When a patient books an appointment, it is automatically updated in the PMS.  The patient gets an automated response to confirm the appointment.

People rely more and more on their smart phone for most of their communication. They now want to receive text message whenever possible and many still want to receive emails. For standard communications such as recalls and reminders, your PMS should offer a way to personalize the communication according to the needs of each patient.

Shopping online is now very common amongst every age group. Clinics often lose sales because patients have looked at what is offered elsewhere and have made up their mind even before going in for their eye exam. Being able to display products online is becoming an important feature to capture the loyalty of the patients.

  1. Is the system customizable?

While most systems are customizable they may not offer the right support. And while it may be tempting to use a new system that replicates old practices, to minimize change for people working in the clinic, a new system should be viewed as an opportunity to re-think how things should be done. This is where the support team that will assist the clinic in its migration becomes very important. You want to be able to take of advantage of all the best practices that have been implemented in different practices.

  1. Can the support team assist in transferring data from an old system to a new one?

Depending on which older generation PMS the clinic is using, it is usually possible to transfer most the key data needed in a new system. Hence the importance of choosing the right software company that can ensure that the necessary data is transferred, as the complexity of the task can be fairly high. Each system requires a detailed analysis especially if the database has evolved over the years.

  1. Does the system provide KPI measures?

Aside from facilitating all clinic operations, a new system should provide an easy way to bring visibility to the Key Performance Indicators in your practice.  Your PMS should offer an “at a glance” view of the key metrics to track your success and highlight which areas need your attention.  Key Performance Indicators are the basis in developing a management dashboard to track the performance of the clinic.  It’s very useful for associates who want to have a common understanding of how the clinic is doing and it’s also very useful to establish performance objectives for the weeks and months to come.

  1. What about the company that supports the software?

A company’s ability to develop and support the evolution of a software solution suitable for the Canadian market is very important in today’s business environment. So many things are changing, it’s important that the development and support team behind your PMS are able to keep up with changes and have in-depth knowledge of the Canadian environment.  Look for a software where the development team and support team work together to evolve the software towards the needs in the industry. A team that is focused and passionate about our industry. The track record and the vision of the company is also a key aspect to the decision.

To find out more about Optosys visit optosys.ca or contact us at: contact@optosys.ca

 

PATRICE LACOSTE

CEO of Optometric Services Inc (OSI). Patrice joined OSI August 2015. With almost 30 years’ experience, he has held several executive positions in management and administration. Patrice is impassioned by the optometric industry, marketing, innovation and information technology.


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By Kassandra Shaw, OD. St. Paul Eyecare

Editor’s note: Kassandra Shaw left Saskatchewan to study Optometry at Waterloo with the full intention of returning to her prairie roots. Raised by owners of an independent small-town business, Kassandra knew exactly what she wanted to do and where she wanted to do it. In January 2017 she opened an independent practice in St. Paul, Alberta and is about to add a second OD. She was able to achieve her goals through experiential learning as a student intern, as an associate optometrist, and with the help of her network, Optometric Services Inc.

At the time of entering Optometry School at Waterloo, I already knew where and what type of practice I wanted. By graduation in 2013, I had intentions of living somewhere in a rural area, which I thought would be best for raising a family in the future. I grew up in rural south-east Saskatchewan, and knew that a prairie setting was something that I wanted to come back to. Given that my parents were owners of an independent retail business, I had a strong drive towards a consumer based business model.  Wanting to enter the health care field, Optometry presented a perfect match for me.

I targeted an area that could accommodate another one-to-two OD practice, not wanting to stray too far from my roots. My research pointed to St. Paul Alberta; a growing community large enough to support a new optometric practice.

While I already planned to own my own business from before graduation, I set out to gain experience prior to implementing my goal. I wanted to see how other optometrists managed their clinics and what could be learned through the experience. I did my internship in a private practice in St. Paul and joined the practice as an associate after graduation. In the following two years, I gained strong marketing and customer service experience at a major optical retailer to complement what I had learned from independent optometry.

Support from My Network

I opened the doors of my dream independent practice on January 17th of 2017.

It would be lovely if a wonderful manual existed with all the information needed to open and operate a practice, with all the options and aspects to consider, but there isn’t. A colleague suggested I look at OSI (Optometric Services Inc.) as a network to support my goals. OSI had a very good reputation in the region, and that definitely came through when I met with Hannah, the Regional Account Manager.

Hannah was there to answer all of my questions and spent the time to ensure everything was properly set up. Moving forward with OSI has been incredibly beneficial. They held seminars with my staff who were new to the industry before we even opened our doors. They’ve continued to hold seminars in areas that we need help.

OSI also offers leadership management courses. I can honestly say that this was the most impactful development tool I have encountered. The courses were like a manual for analyzing an independent optometry clinic—how to look at it from every perspective: from tracking the financials and all the different Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), all the way to staffing and scheduling.

The OSI national summit at Lake Louise was affordable enough even as a first-year practice. I was able to take my staff along for an educational and fun weekend of networking with great speakers.

Virtues of Independent Practice

I think that independent optometry is a great thing. Owning your own business offers a great opportunity to grow something shaped around your own ideals and values. The entire idea behind being an entrepreneur is very rewarding and it allows you to offer to your patients exactly what you want to offer; to practice optometry in the way you want to practice it.

There’s a lot of great resources out there and many people willing to help.  There’s always resources that are specifically set out to help you, and so it’s not something that’s outside of anyone’s reach even if you believe you don’t have the background with the business aspects of independent practice.

Now that I’ve put in all the work to make my own business successful, I would tell anybody to do the same. It’s definitely worth it!  We are in an industry where we are very lucky to have a lot of resources to work with and to help us along the way.

One year in, I couldn’t be happier with the progress we’ve made. The biggest challenge in moving forward is that I’m going to be needing to hire more staff.  My brother graduates from Waterloo this spring, and he will be joining me in the practice. Once I’m not seeing patients five days a week I will have a couple extra days to be training and working with new staff. And I am confident in the future knowing that OSI will be along for the journey.

 

This article is supported by Optometric Services, Inc.

 

KASSANDRA SHAW, OD

Dr Kassandra Shaw is the owner of St. Paul Eye Care, in St. Paul Alberta.  She opened her doors in January 2017.  Dr. Shaw is a member of Optometric Services Inc. (OSI).


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