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Opening COLD Dr. Diane Almanza, O.D.
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WHERE DO I START? Can I really do this? Think long term! Solo
Independence No second opinion Partnership Shared risk Difference of opinion Practice philosophy
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MAKE A PLAN! Getting Started 1 year ahead? 9 months? 6 months?
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1 year ahead of opening Designate a Location Demographic evaluation
Loan proposal Pro forma (yes, you WILL use this!)
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Location? Professional building? Shopping center? Mall?
Free-standing building? Visibility & parking are key! Consider your neighbors Noise, crowd it will attract, odors
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Location (on a personal note)
Long term decision Family Friends Weather
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9 months…. Get your $ Office Design Marketing Plan
How will you get your name out there? Get your $ Open a business account Equipment Make a list Research each piece (Vision Expo, OptoWest)
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6 months…. Sign a lease Hire a contractor
Business license (city/county) Malpractice insurance/ workers comp (EDD) Medicare, Medical ID #s File fictitious name through state board of optometry Building signs
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3 months… Telephone # & listing in phone book VSP & insurance panels
Exam Form Design Frame and CL accounts Order your inventory Find some employees (your hardest task!) Order furniture Frame displays, front desk Desks, chairs etc.
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More to buy in the last few months before opening….
Computers software Credit card terminal File cabinets Security system Letterhead, business cards All office supplies
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Your biggest challenge... STAFF
Again, think LONG term. TRUST Hire personality, train skills Create an office manual Sets the ground rules make it very detailed Job descriptions Appreciate your staff!
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Financial Management….
Fees What is the going rate in your area? How will YOUR fees compare to your neighbor? Why?
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Let the people in your area KNOW that you are there and welcome them to see your office with a grand opening/ ribbon cutting event!
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Start Seeing patients!
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GOOD LUCK! Questions?
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OFFICE DESIGN Floor Plan Existing practice? New design?
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OFFICE FLOW Go visit offices! Develop an efficient floor plan
See what works and what doesn’t Develop an efficient floor plan Where will you adjust frames? Where will the staff eat lunch? Can you handle more than 1 patient at a time?
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Components of an office
Reception area Lab Exam room Business office Contact lens area Pre-test room Private office Bathroom
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Reception Area First impression Anything for kids? Magazines? Music?
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Business office Files Office supplies Insurance billing
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Laboratory Frame adjustments Tinting Edging
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Contact lens area Contact lens dispensing Contact lens training
Private area
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Pretest Room Private area Lighting Efficiency
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Exam Room Obviously you know what goes on in here Desk? Sink?
Cabinets?
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Get Help Eye Designs & other companies are available to help
Opening an office is a lot of work! Ask for help from someone who has already gone through it!
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In office Laboratory Diane Almanza OD
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Surfacing vs. Finishing
Space requirements Skill level of operator
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Surfacing Lab Full service lab! Generate Polish Edge
Make all lens types: SV, FT, PAL, etc Start up costs ~$70-130,000
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Finishing Lab Lens arrives completed, cut to fit the frame in your office Cost ~$50,000
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Equipment required Edger (patternless) Avg cost ~$45K Lens blocker
Groover Drill mount Lensometer Tint tank Lab staff!
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Benefits of an in house lab
Reduced turn around time Control over product quality Reduced cost
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Disadvantages Cost Staff Quality control Equipment maintenance
Lab errors Specialty coatings require outside treatments
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The Alternative…. Find an outside laboratory Quality Turn around time
Cost Warranty Discount Redo policy
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Outside Laboratory Advantages Disadvantages
No cost to you for “start up” Have someone to blame outside your office Experienced lab techs Incentives for you & your staff Disadvantages Less control over speed/ quality Longer turn around time Higher cost per lens
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Choice is yours….. Try to visit doctors who have these labs while you are in school! If there is a doctor you visit without one, ask “why not?”
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??Questions??
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Balancing Work & Social Life
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Set Personal & Business Goals
Marriage/ kids House Travel Time spent with family # of days in the office $ goals for yourself/ the office
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Be efficient at work! Be more effective by doing LESS
Delegate, Delegate, Delegate! Decrease your socializing with staff Close the door to your office
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You are only 1 person You cannot give everything 100% of your attention….. How do you split it up? Get help.... House cleaner, gardener, etc. Give yourself permission to RELAX!
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Do you want to WORK to LIVE
Ask yourself…. Do you want to WORK to LIVE OR LIVE TO WORK?
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