Opening COLD Dr Diane Almanza O D

Opening COLD Dr. Diane Almanza, O. D.

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

Getting Started ►MAKE PLAN! A § 1 year ahead? § 9 months? § 6 months? § 3 months?

1 year ahead of opening ►Designate a Location ►Demographic evaluation ►Loan proposal § Pro forma (yes, you WILL use this!)

Location? Professional building? ► Shopping center? ► Mall? ► Free-standing building? ► Visibility & parking are key! ► Consider your neighbors ► § Noise, crowd it will attract, odors

Location (on a personal note) ►Long term decision §Family §Friends §Weather

9 months…. 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, Opto. West)

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 ►

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.

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

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!

Financial Management…. ►Fees § What is the going rate in your area? § How will YOUR fees compare to your neighbor? Why?

► 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!

Start Seeing patients!

GOOD LUCK! ► Questions? ► DAlmanza. OD@aol. com

OFFICE DESIGN n Floor Plan n Existing practice? n New design?

OFFICE n. FLOW offices! Go visit n n See what works and what doesn’t Develop an efficient floor plan n Where will you adjust frames? Where will the staff eat lunch? Can you handle more than 1 patient at a time?

Components of an office n n n n Reception area Lab Exam room Business office Contact lens area Pre-test room Private office Bathroom

Reception Area First impression n Anything for kids? n Magazines? n Music? n

Business office n Files n Office supplies n Insurance billing

Laboratory n Frame adjustments n Tinting n Edging

Contact lens area n n Contact lens dispensing Contact lens training n Private area

Pretest Room n Private area n Lighting n Efficiency

Exam Room n n Obviously you know what goes on in here Desk? Sink? Cabinets?

Get Help n n 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!

In office Laboratory Diane Almanza OD

Surfacing vs. Finishing Space requirements n Skill level of operator n

Surfacing Lab n n n Full service lab! • Generate • Polish • Edge Make all lens types: SV, FT, PAL, etc Start up costs • ~$70 -130, 000

Finishing Lab n n Lens arrives completed, cut to fit the frame in your office Cost ~$50, 000

Equipment required n n n n Edger (patternless) • Avg cost ~$45 K Lens blocker Groover Drill mount Lensometer Tint tank Lab staff!

Benefits of an in house lab Reduced turn around time v Control over product quality v Reduced cost v

Disadvantages n n n Cost Staff Quality control Equipment maintenance Lab errors Specialty coatings require outside treatments

The Alternative…. n Find an outside laboratory • Quality • Turn around time • Cost • Warranty • Discount • Redo policy

Outside Laboratory n Advantages • • n 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

Choice is yours…. . n n 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? ”

? ? Questions? ?

Balancing Work & Social Life

Set Personal & Business Goals l l l Marriage/ kids House Travel Time spent with family # of days in the office $ goals for yourself/ the office

Be efficient at work! l Be more effective by doing LESS l Delegate, Delegate! l Decrease your socializing with staff l Close the door to your office

You are only 1 person l You cannot give everything 100% of your attention…. . How do you split it up? l Get help. . House cleaner, gardener, etc. l Give yourself permission to RELAX!

Ask yourself…. Do you want to WORK to LIVE OR LIVE TO WORK?