Business Aspects of Optometry

Count on this complete guide to setting up and managing an optometric practice! Business Aspects of Optometry covers everything related to the business side of a practice - such as selecting a location and staff, equipping the office, office administration and personnel management, marketing, options for a specialty practice, controlling costs, billing and reimbursement, risk management, and financial planning. To succeed in practice, this is the one resource you need!

• Unique! Expert authors are practice management educators who teach the course in optometry schools.
• A logical organization makes it easy to find practical information on managing your own practice or purchasing your own practice.
• Coverage of different types of ownership includes self-employment, individual proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations.
• Coverage of cost control issues compares the selection and use of an optical laboratory versus an in-house finishing lab.
• Risk management and insurance coverage provides an overview of personal, life, liability, and disability insurance.
• Coverage of financial planning and tax reporting discusses topics including IRAs, retirement plans, estate planning, and personal and business tax issues.
• Bulleted lists, tables, figures, and boxes help you locate valuable information quickly.
• Checklists provide a logical progression in completing tasks.

NEW chapters expand the book's scope of coverage, and include these topics:

• Personal and professional goal setting
• Resumes and interviews
• Debt management
• Principles of practice transfer
• Ethics
• Quality assurance
• Specialty practice
• Vision rehabilitation
• Coding and billing
• Financial decision making
• Exit strategies

Section 1: Preparing for your Professional Career

1. State of the Profession
2. Personal and Professional Goal Setting
3. Ownership (Self-Employment)
4. Employment
5. Resumes and Interviews
6. Debt Management
7. Principles of Negotiation

Section 2: Purchasing a Practice

8. Valuation and Purchase of an Eyecare Practice
9. Principles of Practice Transfer

Section 3: Developing a Business Plan: New Practice, Expansion and Acquisition

10. Deciding Where to Practice
11. Elements of an Office Business Plan, Practice Financing and Obtaining a Business Loan
12. Understanding Premises Leases
13. Office Design
14. Instrumentation and Equipment
15. Controlling Cost of Goods

Section 4: Office Administration and Human Resource Issues

16. Office Organization, Structure and Systems
17. Human Resources: Hiring and Training Office Staff
18. Human Resources: Managing and Motivating Office Staff
19. Human Resources: Evaluating, Managing and Dismissing Office Staff
20. Computer Business Systems and Internet Resources
21. Recall Systems

Section 5: Practice Administration

22. Ethics in Optometric Practice
23. Professional Liability Insurance and Risk Management
24. Quality Assurance
25. Insurance
26. Patient Communication
27. Marketing: External and Internal

Section 6: Evaluation and Management of Specialty Services

28. Ophthalmic Dispensing
29. Specialty Practice
30. Contact Lens Specialty Practice
31. Binocular Vision and Vision Therapy Specialty Practice
32. Interprofessional Relations

Section 7: Financial Aspects

33. Fees, Credit and Collections
34. Managed Care, Audits and Third Party Reimbursement
35. Coding and Billing
36. Analysis of Practice Economics and Growth
37. Financial and Estate Planning
38. Financial Decision Making
39. Taxes
40. Exit Strategies