The Handoff
Do you discuss lens options in the chair? If so, how do you transfer that information to the dispensary? To learn more about how a lens menu can help, we invited Shamir Peer-to-Peer Champion Ron Szeliga, O.D., owner of Spring Hill Eyecare in Spring Hill, TN, to share his process.
THE PROBLEM
“When verbally prescribing ophthalmic lenses,” explains Dr. Szeliga, “patients can often forget what we say in the room by the time they reach our frame gallery.”
THE SOLUTION
To help, Dr. Szeliga uses an interoffice messaging system called Blue Note to notify the optician to come to the exam room. He also has a frequently updated lens menu form that he and his staff have created, and he completes it for each patient. “I’ll go over the menu for what I recommend and will transfer the authority to the optician by asking what they think about something. For example, I might say, ‘I think they need a business progressive, but I’ll let you two go over his/her work environment to see if you think they need a Workspace or Computer lens.’”
THE MENU
“The menu we have created has four panels on each side (eight panels in all) and folds to the size of a brochure. While discussing the various solutions with the patient, I will scribble and draw arrows, connecting the different features I have prescribed.”
THE CONVERSATION
“After introducing my optician, I’ll brief that individual on the patient’s prescription and how they use their eyes. I transfer the authority to the optician by asking what they think would be a good solution for the patient’s needs. I may say, ‘Mr. Smith, tell my optician how many hours a day you spend in front of the computer?’”
THE RESULT
“Even though I know the answer, I’ll let my optician tell them how they will benefit from a room-distance progressive. I’ll chime in and say, ‘There are many different designs, but my optician will ask you more about your work areas and help determine which design suits your environment best.’ I feel like this gives the patient confidence in the optician they are about to work with going forward.”
Erinn Morgan
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