1. Opening
COLD
Dr. Diane Almanza, O.D.

2. 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

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

4. 1 year ahead of opening Designate a Location Demographic evaluation
Loan proposal
Pro forma (yes, you WILL use this!)

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

6. Location (on a personal note)
Long term decision
Family
Friends
Weather

7. 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)

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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!

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

13. 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!

14. Start Seeing patients!

15. GOOD LUCK!
Questions?

17. OFFICE DESIGN
Floor Plan
Existing practice?
New design?

18. 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?

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

20. Reception Area
First impression
Anything for kids?
Magazines?
Music?

21. Business office
Files
Office supplies
Insurance billing

22. Laboratory
Frame adjustments
Tinting
Edging

23. Contact lens area Contact lens dispensing Contact lens training
Private area

24. Pretest Room
Private area
Lighting
Efficiency

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

26. 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!

28. In office Laboratory
Diane Almanza OD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

36. 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

37. 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?”

38. ??Questions??

40. Balancing Work & Social Life

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

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

43. 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!

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