Review of Optometric Business5 Tips to Deliver 24/7 Emergency Care that Creates Lifetime Patients

Could the efficient use of telemedicine be your practice’s key to expanding its services and attracting a broader patient base?

Eye emergencies can be a source of high anxiety for patients and a practice growth opportunity for optometrists. One optometrist shares how he handles these situations to enhance patient care and grow his practice.

Key Points:

• Optometrists can establish a strong rapport with patients by being available for emergencies, often retaining these patients for life.
• Telemedicine offers an efficient way to deal with emergency calls. This approach allows the optometrist to evaluate the condition and reassure the patient without necessarily needing a physical consultation.
• A call-forwarding system can streamline after-hours emergencies, routing calls to the optometrist’s personal number and allowing them to respond promptly.
• Having an in-clinic foreign body removal kit and an OCT on hand can be invaluable for handling emergencies.
• Building relationships with hospital ER doctors and PCPs can broaden the perception of optometric services and increase referrals.

Additional Points:

• Many emergency calls come from non-established patients. After being assisted in an emergency, these patients often transition their regular care to the calling optometrist.
• Telemedicine codes were expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing for more types of virtual visits, and are in place until the end of 2023.

Conclusion:

• By implementing a 24/7 on-call service using telemedicine, optometrists can enhance patient care, expand their services, and grow their practice.

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