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MEDTECH 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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“Once I assist an after-hours patient in need, they almost always switch their care (and their family’s care) over to me as their provider. Sometimes the revenue differences we make are not immediately felt, but are present for years to come.”
Mark K. Davis, OD
