Power Hour Optometry's Only Live Radio Show

“My staff just doesn’t get it!  It’s hopeless and training doesn’t work!” Sound familiar? It certainly does to us! On this episode of the Power Hour, Gary digs into why so many practice owners say that so often – and what you should do about it!  There is hope – but you’ll only get the advice you need if you tune in!

In what will probably be the shortest episode ever, Gary reveals the atomic powered tool the every entrepreneur has, and never uses.  It’s one of those “I can’t believe it was this obvious and staring me in the face all the time” things that you WILL be able to use right after the show.  Short, to the point and powerful – on this episode of the Power Hour!

How are frames designed?  Get the inside scoop behind the design process of the John Varvatos Eyewear Collection. The company's creative director Nico Roseillier joins the show to discuss how this cool process takes place. 

Listen to this episode for an entertaining discussion with Gary and Brian as they talk about the difference between UK and US optometry.  Opticians scope of care, OD education, UK practitioners emphasis on glasses and being ahead of the curve in contact lenses are discussed along with differences health insurance systems and the state of the industry.  Brian also talks about his important work with the BCLA, his fun presentation style and . . .  shoes (listen for details!)

Managed vision care, telemedicine, online shopping for eyeglasses or contact lenses... are these things that will hurt or help your practice? The answers and discussion may surprise you when you listen to this episode of the Power Hour!

Private Equity is getting more and more involved in optometry.  What is private equity, why are they so interested in eyecare, and is private equity something you should look at for your own practice?  Jeff Fronterhouse and Bret Davis, two experts in private equity, join Gary on this episode of the Power Hour!

During a staff training session you tell your optician, “When you sell AR lenses, say X.” We’ve all tried training our staff this way, and whether “X” is effective or not, invariably we have trouble making it stick. Is the problem “X” or the way we’re training and teaching our staff? Frank Pigneri, Sr. Manager of Customer Training and Development at Essilor is the guest on our show. He discusses some of the finer points of optical training, what should be included in a good training program, when to do it, how to make it stick as well as a host of other great topics related to staff education.

You practice in an area that is very conservative. Your long time trusted, well known receptionist who had brown hair yesterday, shows up with purple hair today. What should you do? What can you do? Your optician shows up with a therapy dog. Your insurance biller is afraid of dogs. Now what? Attorney Julia Goldman is the guest on the Power Hour.  

We have all watched kids scroll through life, with their rapid-fire thumbs and a six-second attention span. Physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston saw that with her own kids and learned that the average kid spends 6.5 hours a day looking at screens. She wondered about the impact of all this time and about the friction occurring in homes and schools around negotiating screen time—friction she knew all too well.

Years of scientific research and intensive study of real-world applications have led to incredible breakthroughs in the way businesses large and small identify and hire top talent in their fields. Optimize Hire, a leading Internet-based pre-employment testing company focused on helping organizations hire better, joins Local Eye Site on this episode of the Power Hour to discuss this important topic.  

The CDC, in close collaboration with industry partners, has organized Contact Lens Health Week as a strategy to increase public awareness and promote healthy contact lens wear and care.  Jennifer Cope, MD, MPH from the CDC and  Joseph P. Shovlin, O.D., F.A.A.O., the President, American Academy of Optometry, join the Power Hour to discuss the fourth annual Contact Lens Health Week. This year’s campaign theme is “healthy habits mean healthy eyes” with a focus on encouraging youth to start healthy habits early, for healthy eyes later. Increased awareness about the importance of proper contact lens hygiene can encourage contact lens wearers to adopt healthy habits that can reduce their chances of getting an eye infection. 

Five years ago the first Power Hour episode discussed the future of optometry. What's has and hasn't come true since that show? The dialogue will probably surprise you!

It’s as constant and inescapable as gravity.  Yet, most of us only focus on the downside of the 80-20 rule and don’t look at how it can actually help our practices.  That changes on this episode of the Power Hour when Gary discusses how this powerful principle can help you build your practice.  Marketing, staffing, accounts receivable, and scheduling are but a few of the areas that can be improved once you understand how to leverage this natural law.

While Google Glass “1.0” certainly had enough challenges that prevented it from becoming mainstream in optometry, other companies (including Google) haven’t stopped developing new and better products.  Listen to this episode of the Power Hour as we bring back industry expert David Friedfeld, the president of ClearVision and Dr. Richard Clompus, the VP of Communications for PogoTec and we visit the current state of wearable eyewear and how it can work in your practice.

What’s the secret number of dollars that should trigger you to start thinking, “I need help and need to hire an associate?” Does such a number even exist? Regardless, when the time comes and you decide to bring an associate into your practice, how should you do it? On the next episode of the Power Hour, Gary discusses the nuances and best practices to bringing on an associate doctor. When you should do it, how to it and why you should (or shouldn’t) consider it. Like all the practice building topics discussed on the show, you can expect this discussion to be thought provoking with very different information you’re likely to hear anywhere else!

Listen to this episode as we discuss the current state of telemedicine, what Smart Vision Labs (www.smartvisionlabs.com) has learned since their last appearance and why they have re-released their latest device. Two of the newest clinical studies will be discussed on the show. Smart Vision believes OD’s can work well with them instead of having an adversarial relationship and welcomes your calls on the show. So, is it really an eye exam in an iPhone or something else? Tune in and find out!

Treehouse Eyes opened about a year ago.  Founded by Dr. Gary Gerber and industry veteran Matt Oerding, with two centers already open in the DC area, Matt and Gary discuss how and why the company launched, what the results have been so far and what their future expansions plans are.

Erik Lilligren from Eyecarevideo.tv joins the show and talks about why and how practices can effectively use video in their practices.  Learn the tips and tricks the pros use to promote your practice and make you stand out from the crowd!  An overlooked medium, and often used poorly, video can be a great tool to position your practice, especially in crowded markets.

Whether it’s Google ad words, boosting a Facebook post, or a recall snail mail postcard – the basics of marketing still apply.  Ignore any of these and your attempts are sure to fail.  Use all of them and you’re sure to succeed.  Gary covers all you need to know about this important topic on this episode of the Power Hour.

Two weeks ago, the Vice President of Operations for the Power Practice, Paul Ferraro, was our guest on the show.  Paul discussed the first steps in recruiting top talent – job posts, telephone screening, etc.  Tune in to this episode of the Power Hour as the discussion continues.  Topics include the actual in person interview – questions, flow, structure, working interviews, the onboarding process, staff retention and why staff members really leave and an array of other important topics.