Toward that end our affiliated doctors commit themselves to providing a broad scope of professional services, aligning the potential of professional services ODs can provide to their patients (as defined by the scope of their licensure) with what they do provide on a day-to-day basis. We call this approach the Medical Model of Practice and it is the cornerstone of our shared philosophy of patient care.
Why are we a group?
We are a group because together we have a better chance of competing in the primary vision care market against large, multi unit, publicly traded optical companies and multi-specialty retailers and managed care companies. Together they present a serious threat to the independent OD’s ability maintain market share, access to patients and reasonable pricing on professional services and optical products.
How does it work?
It starts with a clear mission, Preserve and Enhance Vision, that consequently infuses all aspects of our strategies. If you were a member of the group, your practice would immediately have access to all elements of these strategies as well as the products and processes that support their execution. And you would be part of a group of over eighty locations who are presenting a similar position to our patients, a position that favorably differentiates your practice from your chain optical competition. Furthermore, as a group acting in concert, we are a much more compelling entity to managed care companies and large self insured corporations looking for groups that can provide a consistent quality of care to their covered populations.
How do I justify my investment?
The group “taxes” itself for the services provided through our management group, Eye America, an amount equal to 3% of monthly net sales.
If you come on board, our management team will perform an in-depth analysis of your practice and point out the type of income opportunities or savings that can grow your practice income, improve your margins, cut your operating expenses and in the end grow your profit. The analysis is followed by an annual operating plan for your practice, which assists you in focusing the efforts of you and your staff, and provides goals, training resources and regular reporting to track performance against those goals. As our doctors attest, the benefits of affiliation far outstrip the monthly cost.
Summary
The delivery channel for primary care is changing. Fragmented, independent professional practices have increasingly lost market share to large, multi-unit commercial optical chains. At the same time managed care has cut dramatically into our pricing and margins.
Consolidation via cooperation among like minded independents is the only way we see of reversing this trend. We are asking you to consider doing what we have already done ourselves and continue to do –coming together as a group and making an investment in the group to insure its current success and continued growth. In the end we are convinced that you, like all of our members, will see that your investments show up in the short term profitability and long term value of your practice. ¹
¹ Eye America was formed by independent optometrists who still play a significant role in ownership and management.
