ASCRS News
Fall 2024
The new ASCRS Business of Refractive Cataract Surgery Summit took place September 27–28 in Irving, Texas, with the goal of helping practices learn how to grow their use of and improve their implementation of advanced-technology IOLs.
“This is a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive course that provides both the knowledge and materials necessary to deliver an A-Z curriculum on the advanced implant journey,” said Vance Thompson, MD, chair of the program. “This course was created to help give practices the tools and confidence they need to successfully offer advanced-technology IOLs, not only meeting patient demand but increasing a revenue stream to compliment the continual decline of third-party reimbursement.”
This course—spearheaded by Dr. Thompson and co-directed by William Wiley, MD, Dagny Zhu, MD, Patti Barkey, COE, and Carrie Jacobs, COE—featured 18+ in-person course hours, access to materials within an extensive resource library (comprised of forms, checklists, videos, slideshows, etc.), and inclusion in an exclusive LinkedIn group for ongoing mentorship, knowledge sharing, and success stories.
Tuition for the course covered attendance for two members of a practice (typically the lead surgeon and lead implementor on the business side). Kelly Clayton, COE, of Richens Eye Center in St. George, Utah, said he and Sharon Richens, MD, saw such a value in the program that not only were they attending, but they also enrolled a pair of their surgical counselors.
“Although we do pretty well in the premium arena and have done a good job implementing, learning some of our skills from other practices, we’re a small practice. I think this meeting, because it’s so intimate and some of the key players who have done a beautiful job with their practices are going to share pearls for how to elevate the guest (our patient) experience … I’m quite certain that not only will it help me and Dr. Richens but the two other team members we’re bringing (our surgical counselors) significantly level up the guest experience,” Mr. Clayton said ahead of the meeting.
