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Refractive cataract surgery comes of age
Kerry D. Solomon, MD, and Carolina Eyecare Physicians LLC.
At Carolina Eyecare Physicians LLC, Kerry D. Solomon, MD, his partners and team have achieved success through matching cutting-edge technological innovation with an individualized approach to patient care.
“From a practice management standpoint, success comes from making a determination and commitment that customer service is a big deal and patient satisfaction is a huge deal,” Dr. Solomon told Premier Surgeon. “We do everything we can from a customer service standpoint, and we try to deliver on what we tell our patients we are going to do. On the clinical end, I think it is about outcomes. We need to do everything we can to help them achieve their visual goals the first time around.”
In addition to implementing the latest refractive surgery technology, such as the iFS femtosecond laser to improve LASIK results, Carolina Eyecare Physicians LLC is also among the first practices in the country to be using the LenSx femtosecond laser cataract surgery platform. Images by Dave Cook Photography.
Kerry D. Solomon, MD, performs a laser vision correction procedure. Refractive enhancements are an option that patients are informed of early in the process
Dr. Solomon and Clarissa Harps, COT, demonstrate their iLASIK procedure. Since adopting the iFS femtosecond laser to perform LASIK flaps, Dr. Solomon no longer uses mechanical microkeratomes. “For younger patients, LASIK technology is a great option to help improve vision,” he said.
Co-management has been embraced at Carolina Eyecare Physicians. Above, Jeffrey Hood, OD, pictured with Kerry D. Solomon, MD.
Technicians at Carolina Eyecare Physicians, including lead technician, Jessica Costas, COA, are trained to educate patients about matching their visual needs with the best technology available.
Dr. Solomon’s technician team. From left: Kasey McArdle, COA; Jessica Costas, COA; Sarah Gillespie, COA; and Clarissa Harps, COT.
Being located in Charleston, SC, means addressing issues like college team rivalry. Therefore, in the refractive surgery suite, patients can choose to hold a stuffed animal dressed in the uniform of either the Clemson Tigers or the University of South Carolina Gamecocks for added relaxation.
Seeing and treating patients as customers from the start, the practice ensures patients are seen at their scheduled time, according to Dr. Solomon.
Dr. Solomon is able to review patient records and exam results on his iPad to improve efficiency in the office and as a patient education tool to inform his patients about cataracts, lifestyle lens, etc.
Carolina Eyecare Physicians is one of the first clinics in the country to have the LenSx femtosecond cataract surgery system. The system was installed in a room separate from the OR, and the staff was fully trained on the technology prior to the first treatment in order to be able to educate patients on which technology might be the best match for their visual needs.
Close-up of the LenSx femtosecond cataract surgery system screen.
During patient consults, Dr. Solomon fully educates patients on what to expect, letting them know he and his practice will do whatever necessary to get the best results. In all cases, patients are tracked to ensure they reach the intended outcome. “We put every patient, whether they’re a LASIK, refractive lens or cataract patient, into a database and we track every outcome,” Dr. Solomon said.
During patient consults, Dr. Solomon fully educates patients on what to expect, letting them know he and his practice will do whatever necessary to get the best results. In all cases, patients are tracked to ensure they reach the intended outcome. “We put every patient, whether they’re a LASIK, refractive lens or cataract patient, into a database and we track every outcome,” Dr. Solomon said.
Patients are brought to a warmly appointed dilation area within the office to wait for the next part of their examination.
Carolina Eyecare Physicians is expanding, with a new state-of-the-art facility currently under construction that is completely designed around improving patient flow and putting the patient first. The new Mt. Pleasant, SC, location is scheduled to open Spring 2012.
Much like the art of designing a new patient-care facility, there is still an ‘art’ to caring for the patients themselves, according to Dr. Solomon. “Medicine is pretty precise, but it’s not 100%. There’s still a little bit of art to our science, as we’re learning all the time,” he said. “Patients know if there’s a residual prescription left over we are going to [treat] it. We take care of all of their refractive needs from young until old … with the end result of giving them the visual outcome they want with the customer service that they deserve. The ultimate result is happy, satisfied patients.”