Managing associate optometrists in your practice, part 3

Hiring a new optometrist — or properly managing the doctors you have — should start with a position description. This should include the following elements:

Scope of practice

The practice’s optometrists will practice to the highest levels permitted by state practice regulations and payer stipulations, and within the boundaries set by the medical director.

Supervision

Optometrists will report to the medical director of the practice (or can report to the optometric director, a chief OD selected in larger practices, who in turn reports to the medical director.)

Practice volume

The practice optometrist will see a mix of postoperative surgical patients, routine patients and treatment follow-up cases. Depending on patient mix, the optometrist is expected to see between 22 and 35 patients per day with two exam rooms, a dedicated technician and a float staff member who will be available to step in at higher volumes.

Location of practice

The practice’s optometrists, like all professional staff, may be called upon to see patients in various locations throughout the practice’s service region and have the flexibility to occasionally provide care in less-than-optimal settings.

Days and hours worked

Full-time optometrists are expected to work no less than 40 hours per week and may be called upon to work additional hours to fulfill all professional duties. To optimize use of the practice’s office facilities, optometrists may be required to conduct early-morning, evening and weekend clinics.

Practice emergency call

Subject to hospital regulations, community standards and practice policy, practice optometrists will share call with ophthalmologists.

Staff education

Optometrists will share with the practice’s surgeons in staff education duties.

Meetings and assistance with management projects

Optometrists will participate in various practice management committees and may be called on to lead various initiatives and projects for the practice.

Community service and promotion

All professional staff are expected to give no fewer than three talks in the community per year, which will be scheduled by the practice administrator. Staff optometrists are strongly urged, especially in their initial years getting established, to join a community service organization such as Lions, Rotary, etc.

Outreach to fellow optometrists

If the practice seeks optometric referrals from providers in the community, staff optometrists may be called upon to help in this area.