An Overview of the Best Optometry Jobs
The field of optometry has many rewarding career opportunities. Whether you’re interested in becoming an optometric physician or an optometry office manager, you can enjoy a wide range of benefits in this field. In fact, an optometric physician is...
Our Comprehensive Guide to Ophthalmology Practice Management
In recent years, ophthalmologists in the United States earned $366k on average, which was above the middle earners for all physician specialties, according to the Medscape Ophthalmologist Compensation Report. Owning your own ophthalmology practice comes with many attractive benefits,...
Ask the Expert: When to Bill Vision Vs. Medical Insurance
By: Kayla Groves, Billing & Coding Advisor, PECAA Billing and coding are the foundations of your practice, and it is essential to understand how to bill correctly. Unfortunately, many practitioners are billing incorrectly, and the key culprit is underbilling. Whether...
Finding Optometry Practice Loans to Help You Get Established
There are different stages in your optometry career where you may find yourself in need of an optometry practice loan. Perhaps you’ve recently graduated and are looking to start an optometry practice from the ground up. Starting a new...
Ask the Expert: The Benefit of a Record Chart Audit
Why Get a Record Chart Audit? By: Thomas Cheezum, OD, CPC, COPC Many ODs ask how they can benefit by having a record keeping, billing and coding audit. The short answer is that it will help you improve the likelihood...
PECAA Launches a New Record Audit Service
PECAA, the Professional Eye Care Associates of America, is thrilled to launch a new record audit service as part of the Billing & Coding program. It's no secret that Billing and Coding can be a complex and confusing process. However, what...
Ask the Expert: Section 179 Depreciation
Section 179 Depreciation and How to Use This as an Incentive for End-of-Year Equipment Purchases By: Bryan Hoban, PECAA MBA Manager Winter is coming and unlike Game of Thrones, it will be here before you know it. What does this...
Member Spotlight: Introducing an Exclusive Frame Line to the Practice
Member Spotlight: Carkner's Family Vision Care Giving Patients a Unique Look While Boosting Profits Today, and especially with the help of social media, people are always looking for ways to stand out and create a unique look for themselves, and...
Building Your Pediatric Ophthalmology Practice
Pediatric ophthalmology is a specialized area of ophthalmology that comes with its own set of unique challenges, benefits, and opportunities. Is it the right fit for you? Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand your ophthalmology practice,...
Exclusive Member Benefits for Vision Expo West
We are excited to announce that complimentary exhibit hall and accredited education registration for Vision Expo West 2021 is open! Register here (or use the discount code PECAA) to claim the exclusive PECAA member benefits listed below! PECAA is a...
How to Do Billing and Coding for Optometry
When you’re first getting started with your optometry practice, billing and coding can seem like a daunting topic, leading many to search for assistance and guidance. Unfortunately, this topic is not thoroughly covered in your schooling, or at...
Member Spotlight: Providing Specialized Services to Improve Patient Outcomes
Member Spotlight: Wake Family Eye Care Providing Specialized Services to Improve Patient Outcomes By offering allergy and dry eye testing and treatments to patients, Dr. Amjad M. Badwan has found he can help treat the root cause of vision problems...
Optometry Office Decorations and Design Ideas
Nothing makes a patient dread an appointment like a boring, uncomfortable, ugly medical office. What's worse, they may associate how the office looks and feels with the quality of the care they receive. Your optometry office decorations and design...
Ask the Expert: How to Avoid an Optometry Insurance Audit
How to Avoid an Optometry Insurance Audit & What To Do If You Are Audited By: Kayla Groves, PECAA Billing & Coding Advisor Regardless of your specialty, an insurance audit is the absolute worst nightmare of any physician. They are...
Private Practice Optometry: Explore Your Options
If you're thinking about starting your own private optometry practice, you probably know that the real work is just beginning. Building and maintaining a successful private optometry practice takes effort, dedication, creativity, and going the extra mile to ensure...
Ask the Expert: The 3 Most Common Reasons for a Denied Optometry Claim
The 3 Most Common Reasons for a Denied Optometry Claim By: Kayla Groves, PECAA Billing & Coding Advisor Whether you are a newly licensed optometrist or a seasoned veteran in the field, billing and coding mistakes are bound to happen....
PECAA Launches the Optical Success Initiative
PECAA, the Professional Eye Care Associates of America, is thrilled to introduce the Optical Success Initiative, a 3 part program designed to transform your practice’s optical approach to drive significant sales increases and expense reductions. This program takes direct aim at...
Selling Your Optometry Practice Successfully
In 2019, 16.2% of optometrists were self-employed. As the owner of an optometry practice, the question of whether or not to sell your practice is one of the most difficult decisions you’re likely to face. If you decide to...
PECAA Launches New Marketing Advisory Service
PECAA, the Professional Eye Care Associates of America, one of the nation's leading Doctor Alliance Groups for independent eye care practitioners, has just launched a new marketing advisory service to its membership. The new service is part of the Member Business Advisor...
Member Spotlight: Opening an Optometry Practice During COVID
Member Spotlight: NOVA Optique + Eyecare Opening A Practice During COVID: When Delays Work In Your Favor When Dr. Sara Varghai, owner of NOVA Optique + Eyecare in Ballston, a neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia, first started scouting locations for her...
3 Compelling Reasons to Start an Optical Business
Whether you’re fresh out of optometry school or an experienced optometrist looking for a change, starting your own optical business is an outstanding opportunity for the right person. Starting a business, no matter the sector can be a daunting...
Exclusive Member Benefits for Vision Expo East
Join the vision community at the first major trade show since 2019! Reconnect with your peers, see the latest trends and technology, and receive world-class education. PECAA is a proud supporter of International Vision Expo East! We are pleased to...
10 Benefits of Joining a Doctor Alliance
Starting or running your own practice is no small undertaking. There are many risks and challenges you’ll have to face along the way, but with the right optometry practice support and resources at your fingertips, you can reap the...
Maximize Your Vendor Showcase Experience
PECAA's first ever Virtual Vendor Exhibit Showcase is coming up on Friday, March 26, 2021 and we encourage all owners, doctors, managers and staff to visit our wide array of frame, contact lens, lab, equipment, distributor, pharmaceutical and service booths. Plan to join...
Ophthalmology Billing 101: Billing Codes & Procedures
Ophthalmology billing and coding can eat up a lot of precious time and resources. In fact, a Health Affairs survey found that doctors spend about three hours per week dealing with billing-related matters, and for each doctor, an additional...
Member Spotlight: Boosting Employee Morale
Member Spotlight: West Tennessee Eye Employees are an important part of what makes a business succeed, so many practices are finding new, creative ways to boost their morale in light of the increased challenges of the past year. That’s what...
Ophthalmological Equipment to Make Your Practice Thrive
When the time comes to select and purchase ophthalmological equipment for your ophthalmology practice, things can quickly get overwhelming. Ophthalmologists rely on a wide range of tools and equipment to diagnose and treat eye problems. In fact, there are more...
Member Spotlight: Creating a Retail Experience
Member Spotlight: Vision Today In the age of pop-up kiosks and online experiences, Vision Today is boldly taking a bigger approach. For the relatively new eye care practice, located in Jacksonville, FL., thinking big is a key differentiator in its...
Optometry Classifieds Ads
Introducing PECAA's Optometry Classifieds Ads Resource Center! PECAA, the Professional Eye Care Associates of America, one of the nation's leading Doctor Alliance Groups, has launched a new classifieds ad section on the pecaa.com website! At the request of Members, PECAA...
Best Optometrist Tools to Manage and Grow Your Practice
Your optometry practice will only be as strong as your team and the equipment they have to work with. That’s why it’s so important to set yourself up for success and equip your team with top-of-the-line equipment and optometrist tools....
2021 Optometry Billing Updates
New 2021 CPT Code 99072 The AMA announced on 09/08/20 the following CPT code would be added to the 2021 code set. Code 99072 is effective immediately and is classified as a category 1 code and can be found under...
Optometry Staff Behavior Training Session
Hire Right: Hire Once! Hopefully by now you’ve heard of PECAA’s Employee Assessment service, which was designed specifically for eye care practices and can be used to evaluate your current team members or determine if potential candidates are a good...
Your Thorough Guide on How to Become an Optometrist
Being an optometrist is an incredibly rewarding career; you can help others, enjoy great employment opportunities, be your own boss, maintain a healthy work-life balance, and secure a solid income. In fact, “Optometrist” consistently ranks as one of U.S....
Launching a Myopia Management Practice
An Interview with Pacific Rims Optometry As part of PECAA’s Q3 Myopia Management Education Series, we reached out to Selena Chan, OD of Pacific Rims Optometry to find out how she implemented and runs two successful myopia management practice locations...
Choosing the Right Optometry Malpractice Insurance
Whether you are new to the field of optometry or have many years of experience under your belt, there’s no doubt about the fact that even the most skilled professionals will sometimes make mistakes. Optometry comes with its own...
Member Spotlight: Telestyling Provides Patients with Convenience and Safety
Member Spotlight: Metro Eye Social distancing has forced most businesses to rethink how to deliver quality services to customers. Many are finding ways to bring the in-store experience to customers at home. Metro Eye in Milwaukee, Wis., is replicating the...
Myopia Control: A New Paradigm
Optometry Myopia Management By Dennis Leung O.D., F.I.O.A.M.C. It’s estimated that by 2050 more than 50% of the world population will be myopic1. About 10% of the myopes in the world are high myopes of more than 5 diopters. High...
Member Spotlight: How the COVID-19 Crisis Improved This Practice
Member Spotlight: ProView Eye Care Optometry By Alan Arabi, OD The COVID-19 crisis has put a lot of strain on our practices, and the negative impacts are difficult to ignore, especially when we are constantly reminded of our new daily...
Optometry Website Design: From Start to Finish
According to a recent study, 80% of internet users (about 93 million Americans) search for medical information online. This means current and potential patients are already online looking to connect with professionals and practices. With so many searches and...
Optometry Telemedicine Billing
Optometry Telemedicine Billing Maximize Your Telemedicine Reimbursement By: Teri Thurston, Billing & Coding Advisor, PECAA Telemedicine gained tremendous traction during the recent practice shutdowns, in which only emergency eyecare was permitted to be provided in-person. Now, many patients, who had...
Member Spotlight: Implementing Optometry Telehealth Services Into the Practice
Member Spotlight: Wake Family Eye Care Providing Remote Care to Patients It’s been said that every action in the present prepares us for the future. When the coronavirus pandemic first reached the United States, Dr. Amjad Badwan at Wake Family...
Top Optometrist Schools: Making Your Decision
Choosing an optometry school is not a decision to take lightly. After all, you’ll be spending four years of your life at the school you choose. More importantly still, your education will set the stage for your entire career...
Understanding Local Diabetes Education
Why Is It Important to Understand Local Diabetes Education? By Jennifer Low, IECI Coordinator Still have some downtime due to COVID-19 and would like to be doing activities to better position your practice as your patient load begins to increase...
5 Insider Tips for Successful Optometric Management
Managing a successful optometry practice takes much more than just an optometry degree. It requires a range of diverse skills that you may never have learned in school -- from business knowledge to HR expertise and much more. Below...
Mistakes to Avoid When Searching for an Optometry Practice for Sale
Are you thinking about starting the search for an optometry practice for sale? Purchasing a practice is an incredible opportunity to earn more money, push yourself professionally, gain more freedom, make a difference in your community, and much more....
Member Spotlight: Building and Launching an E-Commerce Store
Building and Launching an E-Commerce Store Member Spotlight: Logan Eye Care, LLC When the COVID-19 pandemic began, it became apparent that the optometric industry would never look the same again. Practices would need to permanently adjust the ways in which...
Your Guide to Starting an Optometry Practice
Starting an optometry practice can be an incredible and rewarding journey, but it’s one that requires substantial planning and preparation. Perhaps you are in your final years of optometry school or just hoping to break away from a current...
Member Spotlight: A Sports Vision Specialty Practice
A Sports Vision Specialty Practice Member Spotlight: Laura Kompkoff, OD and Sherry Lentfer, OD [caption id="attachment_26081" align="alignleft" width="200"] Dr. Laura Kompkoff[/caption] Dr. Laura Kompkoff of Katmai Eye and Vision Center in Anchorage, Alaska, helps patients become better athletes through sports...
Optometrist Marketing: Growing Your Practice
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the occupation of optometry is projected to increase by 18% between 2016 and 2026. Comparatively, the average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent. The rise in demand for optometry can...
Optometry PPP Loan Forgiveness
PPP Loans: How Do Optometry Practices Achieve Full Forgiveness? By Bryan Hoban, PECAA Business & Financial Advisor Based on discussions with members, it sounds like most members who have applied have at least received PPP loan approval. This is great...
Optometry Practice Names: Inspiration & Ideas
Just as a person’s name is a defining aspect of their personality and identity, a business’ name is a defining aspect of its brand. Brainstorming optometry practice names is an important first step in building a successful brand, one...
Member Spotlight: A Vision + Dental Shared Facility
A Vision and Dental Shared Facility Member Spotlight: Kiarash Bassiri, OD Dr. Kiarash Bassiri knew he had found the right business partner soon after he started his career as an optometrist in Raleigh, N.C. In fact, the connection was so...
Optometry Stimulus Bill and Disaster Loans
What We Know About the Stimulus Bill In Response to COVID-19 By Bryan Hoban, PECAA Business & Financial Advisor The Senate and House have passed the $349 billion stimulus bill called The CARES Act. Much still remains to be seen...
Optometric Accounts Receivable Collection
Positioning Your Practice for Success After COVID-19 By Teri Thurston, PECAA Billing & Coding Advisor The coming weeks and maybe months will be unlike any we have operated in before. Most of you have already begun to take the necessary...
COVID-19: Unchartered Optometric Territory
Covid-19: Unchartered Optometric Territory By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA There was little else that I could write about for this months’ column to my PECAA colleagues. Finding optimism in situations like this can be difficult but we...
Planning for Your Optometry Practice’s COVID-19 Contingency Plan
It's Time to Prepare for Your Optometry Practice's COVID-19 Contingency Plan On March 8th, we brought you this PECAA blog post with some CDC guidelines for hand hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquettetips on planning for a flu pandemic, and more.*...
Tools for a Successful Dry Eye Clinic
Tools for a Successful Dry Eye Clinic By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA One of the more common questions I receive from PECAA colleagues is related to what’s specifically needed to start an effective dry eye practice. Some...
Benefits of Working with Ophthalmology Consultants
It’s no secret that ophthalmology is a difficult and highly competitive profession, requiring years of education and dedication. On top of this, ophthalmology professionals face growing challenges, including steadily declining reimbursements and a widening imbalance between overhead costs and...
Member Spotlight: Hosting a Successful Optometry Trunk Show
Planning, Marketing and Executing a Successful Optometry Trunk Show Event Member Spotlight: Accent Eyewear As an eye care practice operating in today’s fast-paced, on-the-go environment, it can be difficult to stay engaged with patients beyond their annual exam, let alone...
Coronavirus Update
Coronavirus Update: Upcoming PECAA Events As the national and international response to the growing threat from COVID-19 continues to escalate, our world is changing very quickly. As you know, a key pillar of the PECAA community is the many live...
Optometry Business Cards: Do’s and Don’ts
Although the majority of the marketing for your optometry practice will likely focus on social media and other online marketing, some basic printed materials still remain essential for any small business. Business cards are one of the primary forms...
Optometry Surgical Opportunities
Optometry Surgical Opportunities in 2020 Our Patient's Can't Afford to Miss By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA Collaborative Care that Wasn't Collaborative Many optometrists involved in co-management or the collaborative care of premium IOL’s were left with the...
Understanding Optical Billing Codes
Optometry billing and coding can be complicated and burdensome, but it is absolutely crucial that you get it right. Common billing and coding mistakes such as over-charging, under-billing or incorrect coding can trigger serious ramifications for your optometry practice,...
Social Media Marketing for Optometry Practices
Is your optometry practice active on social media? If not, you should be! In the current digital era, social media is no longer optional, but necessary in order to create awareness of your optometry practice, build a strong sense...
Getting Reviews for Your Optometry Practice
The importance of positive online reviews to promote and grow your optometry practice cannot be overstated. Although word-of-mouth used to be the main way consumers found out about and established trust in small businesses, in today’s world they rely...
Member Spotlight: Treating the Root Cause of Dry Eye
Member Spotlight: Mila Ioussifova, OD With the proliferation of screens at work and at home, many eye care patients suffer from dry eye. But the most common treatments, such as drugstore eye drops, offer only short-term relief. Dr. Mila Ioussifova...
The Eyelids are the Key to OSD
By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA Eyelids and Dry Eye Disease If only I’d known what I know today when I started managing dry eye disease over 20 years ago! For one, we always thought of dry eye...
Optometry Billing Consultation: Know Your Options
Running your own optometry practice requires learning, establishing, maintaining and streamlining many time-consuming and complex processes and procedures. With all of the time and energy you must dedicate to the administrative, legal and financial aspects of your business, you run...
Exclusive Member Benefits for Vision Expo East
PECAA is a proud supporter of International Vision Expo East! We are pleased to present these exclusive benefits for you and your staff to enjoy during Vision Expo East in New York, NY! Free Exhibit Hall Admission Use PECAA's customized link here...
Member Spotlight: Providing Eyecare to Musicians in Need
Member Spotlight: Stephanie Price, OD Providing Eyecare to Musicians in Need When hearing the word “musicians,” one tends to think of albums, luxury cars and lavish lifestyles. But the reality is that most musicians live much more modest lives, often...
Turn Insurance Verification From a Cost Center to a Profit Center
By: Libby MacFarland, Billing & Coding Advisor, PECAA There are many different aspects that go into the revenue cycle within a practice. Establishing a solid system for revenue cycle management is an essential part of having structurally sound financial security...
Two Exciting New FDA Approvals for Eye Care
By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA You’ve probably heard a lot about myopia control, but just this week we received the announcement of the first FDA approved indication of a device for myopia control. Also very recently, genetic...
Member Spotlight: Opening an Eye Care Clinic in Uganda
Member Spotlight: Jeffrey Pelson, OD Providing Help Where It’s Most Needed Optometrists can make a huge impact in a community by providing high-quality eye care and customer service to patients, and they can make an even greater difference once they...
New AOA Guidelines Affecting Your Optometry Practice
By: Amanda Clemons, IECI Community Engagement Specialist One of the goals of PECAA's Integrated Eye Care Initiative (health care reform program) has been to transition how eye care providers think of their role in healthcare and, when it comes to...
Build a Dry Eye Profit Center in 90 Days
Diversify Your Optometry Revenue One in every eight adults, or 33 million Americans, have some form of Dry Eye Disease. The average yearly spend on DED is over $2 billion. Have you positioned your practice to be able to maximize...
Cataract Surgery: You’re the Quarterback
By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA It has been shown that optometry sees over 88% of all comprehensive eye exams, which obviously includes patients with cataracts. The knowledge we obtain on a patient over the last 2, 5...
Member Spotlight: A Team Effort For Successful Hires
Member Spotlight: Tom Hobbs, OD Running a business requires the ability to know when to be a leader — and when to step back and let others take control. That’s what self-professed “control freak” Dr. Thomas Hobbs of Insight Eyecare...
When to Take On An Optometry Associate
By: Jerry Sude, OD At What Point Do You Decide to Take On an Optometry Associate? PECAA’s Business & Financial Advisors tell doctors that a part-time associate starts to make financial sense for a solo optometric practitioner when he/she reaches...
Glaucoma Management from the Anterior Segment
By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA Co-morbidities are inevitable and we need to be consciously looking for them. The perfect example is glaucoma and ocular surface disease (OSD). As PECAA Members we have to realize the ocular surface...
Introducing PECAA’s Association Health Plan
A Forward Thinking Health Care Strategy for Independent Eye Care Professionals PECAA, the Professional Eye Care Associates of America, is proud to launch PECAAHP, an exclusive health care solution that provides affordable health care coverage for independent eye care practices and their...
Modifiers 25 & 59: When & How to Use Them
By: Libby MacFarland, Member Success Specialist | Billing & Coding Advisor, PECAA Many physicians of all specialties, ophthalmologists and optometrists alike, perform a variety of services in a single office visit to treat their patients and provide the highest level...
Member Spotlight: Elevating the Patient Experience
Member Spotlight: Kerri-Ann Hodge, OD Dr. Kerri-Ann Hodge, who owns De’Cordova Eyewear in Houston, Texas, grew up in Jamaica, where the nature and beauty influenced her outlook on life. “I wanted my practice to be filled with peace and tranquility,”...
3 Ways Good Optometry Websites Can Boost Practices
According to a recent study, 80% of internet users (about 93 million Americans) search for medical information online. This means current and potential patients are already online looking to connect with professionals and practices. With so many searches and...
Your Guide to Effective Optometry Practice Management
Only 18% of organizations say their leaders are “very effective” at meeting business goals. This stat alludes to a larger picture of leaders either not fully understanding their business or their team members. Small, medium and large businesses alike...
This Healthcare Change in Policy is Guaranteed to Affect Your Optometry Practice
PECAA’s Integrated Eye Care Initiative strives to make Members aware of significant changes in the health care industry and health care reform that could affect independent optometry. In this article, we sit down with Dr. Jim Grue, Director of the...
7 Benefits to Joining an Optometry Group
To succeed in the world of optometry, it’s best to surround yourself with like-minded, hardworking professionals who you can learn from and look to for guidance in challenging situations. Finding or building the right network of people you trust...
What’s New in OSD & What We Need to Know: Part 2
By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA This is a question I receive often and seemed like a good feature for the mid-year newsletters. As I started researching this question it quickly became evident that a lot has happened...
Member Spotlight: Treating the Entire Patient
Member Spotlight: Dr. Luisa Thompson [caption id="attachment_21018" align="alignleft" width="300"] Luisa Thompson, OD[/caption] One advantage of a private optometry practice is being able to develop close relationships with patients. These relationships lead not only to better vision and eye health for...
What’s New in OSD in 2019 & What We Need to Know
By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA This is a question I receive often and seemed like a good feature for the mid-year newsletter. As I started researching this question I became amazed at what all has happened in...
The Fundamentals of Optician Staff Training
The importance of staff training cannot be overstated. Under-qualified employees can be a result of under-qualified applicants, the introduction of new technologies, or the development of new methods. No matter the reason for under-qualified employees, it should be an...
Dry Eye Updates
By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA I first have to apologize I wasn’t able to participate at PECAA’s Annual Meeting this past month. It’s the first time since I began my role as clinical director at PECAA that...
Exclusive PECAA Member Benefits for Vision Expo West
PECAA is a proud supporter of International Vision Expo West, where eyecare meets eyewear and education, fashion, and innovation mingle. We are pleased to present these exclusive benefits for you and your staff to enjoy during Vision Expo West in...
PECAA Gives Raised $20,760 for Anthropos Arts!
PECAA Gives... Leaving a positive, lasting impact on the communities where we come together. Thank You to Everyone Who Donated! We are pleased to announce that together, the PECAA Community raised $20,760 for the PECAA Gives 2019 beneficiary, Anthropos Arts!...
Member Spotlight: 2019 PECAA Practice of the Year
Member Spotlight: 3D Vision Eye Care Dr. Jenni Drake & Dr. Cameran Drake 3D Vision recently won the 2019 Practice of the Year Award at the PECAA Annual Meeting in May because of their ability to demonstrate profitable and meaningful...
How Health Care Reform is Shaping the Future of Optometry
As a country, we are about to enter the next phase of health care reform; we are moving from a fee-for-service system to an outcome-based system. PECAA is pleased to be the primary organization in the eye care industry to...
When It Comes to Glaucoma, You’re In Charge
By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA Glaucoma is something optometry has to go into with the attitude of taking charge. As a profession we see 88% of all comprehensive ocular examinations in the U.S. and are likely to...
Member Spotlight: Team Training in Far-Flung Locales
Member Spotlight: Dr. Andrew Peter Staff training and professional development may sound like an ordinary part of every eyecare practice, but Dr. Andrew Peter at Homer Eyecare in Homer, Alaska started taking an unusual approach — last year, he flew...
Adding a Specialty Focus to Your Optometry Practice Strategy
By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA Adding an area of focus to your practice allows you to stand out for patients in need. The latest and fastest growing area is that of a Dry Eye specialty clinic, but...
Annual Meeting Photo Contest & Event App
Attending the Annual Meeting this May? Participate in Our Photo Contest! One of the features in our PECAA Event App is a social wall where members are able to post pictures, transfer photos to other social media networks, and share their...
Member Spotlight: Idaho’s 2018 Optometrist of the Year
Member Spotlight: Dr. Wayne Ellenbecker Volunteering to Ensure the Future of Optometry Over his 31-year career running Ellenbecker Eye Clinic in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Dr. Wayne Ellenbecker has dedicated numerous hours and energy to the continued viability of private optometry...
How Your Optometric Practice Can Avoid Phishing Scams
Mind Your Business - Avoiding Phishing Scams By: Michael Friedberg, OD, Director of Professional Relations, PECAA According to Kaspersky Labs, Phishing is one of the most popular weapons cybercriminals use to attack your optometric practice. Defined by Wikipedia, “Phishing is...
Think About Your Eyes – Premium Listing Promotion for Members
Premium Listing Promotion Available for PECAA Members - Now Through September 15, 2019! Think About Your Eyes (TAYE) and PECAA are pleased to announce that due to popular demand we have brought back our promotion for members wanting to purchase...
The Perfect Trifecta for Our Member Appreciation Event
BBQ, Live Music & the Iconic ACL Live at the Moody Theater PECAA 2019 Annual Meeting Member Appreciation Event In our recent series of communications detailing some history & fun facts about Austin - we’ve touched on just about everything...
PECAA Community Raises $116,000 for Optometry Giving Sight
PECAA Community Helps Raise $116,000 in 2018 for Children's Vision Projects We are pleased to announce that, as part of the Growing Through Giving Program, Member, Zeiss and PECAA contributions helped raise $116,000 in 2018 for PECAA’s charity of choice,...
Advanced Office Manager Certification Course
Advanced Office Manager Certification Course Attention all Seasoned Managers! You are invited to an exclusive course taught by Valerie Manso, ODX’s Director of Staff Education. This course is aimed at providing a solid base of skills and understanding on the...
Optometry’s Critical Role in Surgical Management
Optometry's Critical Role in Surgical Management By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA What has always stunned me is how ophthalmic companies with a surgical product have focused solely on the surgeon. Certainly that is a top priority, however,...
Member Spotlight: Visualizing the Eye Care Patient Experience
Member Spotlight: Blythewood Eye Care Marcy Jackson, Office Manager for Blythewood Eye Care in Blythewood, SC, got the idea for their practice to partake in a “Patient of the Day” exercise due to her personal experience being treated for breast...
PECAA Wins Best-in-Training at Transitions Academy
Orlando, FL - The 23rd Annual Transitions Academy, which took place in early February, drew more than 900 industry executives to the JW Marriott Grande Lakes for several days of learning, networking and professional development opportunities. PECAA was pleased...
Exclusive PECAA Member Benefits for the Vision Monday Global Leadership Summit
D E C O D I N G T H E C O N S U M E R The New Science of Customer Behavior WHEN March 20, 2019 | 8:45am - 4:30pm WHERE Times Center | New...
Introducing the PECAA Gives 2019 Beneficiary
PECAA Gives... Join us as we make our vision a reality by helping us leave a positive, lasting impact on the communities where we come together. After an Annual Meeting site visit to New Orleans in 2016, our Events Team...
Let’s Keep Austin Weird Together This May!
Let's Keep PECAA Weird in the City that Invented 'Weird' PECAA 2019 Annual Meeting We are experiencing record-early registrations, and are ramping up for our BIGGEST PECAA Annual Meeting to-date! We couldn't be more excited to welcome you to Austin, TX May 16-18,...
Opportunities for PECAA Member Practices in 2019
By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA At the beginning of a new year, we have this incredible opportunity to take stock of the previous year’s successes (as well as failures we might learn and grow from). We also...
Member Registration Open for the 2019 Annual Meeting
Join PECAA in the Live Music Capital of the World for the 2019 Annual Meeting! Register Today! The Annual Meeting is PECAA’s signature event of the year and offers unparalleled business education and resources to strengthen Member practices. PECAA...
Member Spotlight: Idaho 2018 Paraoptometric of the Year Winner
Member Spotlight: Arnica Phillips Providing a Valued Service Is a Reward in Itself Paraoptometrics are an essential part of any optometry practice, wearing many hats to help doctors with both the routine and technical aspects of their work. Arnica Phillips,...
Time to Consider In-Office Treatments
By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA I feel like the majority of questions I’ve received from PECAA members (email karpecki@karpecki.com) have been on in-office, patient pay procedures for ocular surface disease. Let’s visit that subject this month. Eighty-six percent...
Exclusive Member Benefits for Vision Expo East
PECAA + ODX are proud supporters of International Vision Expo East! We are pleased to present these exclusive benefits for you and your staff to enjoy during Vision Expo East in New York, NY! Complimentary Exhibit Hall Registration Use...
A PECAA Special Holiday Donation
Giving Project: Personalized Pillowcases for the Ranchers of Down Home Ranch in Austin, TX In preparation for our 2019 Annual Meeting - the PECAA Event + PECAA Gives Planning Teams traveled to Austin, TX to begin the work of creating...
Be Aware of 2019 MIPS Changes
By: Teri Thurston, Billing & Coding Advisor, PECAA The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) ended the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula, that would have resulted in a significant cut in payment rates to optical physicians. MACRA...
The FDA Goes Into Hyperdrive With Ocular Approvals Part 3
By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA I have to credit the FDA as we’ve seen more approvals for ocular drugs and devices than at any time I can recall in the past. In the last 90 days we...
Member Spotlight: Building an Optometry Brand That Appeals to the Local Community
Member Spotlight: Shawna Vanderhoof, OD Building Local Brand Awareness “Your brand starts with yourself,” says Dr. Shawna Vanderhoof, who opened Focus Eyecare in Murfreesboro, Tennessee in July of 2016. Murfreesboro, about 40 miles outside of Nashville, is growing “exponentially,” explains...
Developing Your 2019 Practice Budget
Have You Started Developing Your Practice's 2019 Budget Yet? By Bryan Hoban, Member Business Manager, PECAA I know this must be everyone’s favorite thing to do this time of year, but budgeting is an important part of setting your optometry...
The FDA Goes Into Hyperdrive With Ocular Approvals Part 2
By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA I have to credit the FDA as we’ve seen more approvals for ocular drugs and devices than at any time I can recall in the past. In the last 60 days we...
2018 – 2019 ICD-10-CM Changes
By: Teri Thurston, Billing & Coding Advisor, PECAA Fall is here! Personally, this is one of my favorite seasons. Here in the Pacific Northwest the leaves are beginning to change and the weather is cooler. In my house we’re all...
Member Spotlight: A Recap of the Alcon Experience Center
Member Spotlight: Dr. Adina Zapodeanu A Recap of the Exclusive PECAA Member Event at the Alcon Experience Center Finding a Solution for the Modern Day, Screen-Centric Contact Lens Wearer Recently, PECAA Member Dr. Adina Zapodeanu of Beaverton Eye Health in...
2018 Optical Workshops Recap
Optical Merchandising & Selling Strategies for Success Even the most skilled private practitioners can benefit from optical merchandising and sales training. That’s why PECAA’s Optical Merchandising Workshop has been a success for the last several years, and now, the new...
The FDA Goes Into Hyperdrive With Ocular Approvals
By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA I have to credit the FDA as we’ve seen more approvals for ocular drugs and devices than at any time I can recall in the past. In the last 30 days we had...
Member Spotlight: Finding Harmony in Two Successful Careers
Member Spotlight: Elliott Caine, OD Owning a successful eye care practice in Los Angeles, California hasn’t stopped Dr. Elliott Caine from being a serious jazz musician. In fact, he’s been balancing the two passions for quite some time. “In college...
Optometry Technology: Robotics in Optometry
By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA I was reading a study that showed patients undergoing visual field testing, after being greeted and instructed by a technician, did as well or better with robotic monitoring than by a human....
Introducing PECAA’s All-New Optical Selling Workshop
All-New Optical Selling Strategies For Success Workshop Due to the popularity of the Optical Merchandising Workshops and at the request of Members, PECAA is introducing brand-new, one-day Selling Workshops which are designed to give attendees a better understanding of the patient experience, learn...
The Trend is Your Friend
By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA The medical eye care trend is definitely a friend to optometry as it may be ours to own and, to some extent, we are doing so. Online refraction however is a trend...
Member Spotlight: Building A Supportive Online Eye Care Community
Member Spotlight: Joan Ploem Miller, OD PECAA's legacy has always been, and continues to be, building a collaborative community of independent eye care professionals committed to growing stronger together. With doctors all across the country, it can sometimes be difficult...
PECAA Partners with OD Excellence
We are excited to announce that PECAA and OD Excellence (ODX), an internationally recognized Practice Management Group, will be merging operations over the next few months. The entire PECAA Team is excited by this development as it will bring all...
Member Spotlight: Growing Through Giving Practice of the Year
Member Spotlight: Cascadia Eye Care 2018 Growing Through Giving Practice of the Year Cascadia Eye Care, a practice of seven staffers and one doctor in Lake Oswego, Oregon, makes giving back a big part of their everyday business. In fact,...
Think About Your Eyes – Premium Listing Promotion for PECAA Members
Premium Listing Promotion Available for PECAA Members - Now Through the End of 2018! Think About Your Eyes (TAYE) and PECAA are pleased to announce that due to popular demand we have brought back our promotion for members wanting to...
6 Months Into 2018: What’s New in Eye Care?
By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA One of the most common requests I receive from my fellow PECAA Members is to provide information on new eye care technology. So we started the last month with one of the...
Developing Employee Incentives for Optometry Practices
Developing Employee Incentives to Help Grow Your Optometry Practice By: Tyler Judkins, Business & Financial Advisor, PECAA I have yet to hear a practice leader express interest, let alone enjoyment, in acting as their practice's human resource manager. Employee dynamics...
Member Spotlight: 2018 PECAA Practice of the Year
Member Spotlight: Boise Vision Care PECAA Optometry Practice of the Year Eye care practices seem to be getting busier and busier these days, with a mountain of tasks to mark off their to-do lists including billing and coding, human resource...
Time to Try LUMIFY for Your Patient’s Red Eyes
By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA A new over the counter a-adrenergic receptor (AR) agonist was recently approved by the FDA. It has the ability to reduce redness within 30-60 seconds and last for 8 hours, without rebound...
Growing Through Giving – 2018 Program
PECAA Members Helped Raise $89,194 in 2017 for Children's Vision Projects PECAA was delighted to welcome Optometry Giving Sight as a key partner in the Growing through Giving program, which was launched at the Annual Meeting in May of 2017....
PECAA Gives Raised $21,397 for Beads of Courage!
PECAA Gives... Leaving a positive, lasting impact on the communities where we come together. Thank you to everyone who donated! Thank you to everyone who generously donated to PECAA Gives to support our 2018 beneficiary, Beads of Courage! We are...
Member Spotlight: PECAA Members Succeed at Transitions Academy
Member Spotlight: 20/20 Visions & Pacific Eyecare of Port Orchard PECAA Member Award Winners at Transitions Academy The 22nd Annual Transitions Academy took place February 11-14, 2018 in Orlando FL, and the PECAA Vendor team had the pleasure of attending...
5 Tips to Consider When Opening a Cold Start Optometry Practice
5 Tips to Consider When Opening a Cold Start Optometry Practice By: Jenny Wiley, Practice Operations Advisor, PECAA Starting an eye care practice from the ground up can be an exciting, and often hectic, time. As the advisor to PECAA's cold...
Ask the Expert: Maximize Your Optometry Rebate
3 Tips for Optometry Practice's on How to Maximize an IncentivEYES Rebate Check By: Alan Madland, Business Development Analyst, PECAA PECAA has paid out more than $8 million through the IncentivEYES® Rebate Program in 2017 alone. As the person responsible...
Member Spotlight: PECAA Mentorship Program
Member Spotlight: Jennifer Burke, OD & Jennifer Shane, OD PECAA Mentorship Program Offers Hands-on Practical Advice & Support for Optometry Practices Albert Einstein is quoted as saying that the only source of knowledge is experience, yet he never specified whose...
Advancing Primary Eyecare
Advancing Primary Eyecare By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA Advanced Diagnostics are allowing optometry to manage ocular diseases at a primary care level. This is how medical eyecare should be managed. I once thought that primary...
Must See Tucson Neighborhoods & Eats
Must See Tucson Neighborhoods & Eats PECAA 2018 Annual Meeting In the spirit of helping you make the most of your time in Tucson, AZ while attending PECAA’s Annual Meeting, April 19-21, 2018, at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa,...
Ask the Expert: Why Optometric Production Tracking Matters
Why Glimpse Matters By: Tyler Judkins, Business & Financial Advisor, PECAA On the wall of my home, between the bathroom and the laundry room hangs one of those growth charts. You know, the kind that kids love. Well, parents tend...
Skunk Pigs, Gila Monsters & Cactus! Oh My!
Explore the Sonoran Desert in Tucson PECAA 2018 Annual Meeting As many of you know, PECAA’s Annual Meeting, April 19-21, 2018, is being held in none other than the Southwestern charmer-of-a-city - Tucson, AZ at the JW Marriott Starr Pass...
Member Spotlight: A Chance to Learn & Grow – A Review of Previous PECAA Annual Meetings
Member Spotlight: Dr. Sue Lowe - Snowy Range Vision Center A Chance to Learn & Grow - A Review of Previous PECAA Annual Meetings For someone who wears as many hats as Dr. Sue Lowe, stepping away from the practice...
Recent FDA Approvals That Will Re-Shape Optometry
These Recent FDA Approvals Will Re-Shape Optometry By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA It is hard to believe that in the last 60 days we’ve had so many key technology, drug approval and NDA’s (New Drug Applications)...
PECAA Annual Meeting: Meet Your Event Planning Team
Meet Your Annual Meeting Event Planning Team PECAA is ramping up for our biggest Annual Meeting yet, April 19-21, 2018 - and we couldn’t be more excited to invite you to the beautiful city of Tucson, AZ! In the coming...
Ask the Expert: Why You Need an Employee Handbook
Why You Need an Employee Handbook By: Jenny Wiley, Practice Operations Advisor, PECAA An employee handbook is one of the most important tools in your practice and sets the standard for the employee/employer relationship. What to Include Creating a handbook can...
Exclusive PECAA Member Benefits for Vision Expo East
PECAA is a proud supporter of International Vision Expo East! We are pleased to present these exclusive benefits for you and your staff to enjoy during Vision Expo East in New York City! Complimentary Exhibit Hall Registration Visit http://east.visionexpo.com and use...
The DEBS Theory of Dry Eye
The DEBS Theory of Dry Eye By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA For many years blepharitis and dry eye disease (DED) were thought to be two completely separate and independent diseases. In this new theory published in...
Member Spotlight: Transitioning from a Member to a Regional Leader
Member Spotlight: Dr. Michael Halkias - Naper Grove Vision Care Transitioning from a Member to a PECAA Regional Leader As a partner at Naper Grove Vision Care in Naperville, IL, Dr. Michael Halkias has witnessed the practice grow to its...
PECAA Practice Pearl: Things You Don’t Want to Miss
PECAA Practice Pearl: Things You Don't Want to Miss By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA One of the roles as medical director at PECAA is to not only educate my colleagues but also protect you from potentially...
Developing Your 2018 Budget
Your 2018 Budget Just Got Simpler. By Bryan Hoban, Member Business Manager, PECAA Let me ask you an important question. Have you started working on your 2018 budget yet? I know, the busy season will soon be in full swing. Your...
Ask the Expert: Billing Using Modifier 25
When is it appropriate to bill using modifier 25? By: Teri Thurston, PECAA Billing & Coding Manager Modifier 25 is defined as significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management (E/M) service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional...
Member Spotlight: Innovative Marketing Methods
Member Spotlight: Dr. Michael Peterson - Visionology Innovative Marketing Methods & a High Level of Customer Service Help Attract & Retain Patients Dr. Mike Peterson of Visionology in Draper, Utah is not one to shy away from trying something new....
PECAA Practice Pearl: Think of Dry Eye Disease Like You Would Glaucoma
PECAA Practice Pearl: Think of Dry Eye Disease Like You Would Glaucoma By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA A key to successful dry eye disease management is getting the right diagnosis. Today you not only have to...
Picturing the Future of Glaucoma
Picturing the Future of Glaucoma By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA I’ve received numerous requests to discuss future technologies that PECAA Members need to be aware of. This seems like a good time to focus on glaucoma...
Member Spotlight: Building a Practice Focused on Community
Member Spotlight: Dr. Summy To - Myoptic Optometry Building a Practice Focused on Community & Social Responsibility Being true to your values can be a surprisingly successful recipe for growth. Dr. Summy To of Myoptic Optometry in Portland, Oregon brings...
5 Methods to Find and Screen Potential Candidates
5 Methods to Find & Screen Potential Candidates By Dr. Michael Friedberg, Director of Professional Relations, PECAA Hiring good, qualified candidates can either make or break your practice. In this day and age, a patients interaction with your staff can encourage...
PECAA Practice Pearl – Sjögren’s Syndrome
PECAA Practice Pearl By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a fairly common systemic autoimmune condition. However, optometrists must be keenly aware of its impact on tear film production and ocular surface health. A new...
Member Spotlight: Moving Locations to Promote Practice Growth
Member Spotlight: Dr. Hank Makini - Eyes Plus Moving Locations to Promote Practice Growth Dr. Hank Makini and wife Sharon Makini, Director of Operations, have been in private practice for over 27 years. They opened their first office in the...
Exclusive PECAA Member Benefits for Vision Expo West
PECAA is a proud supporter of International Vision Expo West! We are pleased to present these exclusive benefits for you and your staff to enjoy during Vision Expo West in Las Vegas! Complimentary Exhibit Hall Registration Visit West.VisionExpo.com/PECAA or use...
PECAA Gives Presents $16,750 Check to W.O. Smith Music School
PECAA Gives... Leaving a positive, lasting impact on the communities where we come together. Thank you to everyone who donated! Thank you to everyone who generously donated to PECAA Gives to support the W.O. Smith Music School in Nashville! We...
Growing Through Giving
Growing Through Giving A New Marketing and Charitable Giving Program What is PECAA’s Growing Through Giving Program? Launched at the 2017 Annual Meeting in Nashville, PECAA’s Growing Through Giving program is designed to give Members an easy way to support charitable...
Think About Your Eyes – Premium Listing Promotion for PECAA Members
Premium Listing Promotion Available for PECAA Members - Now Through the End of 2017! We are pleased to announce that due to popular demand we have brought back our promotion for members wanting to purchase a premium listing on the thinkaboutyoureyes.com...
Don’t Let the Condition of Your Accounts Receivable Make Your Practice Sick
Don't Let the Condition of Your Accounts Receivable Make Your Practice Sick By Teri Thurston, Billing & Coding Manager, PECAA Extended aging of a practice’s accounts receivables is a symptomatic condition known as "lack of process management." There are key...
12 Must Eats in Nashville
Explore the 12 Best Neighborhoods for Eating in Nashville While attending PECAA’s annual meeting, being held May 18-20, 2017, you’ll want to make time to explore some of the highly acclaimed sights, sounds & tastes that make Nashville one of the...
Navigating Nashville
Navigating Nashville What to do, what to bring, what to wear... The 2017 Annual Meeting is only a couple short weeks away and we want to equip you with a few tips that will help you to navigate Nashville successfully....
Living with Sjögren’s
Sjögren’s Awareness Month Living with Sjögren’s By Michael L Friedberg, O.D. Director of Professional Relations, PECAA April marks Sjögren’s Awareness Month. As optometrists, most of us are familiar with its diagnosis and treatment options as it pertains to the...
Member Spotlight: PECAA’s First Student Member Conversion
Member Spotlight: Dr. Daniel Miller - Erwin Eye Care PECAA's First Student Member - Member Conversion When Daniel Miller, OD graduated from Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry in May of 2016, he made the decision to move back to...
Download the PECAA Annual Meeting App
Attending the Annual Meeting this May? Download the PECAA Event App Sponsored by PECAA’s Premier Vendor Partners PECAA Goes Digital! Thank you to our members who have registered for the 2017 Annual Meeting in Nashville, TN May 18-20. We look forward to...
Connect & Learn With Your Colleagues in Nashville
Connect & Learn With Your Colleagues in Nashville – Plus What Not to Miss in Music City sponsored by PECAA’s Premier Vendor Partners Connect & Learn With Your Colleagues: The 2017 Annual Meeting is right around the corner, May 18-20,...
Curtailing Contact Lens Dropout Rates
Curtailing Contact Lens Dropout Rates By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA A 37-year-old contact lens patient presented with a chief complaint of redness and irritation after wearing her lenses in excess of six to eight hours per...
5 Key Performance Indicators for the Independent OD
By: Tyler Judkins, Member Business Advisor As an advisor to Independent Eye Care Practitioners, I often hear how it can be overwhelming to monitor all of the different metrics that can be tracked within a practice. Attempting to measure performance and...
Little Known Facts About 2017 Annual Meeting Host City
Little Known Facts About 2017 Annual Meeting Host City sponsored by PECAA’s Premier Vendor Partners Annual Meeting Registration Off to Great Start! Over 200 doctors & staff registered so far! We opened PECAA Member registration just one month ago and...
Experience Music City at the 2017 Annual Meeting!
Experience Music City at the 2017 Annual Meeting! Sponsored by PECAA’s Premier Vendor Partners Registration now open for PECAA Members! We are ramping up for our biggest and best Annual Meeting yet, May 18-20, 2017 in Nashville, TN. The Annual Meeting...
Member Registration Open for 2017 Annual Meeting
Join us in Music City for the 2017 Annual Meeting! Register Today! Come experience the culture and camaraderie PECAA was built on at the 2017 Annual Meeting! Join us May 18-20, 2017 at the Omni Hotel in Nashville, TN for...
Don’t Overlook The Secondary Glaucomas
Don’t Overlook The Secondary Glaucomas By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA In these PECAA clinical pearls we sometimes feature new technology and other times clinical insights and even cases to help you protect yourself from malpractice by...
5 Mistakes Independent Optometrists Make When Borrowing Money
A Failure to Plan Ahead The number one mistake that optometrists make when it comes to financing solutions is a failure to plan. You don’t just need to know how you’re going to spend that money – you also need...
7 Fundamentals of Effective Merchandising
7 Fundamentals of Effective Merchandising The holiday shopping season is already in full swing and now is the time to take a look at your practice's optical department and make sure it's designed to attract customers and maximize sales. PECAA's own...
Overwhelmed by MIPS? Set your practice up for success!
Overwhelmed by MIPS? Learn How You Can Set Your Practice Up For Success! The landscape of managed healthcare and quality reporting is ever-changing and as we approach the end of 2016, now is the time to ensure your practice is...
Think About Your Eyes Promotion Extended
Think About Your Eyes Promotion Extended Until The End of 2016! Exclusive offer for PECAA Members! Did you know the Think About Your Eyes promotion, exclusively for PECAA Members, has been extended until the end of 2016? That’s right! Now...
Important ICD-10 Update Starts October 1st
Important ICD-10 Update Starts October 1st, 2016 - Is Your Practice Informed & Prepared? By: Teri Thurston, Billing & Coding Manager On October 1, 2016, a large number of new ICD-10 codes will go into effect allowing a greater degree...
Exclusive PECAA Member Benefits for Vision Expo West
PECAA is a proud supporter of International Vision Expo West! We are pleased to present these exclusive benefits for you and your staff to enjoy during Vision Expo West in Las Vegas! Complimentary Exhibit Hall Registration Visit VisionExpoWest.com/PECAA or use...
Back To School Design & Social Media Package
Back-to-School Design & Social Media Package Back-to-School season is here and it’s the perfect time for your patients to get their annual eye exam! PECAA’s back-to-school design and social media package is a great way to attract new patients to...
Optical Merchandising Workshops Are Back This Fall
"The information provided at the workshop was outstanding! We have already implemented strategies to allow our patients to better experience what we have to offer. We are doing a more effective job of merchandising our frames and will be utilizing...
Judicious and Effective use of Topical Corticosteroids
Judicious and Effective use of Topical Corticosteroids By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA Although the subject of malpractice conjures negative emotions and I don’t often like to write about it, having been an expert witness in a...
Is Your Web Presence Attracting Patients?
Is your web presence attracting or driving away patients? Living in the digital age, we all know how important a website is to a business’s reach and overall success. However, simply having a website presence isn’t enough. Did you know...
Flying Blind? Understand What Your Financials Can Tell You
By: Tyler Judkins, Member Business Advisor Your 9-year-old son has never been on a plane before. In anticipation of calming his nerves, you tell him that maybe he can talk to the pilot and sit in the cockpit. When the...
Is Your Web Presence Attracting or Driving Away Patients?
By: Corey Sizemore, Web Developer Living in the digital age, we all know how important a website is to a business’s reach and overall success. However, simply having a website presence isn’t enough. Did you know that mobile internet usage...
PECAA Gives Presents $7500 Check to Edna Karr High School Marching Band
PECAA Gives...Join us as we make our vision a reality by helping us leave a positive, lasting impact on the communities where we come together. Thank you to everyone who donated! Thank you to everyone who generously donated to PECAA...
What’s a Second Line Parade & What’s Up With The Beads?
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/1"][vc_column_text]New Orleans is a city that celebrates through a colorful variety of parades all year long. No matter what time of year you visit, you are likely to observe (or participate in) a parade of some sort. Parades occur...
Glaucoma Medication Side Effects & Contraindications
Glaucoma Medication Side Effects & Contraindications By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA Glaucoma affects millions of patients and is a very important part of optometry practice. We know there are inherent risks with almost all pharmaceutical agents...
Member Spotlight: Opening a New Optometry Practice
Member Spotlight: Opening a New Optometry Practice By: Stacy Turner, OD & Patti Bushnell, Practice Manager PECAA Members Since 2015 I have been a practicing Optometrist since 1988. From 1990 until 1998, I was the leaseholder of a Master Eye...
5 Reasons Why Branding is Important to Your Business
By: Jason Karl, PECAA’s Graphic Designer The eye care industry is ever-changing and in a competitive and dynamic marketplace, branding has never been more important. A brand is so much more than just a cool logo, it’s a way to...
Interested in an Additional $16,814 Revenue? Let’s Talk Facebook Advertising
By Janice Pimentel, Social Media Specialist A strong digital presence is key to business success. In today’s marketing world, a strong digital presence is key to business success. Social Media has become the essential tool to leverage that presence and...
Introducing PECAA Gives
PECAA Gives...Join us as we make our vision a reality by helping us leave a positive, lasting impact on the communities where we come together. We are thrilled to introduce the new PECAA Gives Program! Each year, PECAA hosts our...
Local’s Guide to the Best Eats in New Orleans
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The Annual Meeting is less than two months away! Register now and join us May 19-21, 2016 in The Big Easy. During your stay you’ll definitely want to explore some of the highly acclaimed sights, sounds & tastes that make New Orleans...
13 Must-See Streets in New Orleans
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The Annual Meeting is only weeks away, taking place in one of the nation's most exciting and spirited cities, New Orleans! Join us May 19-21, 2016 for PECAA's signature event of the year! To help you make the most...
Understanding Allergic Conjunctivitis
Understanding Allergic Conjunctivitis By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA If you are anything like me, your eyes tend to gloss over when you’re presented with lecture slides of pathophysiology and the associated immunology. However, in the case...
7 Interesting New Orleans Facts
7 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know About New Orleans... We are ramping up for PECAA's biggest Annual Meeting yet, May 19-21, 2016 at the New Orleans Marriott located in the heart of the French Quarter. We can't wait to...
Turn Your Practice Data Into Higher Productivity & Profits
Turn Your Practice Data Into Higher Productivity & Profits Join PECAA for a one hour, COPE approved webinar on "Better Practice Management Using Key Performance Indicators" (COPE ID # 47263-PM) This course is designed to give Doctors, Practice Administrators and...
Preseptal Cellulitis
Preseptal Cellulitis By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA A 16 year old patient presents with a history of multiple hordeola that now appears as a preseptal cellulitis, what medications are best for the treatment? Step one in...
2016 Annual Meeting Early Bird Registration Open!
2016 Annual Meeting Early Bird Registration Open! Maybe you’ve been to New Orleans…Maybe you’ve been to a PECAA Annual Meeting…But you’ve never been to a PECAA Annual Meeting in New Orleans. Experience the Big Easy like never before! Join us...
Kick Off The New Year With Think About Your Eyes
Kick Off The New Year With Think About Your Eyes 2016 is right around the corner and the Think About Your Eyes (TAYE) campaign is geared up for another fantastic year! • A new TV and Radio commercial is being finalized right...
Floppy Eyelid Syndrome: A Diagnostic Challenge
Floppy Eyelid Syndrome: A Diagnostic Challenge By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA Patients who present with floppy eyelid syndrome frequently are misdiagnosed. Here’s why. Floppy eyelid syndrome (FES) is a relatively rare condition that often masquerades as...
PECAA Hosts Fall Business Symposiums in San Diego & Charlotte
PECAA Hosts Fall Business Symposiums in San Diego & Charlotte PECAA, nationwide Doctor Alliance Group for Independent Doctors, held two Business Symposiums this fall, one on the west coast and one on the east coast. Business Symposium West was held...
Looking Ahead to 2016 With Think About Your Eyes
Looking Ahead to 2016 With Think About Your Eyes As we approach the end of 2015, we’re putting in place all the components to make 2016 another great year for the Think About Your Eyes (TAYE) campaign. These include: •...
Preparing Your Practice for Transition
Preparing Your Practice for Transition By Christopher Kane It takes hard work, commitment and planning to build a thriving eyecare practice. But there comes a point when practice owners begin to think about the next stage of their lives, from...
Think About Your Eyes Advertising Grows Patient Awareness
Think About Your Eyes Advertising Grows Patient Awareness The primary goal of the Think About Your Eyes (TAYE) advertising campaign is to change public behavior, and convince Americans to pay more attention to their eye health and vision care. What...
Now That ICD-10 is Here, What’s Next?
Now that ICD-10 is here, what’s next? By Teri Thurston, Billing & Coding Manager Congratulations! You have made it through the first couple of weeks of the ICD-10 transition! Practices have shared that things are going well, with limited issues...
The Critical Importance of Looking for MGD in Dry Eye Disease
The Critical Importance of Looking for MGD in Dry Eye Disease By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA Are you specifically looking for MGD? You should be. Here’s why. One key event that has dramatically changed the ability...
Blinking Exercises
Blinking Exercises By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA It is said that one of the main causes of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) may well be tied to a patient’s blink rate. Theories suggest that the lack of...
Seeing Results & Attracting New Patients With Think About Your Eyes
PECAA Members are Seeing Results & Attracting New Patients With a ThinkAboutYourEyes.com Premium Listing Join your fellow PECAA Members and get started with a Premium Listing on ThinkAboutYourEyes.com! PECAA Members are actively taking advantage of the exciting opportunity to save...
The PECAA Cocktail Party at Vision Expo West
The PECAA Cocktail Party at Vision Expo West Friday, September 18, 2015 | 5:30pm - 7:30pm You are invited to join us at the PECAA Cocktail Party for a fun and relaxing evening during Vision Expo West! Enjoy drinks,...
PECAA Celebration at GWCO 2015
PECAA Celebration at GWCO Thursday, September 10, 2015 | 6:30pm - 9:30pm Join PECAA again this year in Portland Oregon for the Great Western Council of Optometry (GWCO) as we celebrate the growth of PECAA and pay tribute to...
Get Your Practice Noticed This Back-to-School Season With Think About Your Eyes
Get Your Practice Noticed This Back-to-School Season With a Premium Listing on Think About Your Eyes As parents and children alike get ready for the back-to-school season, Think About Your Eyes is gearing up its Q3 advertising campaign and educating...
Diabetes Care in Optometry
Diabetes Care in Optometry By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA They say that the five top medical area of growth for optometry include dry eye disease, macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract and diabetes care. And since diabetes is growing...
Registration Open for PECAA Business Symposiums East & West!
Registration Open for PECAA Business Symposiums East & West! For the first time ever, PECAA will be hosting two Business Symposiums this fall on the west coast and on the east coast! Open to doctors and staff, you can choose...
Grow Your Practice With Think About Your Eyes
Reach More Patients & Grow Your Practice With Think About Your Eyes Introducing an all-new program with Think About Your Eyes, exclusively for PECAA Members, Luxottica customers and HOYA customers. Save big on a Premium listing on Think About Your...
Co-Managing Cataract Patients
What to Look For in Co-Managing Cataract Patients By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA The typical visits following cataract surgery are day 1, week 1, month 1 and month 3 following the surgery. Of course it’s important...
Effective Management of Blepharitis
Effective Management of Blepharitis By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Clinical Director - PECAA The eyelids may be the key to most dry eye disease. This comment was first emphasized in the International Task Force’s Dysfunctional Tear Syndrome (DTS) Delphi Approach...
Practice Acquisition 101
Practice Acquisition 101 By Christopher Kane One of the biggest decisions that an eye care professional may grapple with is the decision of whether to acquire an eye care practice. A big part of this decision entails understanding the financing...
Understanding Pre-Disposing Factors for Dry Eye Disease
Understanding Pre-Disposing Factors for Dry Eye Disease By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Director of Education - PECAA One of the keys to the diagnosis of dry eye disease is to know the predisposing factors for it. This is one...
Billing & Coding and Internal Marketing: Q2 Peer-to-Peer Topics
Billing & Coding: Planning for Success in 2015 Presented by: Teri Thurston, Billing & Coding Manager 2015 will continue to bring unprecedented changes to the eye care industry, likely affecting your practice's day-to-day operations. Understanding and planning for these changes...
PECAA Annual Meeting Delivers Business-Centric Education
PECAA's 2015 Annual Meeting is just around the corner, coming up May 14-17, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch. PECAA strives to deliver business-centric education, along with helpful tools that can be implemented in the practice right...
PECAA Member Spotlight: Recognizing The Value of Great Customer Service
PECAA Member Spotlight: Recognizing The Value of Great Customer Service By Sandy Landahl, LDO, Office Manager - Westside Eye Center, Vancouver, WA PECAA Member Since 2012 In a recent conversation with Cindy Schmitt, PECAA Member Services Manager, she asked me, “is...
What They Don’t See Counts: Your Team of Trusted Advisors
What They Don't See Counts: Your Team of Trusted Advisors By Christopher Kane and Jeff Johnston When a patient visits your office, you and your back office – while remaining out of view - take action. While the delivery of care...
Excerpts From The Dry Eye Summit
Excerpts From The Dry Eye Summit By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Director of Education - PECAA Today, dry eye is considered one of the leading causes of patient visits to eye care providers (ECPs) in the US. 1 Depending...
New Billing & Coding Workshop & Pinnacle Program at the Annual Meeting!
Billing & Coding Workshop - Transitioning to ICD-10: Understanding & Applying ICD-10-CM Presented by: Teri Thurston, Billing & Coding Manager - PECAA The Billing & Coding Workshop is an hour and a half, hands-on, interactive session. Teri will provide instruction on...
PECAA Member Spotlight: Branding a Practice in Paradise
PECAA Member Spotlight: Branding a Practice in Paradise For the past 47 years, PECAA Member Dr. Arthur Kobayashi has practiced in paradise - providing eye care to the community of Wahiawa, Hawaii near Oahu’s fabled and stunning North Shore. After...
2015 PECAA Annual Meeting Registration Open!
Registration is now open for the 2015 Annual Meeting, May 14th – 17th at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch in beautiful, and warm, Scottsdale, AZ. The Annual Meeting is PECAA’s signature event of the year...
Eye Tech
Eye Tech By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Director of Education - PECAA It seems fitting to finish the year with an update on some of the great developments and research of 2014. It is also said that over 60%...
Billing & Coding In Your Optometric Practice: Q&A
Billing & Coding In Your Optometric Practice: Q&A By: Jason R. Miller, OD, MBA, FAAO PECAA Member Since 2012 In this PECAA Blog post, Dr. Jason Miller reviews a couple common billing and coding questions. Many of these questions are issues...
Planning For The Future
Planning For The Future Chris Millet, PECAA's Chief Operating Officer, answers questions on how the Independent ECP can effectively plan for the future in order to compete and succeed in the evolving eye care industry. He offers tips on adopting new...
Giving Your Practice a Fraud Protection Check-Up
Giving Your Practice a Fraud Protection Check-Up By Christopher Kane and Scott Beard In today’s hyper-connected world, where technology has fundamentally changed the way we live, most people would agree that accessing information has never been easier. For optometrists and...
PECAA Secures Financial Backing From RevOptix
PECAA Secures Financial Backing From RevOptix Independent Doctor Alliance Group, Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA) has secured financial backing from RevOptix, a newly formed eye care practice solutions provider. PECAA management and staff will stay in place and...
PECAA Welcomes New Vendor Partner OMG! Optical Marketing Group
PECAA Welcomes New Vendor Partner, OMG! Optical Marketing Group Welcome PECAA’s newest Vendor Partner, OMG! Optical Marketing Group. OMG! provides a variety of products and services designed to help with your optical’s planning, marketing and merchandising in order to meet the...
PECAA Member Spotlight: Giving Back to Those in Need
PECAA Member Spotlight: Giving Back to Those in Need Featuring PECAA Member, Dr. Todd Pfeil, from Eyecare Specialties in Lincoln, NE In 2008, my wife and I joined in on a visionary mission trip to Haiti with our church, Sheridan Lutheran,...
Measuring For Success
Measuring For Success Jamie Hughes, PECAA's Director of Business Development, explains how implementing a production tracking and performance benchmarking strategy in your practice can help increase efficiency and profitability. He answers key questions about practice production - or as he puts it,...
PECAA Announces Partnership With OPN
Portland, OR (October 1, 2014) - PECAA, a national Doctor Alliance Group for Independent Doctors, has announced the formation of a strategic partnership with Optometric Professional Network (OPN), a regional Doctor Alliance Group based in Houston, TX. OPN made the...
Creating The Right Culture: No Matter The Size of Your Practice
Creating The Right Culture: No Matter The Size of Your Practice By Christopher Kane and Scott Beard It’s no secret that Fortune 500 companies and global corporations spend billions of dollars and millions of hours trying to develop the “right...
Invaluable Financial Analysis in Your Optometric Practice
Invaluable Financial Analysis in Your Optometric Practice Bryan Hoban, PECAA's Member Business Manager, explains the importance of financial analysis in your optometric practice. This article is part of PECAA's sponsored editorial series, appearing in the September, 2014 issue of Optometric Management magazine....
Be Careful with the Copy and Paste Feature of Your EHR
Be Careful with the Copy and Paste Feature of Your EHR By: Jason R. Miller, OD, MBA, FAAO PECAA Member Since 2012 With many of us transitioning to EHR’s in the past few years and many others looking to convert...
PECAA Member Spotlight: Caring For Young Patients Headed Back To School
PECAA Member Spotlight: Caring For Patients Who Are Headed Back To School PECAA Member Dr. Bridget Motley is one of the doctors from Children’s Eye Care Center in Oklahoma City, specializing in pediatric eye care. Just in time for back-to-school season,...
High Energy Visible Light Risks Part Two
High Energy Visible Light Risks - Part 2 By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Director of Education - PECAA Let’s revisit the subject of High Energy Visible Light (HEVL) exposure since I’ve received numerous questions and correspondence regarding this subject since...
Coordination of Benefits: Why Make The Effort?
Coordination of Benefits: Why Make The Effort? By: Jason R. Miller, OD, MBA, FAAO PECAA Member Since 2012 Are you confused about how to bill your Diabetic patients? Especially your Diabetic patients who also have VSP? Many health care payers...
PECAA Member Spotlight: Opening a New Practice
PECAA Member Spotlight: Opening a New Practice By: Rebecca Chown, OD Indian Creek Family Eyecare - Hood River, OR In May of 2013, I celebrated 10 years as an Optometrist. I have had the opportunity to practice in a variety of...
PECAA Member Spotlight: Moving Your Practice to a New Location
PECAA Member Spotlight: Moving Your Practice to a New Location PECAA Members Dr. Jessica Lynch and Dr. Linda Knutson, recently moved their practice, Vivid Eye Care, to a new location. Located in a booming area of Hillsboro, OR, their new office offers...
Google Glass & Other Augmented Reality Spectacles: A Role in Eyecare?
Google Glass & Other Augmented Reality Spectacles: A Role in Eyecare? By: Paul Karpecki, OD, FAAO Director of Education - PECAA Augmented reality such as wearable technology is a fascinating area. It allows people insights ranging from driving and walking...
Social Media Marketing: How to Effectively Manage & Grow Your Practice’s Social Presence
Social Media Marketing: How to Effectively Manage & Grow Your Practice's Social Presence Brett Fish, PECAA's Digital Marketing Manager, answers key questions about trends in social media and strategies for growing your business through social media contacts and content. This article is part of PECAA's...
High Energy Visible Light & Potential Ocular Damage
High Energy Visible Light (HEVL) and Potential Ocular Damage By: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO Director of Education - PECAA When I first looked at this information, I worried it was potentially sensationalism because the thought is alarming. New mandates...
Blue Light Technology: Protect Patients, Prescribe Lenses, Increase Revenues
Blue Light Technology: These lenses have the potential to limit patients' exposure, enhancing their vision and health - and your second pair revenues. PECAA Member, Dr. Keely Hoban from Tigard Vision Center in Tigard, OR explains the importance of blue light...
2014 PECAA Annual Meeting: No Other Doctor Alliance Group in the Country Hosts a Meeting Like PECAA Does
By: Lance Anderson, OD Co-Founder, PECAA 2014 PECAA Annual Meeting: No Other Doctor Alliance Group in the Country Hosts a Meeting Like PECAA Does I feel like I am just starting to catch my breath after attending our PECAA...
PECAA Attends 2014 Vision Expo East as a Voice For the Independent Eye Care Professional
By: Chris Millet Chief Operating Officer PECAA Attends 2014 Vision Expo East as a Voice for the Independent Eye Care Professional Traveling to New York City for Vision Expo East is an emotional combination of excitement, curiosity, and stress. Excitement...
How to Design and Manage a Thriving Optical
By: Doug Martin Director of Membership How to Design & Manage a Thriving Optical The answers to these three questions will help you compete with big retail. 1. How can your independent practice compete against retail giants and...
March Madness & Measuring Practice Performance
By: Lance Anderson, OD Co-Founder, PECAA March Madness & Measuring Practice Performance Ok, I have to admit that I am a basketball junkie and therefore I love the month of March. The NCAA Basketball Tournament is one of the...
Bausch + Lomb ULTRA™ Lens Product Launch and San Antonio, TX
Bausch + Lomb ULTRA™ Lens Product Launch February got off to an interesting start for me. I had the chance to attend the launch of Bausch + Lomb’s new monthly contact lens called the Bausch + Lomb ULTRA™. They went...
PECAA and the Evolving Landscape of Independent Optometry
The Evolving Landscape of Independent Optometry 2014 is underway and we’ve had time to reflect on the past year and lessons learned. We are also looking ahead at the future, set goals, and plan for the changes that may lie...
