Teaching Practices to Run More Efficiently and Profitably

At AAO 2016, the course “Mastering the Art of Lean Ophthalmic Practice” offered instruction on how to create the greatest value with the least amount of waste. Attendees learned about essential lean core concepts and design principles, plus how to create a powerful tool to analyze a practice’s current system and identify ways to improve practice flow and patient experience.

Running a practice in today's dynamic healthcare environment has never been more challenging.

You are being asked to do more with less in today’s shifting regulatory landscape. To help practices thrive in the new era of value-based eye care, the American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives, the Academy’s practice management affiliate, continues to develop products and services to help you succeed. In 2016, AAOE launched a line of lean tools that help ophthalmology practices:

• Improve practice efficiency;
• Increase profitability;
• Improve quality of care and
• Improve patient satisfaction.

The first of its kind in ophthalmology, this lean management program has something to offer every practice, regardless of size or subspecialty. In addition to free online resources, AAOE’s first offering of tools and services makes it easy to implement lean principles.

• Going Lean: Reduce Costs, Increase Profitability and Improve Patient Satisfaction—This 60-minute introductory webinar covers how lean thinking can improve patient satisfaction scores, alleviate physician and staff stress and reduce operational costs. Participants also learn how to increase revenue by developing strategies for new Medicare physician payment programs.
• Mastering the Art of Lean Ophthalmic Practice—This four-hour workshop from AAO 2016 gave attendees practical, usable lean skills they could immediately apply to their practices.

Interest in the webinar and workshop has been robust, with more than 300 physicians and practices participating.

The Academy’s new 60-minute eLearning coding courses help physicians and administrators master ophthalmic coding anytime, anywhere. Developed by the Academy’s coding experts with lean management principles in mind, these interactive online courses offer flexibility and convenience—users connect from the comfort of their home or office and learn accurate coding and documentation at their own pace. Three courses are available in the Academy store:

• Complete Guide to Documenting and Coding Cataract Surgery
• Eye Visit Code Documentation Guidelines
• Testing Services Documentation Requirements

Each eLearning course offers 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM and a certificate of completion for JCAHPO Category "B" credit.