AAO 2017 for the Solo-Practice Ophthalmologist

Join your peers across ophthalmology at AAO 2017 in New Orleans, the meeting that helps you grow in every part of your ophthalmology practice. The meeting includes a number of special courses, events and resources specifically designed to help you successfully run a solo-ophthalmology practice.

1. Meet with peers at our solo-physician roundtable

Hear insights from solo physician leaders, learn best practices to optimize your practice and network with peers from across the country at the Academy’s solo physician roundtable event.

Solo-practice roundtable: Saturday, Nov. 11, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Breakfast with Experts area.

2. Take advantage of business courses specifically for small and solo practices

With the Academy Plus course pass, you get access to more than 350 Academy and AAOE instruction courses. Several provide help specific to small and solo practices.

Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017

Free event:

• SPE06 - Marketing 101 – Kickstart your website, social media and blog; 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Intensive courses:

• Morning: Take a practice management master class on finance for the non-accountant (SPE03) or running a retina practice (SPE04). You could also refresh your coding skills in our fundamentals course (17CODE1).
• Afternoon: Continue your business education with a practice management master class on human resources (SPE02) or lean management (SPE05) or bone up on audit avoidance, modifiers and more at Coding Camp (17CODE2).

View all master classes and coding courses (separate ticket required).

Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017

Small-practice courses:

• 230 - Lean Flow Simulation for Solo and Small Practices: Creating a Differentiated Patient Experience – Pass; 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• 643 - Because Nice Matters: Customer Service in a Small Medical Practice – Pass; 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• 271 - Current Practice Models for the Small Ophthalmology Practice – Pass; 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• 275 - Survival Skills to Thrive in Small Private Practice! – Pass; 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 13, 2017

Free events:

• SYM31 - YO Symposium: Can we have it all? Building and balancing – Tools for thriving at Career and Life; 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
• LL25 - Burnout in Ophthalmology: Starting and finishing – Learning Lounge session; 11 a.m. to Noon
• SO Lounge event - Practice Management Roundtable discussions with OMIC, AAOE and FAAO; 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Small-practice courses:

• 436 - Small Practice Open Mic – Pass; 10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• 450 - Efficiency First: Patient Flow and a Small Practice – Pass; 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• 477 - Employment Law Basics for the Small Ophthalmology Practice – Pass; 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• 480 - Managing Clinical Trials in Small and Large Practices – Pass; 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Business and other practice-related events:

• 412 - Managing Your Practice Finances: Practical Advice for Ophthalmologists – Pass; 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• 441 - How to Manage Your Staff: Practical Advice for Ophthalmologists – Pass; 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
• 451 - Effective Internet Marketing For Practice Growth – Pass; 11:35 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• 453 - Building Your Practice Through Happy Patients – Pass; 11:35 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017

Free event:

• SYM48 - Non-exit strategy: How to extend your practice and live without fully retiring; 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Business course:

• 655- Social Media: The Good, the Bad, and the Brand Continued – Pass; 11:35 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

3. Avoid MIPS penalties with the IRIS Registry

Visit the IRIS Registry booth at the Academy Resource Center (Hall G, Booth 3140) to report an improvement activity and save $20,000+ in 2019 Merit Based Incentive Payment System penalties. Onside staff will guide you through the short reporting process. The resource center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday to Monday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

Note: To report an improvement activity using the IRIS Registry, you must sign up as a first-time user by Oct. 31. If you have already registered, you do not need to register again. You will need to bring your IRIS Registry username and password with you.

4. Get expert guidance with business operations

Schedule a free, 20-minute appointment with a practice management expert. Stop by the Academy Resource Center (Hall G, Booth 3140) during exhibit hall hours to meet with members of the Academy’s Consultant Directory.

Academy staff will schedule appointments onsite. The Conversations with the Experts area is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday.