Friday Intensive Classes

Program Overview

The American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives^® (AAOE^®) offers expert-led interactive discussion and deep immersion for the entire eye care team. Friday Intensive Classes address today’s most urgent practice management issues and includes a new training session for clinical team trainers. 

Ticket Information

• Meeting registration is required to attend Friday Intensive Classes.
• Friday Intensive Classes require purchase of a separate ticket ($).
• Each Friday Intensive Class ticket includes an electronic workbook and either breakfast or an afternoon snack.

Classes

MC01-MC04 are sponsored, in part, by a grant from Genentech.

New! Think Differently: Create A Practice Culture that Supports Satisfaction, Success and Retention | MC01 | ($)
Level: Beginner — Intermediate

“We can’t find good people!” “No one wants to work anymore!” “People start then quit without notice!” If these concerns sound familiar, this course is for you!  

This highly interactive session will challenge participants to critically evaluate what’s working well and what’s not in your current practice culture. With a focus on maximizing what you can control, thinking differently, and fully activating your mission’s core values, you will gain a new perspective on navigating the downward pressures faced by today’s practice leaders. Participants in this intensive class will: 

• Explore the motivations of today’s workforce and how practice culture directly impacts hiring, retention, staff motivation and burnout.
• Identify opportunities for using data to build a business case that invests in culture.
• Learn from real-world case studies about how mission and core values can be an effective HR tool for creating a practice culture that is equitable and inspires your team.
• Critically assess your practice culture and learn what steps you can take to inspire builders and diminish drainers.
• Walk away with practical, actionable strategies to develop and maintain a practice culture that promotes satisfaction and success.

Senior Instructor: Laura Baldwin, CPC, ELI-MP, RN
Co-instructors: Kris Pugh, MD; Savory Turman, COMT, COE, MS, ACC, OCS

Nov. 3, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Moscone South, 212 
$250 (Early: June 21 to Aug. 16) | $270 (Advance: Aug. 17 to Oct. 4) | $300 (Onsite: Oct. 5 to Nov. 6) 

New! Anticipate the Journey: Advancing Retina Practice Management | MC02 | ($)
Level: Beginner — Intermediate

Foresight is inherent to managing retina practices as the next big change is always around the bend. Operational management in this evolving environment demands a conceptual view of financial health, inventory management and comprehensive prior authorization protocols, and practice leaders must respond with careful planning and effective implementation strategies as new treatments and technologies emerge.

This intensive course will identify strategies for practice evolution by focusing on problem-solving tactics and a team-based approach.  Through lively panel discussions and audience participation, experiences will be shared that illustrate both the current challenges in retina practices and highlight the path forward. In this course, we will:     

• Discover new FDA-approved retina treatments and the impact on health policy.
• Recognize future changes to CPT codes that retina practices need to know.
• Identify financial reporting tools and how to utilize dashboards for decision-making.
• Discuss best-practice protocols for prior authorization and medication inventory management.
• Explore coding resources to ensure compliance and appropriate documentation for new drug treatments and audit-targeted services.

Senior Instructor: Joy Woodke, COE, OCS, OCSR, Academy Director, Coding & Reimbursement
Co-instructors: Jessica Schroeder, MPH, CPC, OCS; Ankoor R. Shah, MD, Academy Health Policy Committee Member, RUC Advisor, Medical Director for Coding Products

Nov. 3, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Moscone South, 214 
$250 (Early: June 21 to Aug. 16) | $270 (Advance: Aug. 17 to Oct. 4) | $300 (Onsite: Oct. 5 to Nov. 6) 

New! Practice Management Essentials | MC03 | ($)
Level: Beginner — Intermediate

Whether you are an owner, an administrator, or part of an administrative team from a small or large practice, there are management priorities essential to effective leadership and practice health. This course is designed to highlight impactful approaches to the core areas of oversight that every practice must monitor. Our panel of experienced professionals will share in an interactive format their knowledge and tips based on real-life successes. Participants will:   

• Learn about the six essential areas of practice management and where to focus your attention most effectively.
• Examine best practices that have been tested in dynamic practice settings.
• Have the opportunity to pose questions and scenarios for discussion by the panel. 

Senior Instructor: Julia Lee, JD
Co-instructors: Traci Fritz, COE; Joanne Mansour, OCSR; Purnima S. Patel, MD; Ruth Williams, MD

Nov. 3, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. | Moscone South, 212 
$250 (Early: June 21 to Aug. 16) | $270 (Advance: Aug. 17 to Oct. 4) | $300 (Onsite: Oct. 5 to Nov. 6) 

New! Finders, Keepers: How to Recruit and Retain Staff in a Challenging Job Market | MC04 | ($)
Level: Beginner — Intermediate

Led by industry experts and a professional leadership coach, this interactive course is designed to equip you with the tools and strategies you need to address the widespread staff shortages in today’s ophthalmic practice. You can expect to gain: 

• An understanding of the current job market and recruitment strategies ophthalmic practices can use to overcome the challenges of finding qualified candidates in a competitive environment.
• Strategies for building a strong, positive practice culture that attracts and retains staff. Techniques for conducting effective interviews and identifying the best candidates for your practice, with a focus on identifying individuals who share your practice's values and goals.
• Building a competitive compensation and benefits package that aligns with industry standards and best practices.
• New tips and techniques for retaining staff, including strategies for minimizing high turnover rates and employee burnout, as well as best practices for creating development opportunities and career paths that keep staff engaged and committed.
• Strategies for holding staff accountable in a difficult job market.
• Case studies and examples that illustrate key concepts and strategies, with plenty of time for audience participation and questions. 

Senior Instructor: Savory Turman, COMT, COE, MS, ACC, OCS 
Co-instructors: Laura Baldwin, CPC, ELI-MP, RN; Jackie Bayne, BS, COA 

Nov. 3, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. | Moscone South, 214 
$250 (Early: June 21 to Aug. 16) | $270 (Advance: Aug. 17 to Oct. 4) | $300 (Onsite: Oct. 5 to Nov. 6) 

New! Train the Trainer: Specialized Training for Ophthalmic Technician Educators | MC05 | ($)

Join an expert panel of technician trainers for an intensive program developed specifically for those charged with training ophthalmic clinical staff. These fast-paced sessions include:

• A review of adult learning principles
• Keys to developing relevant curriculum
• In-depth discussions on building a successful tech training program
• Effective methods for teaching refractions and applanation tonometry

Return to AAOE 2023 Practice Management Program page.