The best tips I have learned come from our peer-to-peer meetings, where doctors meet in small groups to share both challenges and successes. When our peers encourage us to make a change and show how they did, we can finally take that step, whatever change it may be.

Last year, at this meeting, for me, it was using scribes/technicians in the exam room. The other doctors explained that I would not be as tired at the end of the day. Not doing the technical data entry, I could give my patients more attention, look them in the eyes and give my patients a better, more personal exam experience in less time.

Because of my alliance, I have the safety and benefits of a large corporation while maintaining my independence. We have peer meetings several times a year in which 10 practices come together to discuss our individual frustrations and our opportunities for success. The information from these gatherings is readily available to the whole network of offices, giving everyone a chance to learn and to grow.

But the No. 1 reason any office usually joins an alliance is to save money, and my practice has saved well over half a million dollars in the past nine years!

Being a Vision Trends member gives me the purchasing power to provide the best eye care at the lowest cost to my patients.

Vision Trends had a profound impact on my practice even before we were open for business. The thousands of dollars saved on equipment and inventory, the educational services provided about insurance and the advice about key decisions would not have been possible without Vision Trends.