**A Day in the Life of a Private Practice Optometrist**
What is a day like as a private practice optometrist that owns the business? While each day presents its own challenges and success, I thought it may be useful to track one recent day…
My day begins remembering that my consultant suggested we should celebrate our recent successes. So, I grab some snacks on the way into work. I believe that building and maintaining the team is one of the most important things I can do for the long-term success of the practice.
Arriving early, I complete some equipment orders and address staff matters with the office manager. Thankfully, I can delegate a few tasks. Next, I make sure to set 3-4 business goals for the day. Once the team gathers, we review the schedule. It helps to discuss how the day might unfold. Then I analyze yesterday’s financial results to get a sense of where we stand. It often seems that my role involves 1-to-1 conversations and numbers. My day has many face-to-face discussions with staff and patients. The other big part is evaluating and interpreting numbers—both financial and clinical.
My morning consists of five patient appointments. Each appointment is scheduled every 40 minutes to allow for thorough examinations. The first was a returning patient who had been so bothered by severe nearsightedness that she had an extra lens surgically implanted in each eye just to cut down on the strength of her correction! This is interesting to see because it is rare in my practice. Next, a longtime patient needing a contact lens prescription refill. Then an evaluation of a third patient diagnosed with stable, intermediate-stage macular degeneration. After a brief break for bookkeeping, I see a patient with glaucoma who is showing early signs of vision loss. After that it was a “no-show” appointment, allowing time for miscellaneous tasks.
Lunch in my office includes reviewing vendor information. During the break an old friend stops by to order contact lenses and chat about sports. The afternoon starts with a patient needing new glasses but also worried about her vision because of her father’s significant vision loss. Next is someone in for a comprehensive examination that really seemed to enjoy trying on new frames.
In the latter part of the day, I complete a straightforward exam for a patient updating their driving glasses, followed by a crucial follow-up for someone previously diagnosed with retinal concerns. Thankfully, he appears stable and we can continue to monitor him for any changes. The last patient seeks a second opinion and shares that she’s made significant progress. She is now able to read regular print books again despite the challenges of her vision loss!
After the patients have left, I check key performance indicators crucial to our practice's financial health. Then a quick staff check-in to see if there are any urgent needs. Reflecting on the day, I see that I made progress on two business goals and completed two others. While some days leave me physically drained and others mentally exhausted, today felt productive.