2023 PECAA Annual Meeting

Course Descriptions

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Optional Education Sessions, 1:15pm – 3:30pm

 

Justin Manning, ODPECAA/VSP Industry Development Workshop – 2-Hour Presentation

Speakers: Justin Manning, OD, MPH, FAAO, PECAA Chief Member Experience Officer, PECAA and VSP Guest Panel
Room Location: Brickyard A

Join us for a unique opportunity to connect with members from both PECAA’s and VSP’s leadership. We will begin by answering questions from attendees about our new vision and what it means for our members. You will then collaborate with each other and members of our team to help build our future, together!

Employee Relations: How to Have a Happy, Productive, and Profitable Practice – 2-Hour Presentation

Speaker: Sharon Jutila, Human Resource Consultant, Ameriben
Room Location: Interchange

This presentation will combine learning with a facilitated round table discussion that will allow you to connect with your peers on the shared challenge to achieve your optimal office culture. We will begin by taking a deep dive into what can help to enhance the culture in your office to foster a happy, productive, and profitable practice for years to come. Attendees will be provided with real-life scenarios to talk through, compare, and share tips on the best ways to assess and address these shared experiences.

Introduction to CooperVision Specialty EyeCare Scleral Lens Portfolio – 1-Hour Only (1:15pm-2:15pm)

Speaker: Richard Dorer, National Sales Director, CooperVision
Room Location: Brickyard B

The attendee will learn about the scleral lens portfolio from CooperVision Specialty EyeCare. Become familiar with the unique design characteristics and product features. The portfolio contains scleral lenses for the beginning fitter to the advanced scleral fitter that needs to address the unique needs of the irregular cornea patient.

Paragon CRT® Certification –1 Hour Only (2:30pm-3:30pm)

Speaker: Dr. Liandra Jung, Assistant Clinical Professor at the School of Optometry at UC Berkeley
Room Location: Brickyard B

Expand your myopia management treatment options to include orthokeratology (ortho-k) in your practice. Paragon CRT® for Myopia Management was the first FDA approved lens for overnight ortho-k wear. The first step to becoming a Paragon CRT® practitioner is to become certified. Certification is not only an FDA requirement but covers all essential information you need to successfully offer Paragon CRT® to your patients. Transforming your practice starts here.

Friday, April 21, 2023

Round Robin Session One, 2:15pm – 3:15pm

Attendees can select one of the following:

 

The Aftermath: What Happens to Your Patients After Their Lenses Are Finalized? (COPE Pending)

Speaker: Andrew Biondo, OD, Doctor and Owner, Kirkwood Eye Associates
Room Location: Summit ABC

Getting the perfect fit for your specialty lens patient is just the beginning. For the patient to be successful, you have to make sure that the eyes and the lenses are being properly cared for to maximize the patient experience and maximize your practice’s revenue potential.

The Art of Multiple Pairs

Speaker: Alessandro Baronti, President & CEO of De Rigo REM
Room Location: Summit E

This course helps opticians understand the new buying landscape. Over the past decade, the convergence of technology, design, logistics, and shopper expectations has completely transformed the way people shop. The digital consumer does everything online from banking, research, study, socializing, doctors’ virtual visits, and yes, shopping. One of the biggest challenges faced today by ECPs is filing the customer’s needs with multiple pairs of eyewear. Often, dispensers believe that patients want and need only one pair of eyeglasses. Additional products such as sunglasses, reading glasses, computer glasses, and blue light filtering in lenses are required in many cases. Patients are happy to purchase a second or third pair when it suits their needs if presented with the right option.

Optical Management

Speaker: Kayla Groves, Optical Member Business Advisor, PECAA
Room Location: North Coast A

This course will provide a high-level overview of the following topics that directly impact optical management for optometric practices:

  • Conducting a Frame/Lens Analysis
  • Analyzing Turn-Rate, Price Assortment, & Markup Strategy
  • Analyzing Lens Profit Margins (Wholesale & Retail)
  • Industry Benchmarks
  • Setting Up Frame Board Management
  • Visual Merchandising
  • Training Staff Members on Presentation

How We Visualize Our Reality

Speaker: Michael Gatti
Room Location: Summit D

In this course we will review the complete electromagnetic spectrum and discuss how light is both a wave and a particle. We will recall how the visual system works and how light provides sight.  We will then explore popular optical illusions to understand how we see with our brains, not with our eyes.

Friday, April 21, 2023

Round Robin Session Two, 3:30pm – 4:30pm

Attendees can select one of the following:

 

The Vitreous: Invisible By Design (COPE Pending)

Speaker: Professor John Nolan, Principal Investigator, Nutrition Research Centre Ireland, South East Technological University
Room Location: Summit ABC

This course will deliver training on ocular disease related to the vitreous and retina. In summary, this course will educate on the biochemistry of the human vitreous and the need to “look at it and not through it”. The presenter will highlight the pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for vitreous degeneration and the structure changes that occur in the vitreous after degeneration. The delegates will be trained the role of the vitreous for the eye and the impact of vitreous degeneration on visual function and ocular disease. The course will explain why patients can suffer greatly, even in the absence of obvious vitreous opacities. Using novel data from recently published studies (FLIES), the presenter(s) will show how specific nutrients of the vitreous, via their antioxidative and antiglycation properties, can be considered for the management of vitreous degeneration, vitreous floaters and vitreous ocular disease.

Build a Brand People Love

Speaker: Kevin Wilhelm, President, Marketing4ECPs
Room Location: Summit E

The independent optometrist is at risk of becoming a commodity – a business that is chosen by price and/or convenience. When you are chosen on one of those two factors, you find yourself at risk of losing patients to a competitor who becomes more convenient or priced lower (hello online retailers!). This 60-minute talk will provide steps on how to de-commoditize a practice and build a brand that people (patients) will love. The discussion will include tangible processes that can be built within your operations manual to create an experience your patients rave about. Attendees will learn about how to uncover ways to stand out amongst the competition, fill holes that the market has left open, be intentional about how to show up for patients, and choose products/services/brands that say something about your practice! This talk has been tried, tested, and proven for years – but not in front of this audience.

Maximizing Visual Performance for Our Patients Every Day Using Lessons Learned From 20+ Years Of Enhancing Vision For Athletes

Speaker: Keith Smithson, OD, Partner, Northern Virginia Doctors of Optometry
Room Location: Summit D

After spending 20-plus years treating elite athletes from across all major American sports and acting as the team doctor for all professional sports teams in Washington DC, Dr. Keith Smithson is an expert in vision care for athletes. He will share the history of sports and performance vision to empower all ODs to meet the needs of the athletes they see every day.

Myth busters: Top Billing and Coding Misconceptions

Speaker: Teri Thurston, Billing and Coding Advisor, PECAA
Room Location: North Coast A

It may be understood that billing and coding is one of the most critical aspects of your business. A key element in the success of your practice, driving reimbursement. Yet there are common beliefs that just aren’t true! These myths range from underestimating the billing process to misunderstandings about coding practices. Are these myths holding you back? Join us as we clear up some of these common misconceptions.

Saturday, April 22, 2023

Peer-to-Peer Breakfasts, 7:30am – 8:45am

Doctors will select one Peer-to-Peer breakfast option on the registration page.
Staff members have one option (listed below)

 

Staff Breakfast Breakout: Difficult Conversations: Creating Connection from Conflict

Speaker: Erin O’Malley
Room Location: Summit E

Conflict. Misunderstandings, tough topics, and emotionally charged relationships all lead to conversations we find difficult and avoid. When we do, relationships suffer, tension increases, productivity stops, and we miss out on opportunities. We put them off…but they are inevitable.

In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore new ways to plan and prepare for difficult conversations. Participants will explore elements of the Connected Conversations Framework and discover how Intention, Impact, Input, and Inviting someone into a conversation can mitigate the hard parts of a conversation.

Participants will discover opportunities to create trust, strengthen relationships, and have productive, non-reactive, conversations that lead to forward progress.

Saturday, April 22, 2023

Round Robin Session Three, 9:00am – 10:00am

Attendees can select one of the following:

 

Binocularity, Productivity and Learning: The Link Between Alignment And Reading Speed (COPE Pending)

Speaker: Brenda Montecalvo, OD, FCOVD, FAAO, FCSO, Optometrist & Vision Coach
Room Location: Interchange

A recent parallel arm study evaluated reading speed at baseline and after seven days of lens wear, and the results have exciting implications for the impact the vision industry can have on productivity, comprehension, and learning. Dr. Montecalvo—renowned author, international speaker, and optometrist in the areas of vision and learning—will reveal the results of this study and the broader implications and rationales for making binocular vision correction a standard of care in the vision industry.

Myopia: Act Today, Change Tomorrow!

Speakers: Felicia Timmermann, OD, MS, FAAO, Manager of Myopia Management, CooperVision
Amy Sabella-Malone, MSPH, LDO, ABO, NCLE, Myopia Management Specialist, CooperVision
Room Location: North Coast B

Changing the lives of millions of children with worsening myopia means changing how the profession addresses it. This workshop will allow you to pick the top three areas you’d like support in for implementing myopia management with actionable next steps once you’re back in the practice. Act today, change tomorrow.

 

 

Sourcing and Retaining Top Talent: Tips and Tools Every Practice Needs

Speaker: Shauna Harrington, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Senior Director of Outreach and Executive Talent Acquisition, VSP Vision
Room Location: Summit E

In today’s rapidly changing and competitive market, private practices must find new and creative ways to attract, hire, engage and retain top-notch staff. Qualified and engaged staff impact practice profitability, and, most importantly, contribute to an unparalleled patient experience—focusing on finding candidates and retaining staff members for the long term are key. VSP Vision brings you an interactive session where you’ll walk away with practical, bottom-line tips on how to attract qualified staff, empower them, and cultivate an environment in which they are more likely to stay.

Light Management: The Need For Ocular Solutions

Speaker: Christopher W. Lievens, OD, MS, FNAP, FAAO, Chief of Internal Clinics and Professor, Southern College of Optometry
Room Location: North Coast A

Light is all around us. It is a constant presence. Light is dynamic, but most of us don’t notice how light is constantly changing. Our body needs light, it is essential to our health and the way we feel, but as we are living indoors more and more, we are losing our connection to natural light and we are exposed to more artificial lights, brighter lights, and stronger lights. This daily underexposure or overexposure impacts both our visual performance and general health. This course will explore light and our relationship with it. Its long-term phototoxic effect on vision, short-term impact on our daily lives, and the ability of ocular solutions to manage light under all circumstances.

2023 PECAA Annual Meeting Enhanced Education Tracks

 

Office Manager Certification Course

Instructor: Valerie Manso, ABOC, FNAO, ALB, ACB, Director of Staff Education, PECAA
Three sessions: Friday, April 21, 8:15am – 12:00pm and 2:15pm – 4:15pm; Saturday, April 22, 8:00am – 10:00am
Room Location: Golden Pass

This 8-hour certification course, accredited by the University of Houston College of Optometry, is the first of its kind to feature education, testing, certification and continued enhancement while teaching attendees the skills and understanding needed to manage an independent optometric practice.

The following topics will be covered:

  • Managing staff: evaluation, hiring, dismissing, motivating staff, stress management in the office
  • Delegation of authority: prioritization, accountability
  • Timeline management: staff scheduling, patient scheduling
  • Meeting management: agenda setting, delegation of reporting responsibilities
  • Day to day operations: accounting, budgets, managing expenditures
  • Legal and ethical aspects of management
  • Improving financial performance:  fees, credits and collections
  • Goal setting, Handling difficult people and situations

At the conclusion of this course, attendees must pass a comprehensive exam to ensure they have attained the skills required to receive the designation of ‘Certified Office Manager.’

This enhanced education track course is $395 per person.

 

Marketing Training Bootcamp

Instructors: Shelby Wade, Marketing Business Advisor, PECAA
Kristin Choryan, Business Development Opportunity Specialist, Optician, Marketing4ECPs
Two sessions: Friday, April 21, 2:15pm – 4:15pm; Saturday, April 22, 8:00am – 10:00am
Room Location: Golden Eagle B

The PECAA Marketing Training Camp is not your typical training; this is a 4-hour, intensive, hands-on, interactive group workshop that will assist you in building the ‘playbook’ of how to protect and promote your practice for future success. Attendees will leave with strategies and action plans to put in place immediately.

This course is free for attendees.

 

Build Your Business Through Pediatric Dispensing (2 ABO CE Hours)

Instructor: Andrew Bruce, LDO, ABOM, NCLE-AC, Independent Optical Consultant/Speaker/Technical Writer
One session: Friday, April 21, 2:15pm – 4:15pm

Room Location: Railhead

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), 80% of a child’s learning is through vision. This explains why children entering grade school with undiagnosed refractive errors can quickly fall behind in their academic growth. To avoid this potential obstacle, the AOA recommends children receive at least three eye examinations, prior to entering first grade. Children in higher risk categories should be seen more frequently. In this course, I will present my “tried and tested” approach to Dispensing to Children. There are many theories and approaches out there, but this is what works for me. Studies conducted by the Prevent Blindness organization report over 35,000 sports-related eye injuries in the United States, every year. A significant percentage of children participate in sports and, sadly, suffer most related eye injuries. According to the National Eye Institute, sports-related eye injuries are the number one cause of blindness in children in the United States. Despite such alarming statistics, eye safety is rarely even mentioned in health and awareness campaigns sponsored by sports leagues. The main focus of such campaigns is physical injuries to the body from related sports activities. In addition, protective eyewear is rarely required by youth leagues. This portion of the lecture will discuss sports-related eye injuries and the responsibility we have, as eye care professionals, to educate our patients/parents about the preventative measures available.

This course is free for attendees.

 

Building Your Prism Muscles (2 ABO CE Hours)

Instructor: Andrew Bruce, LDO, ABOM, NCLE-AC, Independent Optical Consultant/Speaker/Technical Writer
One session: Saturday, April 22, 8:00am – 10:00am
Room Location: Railhead

We will begin with a review of basic ophthalmic lens construction and how it connects to the subject of prism. Terminology and prism notation will be discussed, in addition to refractive principles, dispersion, and associated topics. The importance of using accurate data when ordering lenses, and how frame fitting angles can affect lens performance, will be emphasized. Prentice’s Rule will be reviewed. Eye conditions requiring prescribed prism such as phorias, tropias, diplopia, and scotomas due to neurological trauma, to name a few, will be presented. The principles of handling prescribed prism such as compounding, cancelling, resolving, and splitting prism will be included. Why is AR strongly recommended when using prescribed prism? Finally, a detailed explanation of how to verify prism will be discussed. Additionally, we will cover how unwanted prism is related to vertical imbalance. Definition of Anisometropia and Antimetropia; at what point are these conditions problematic? How to determine/anticipate a potential imbalance issue will be discussed, together with methods available to correct for vertical imbalance. The program will include examples dealing with advanced optical concepts: determining power in oblique meridians, verifying slab-off, and the use of different methods to manage vertical imbalance.

This course is free for attendees.

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