Patience is a Virtue Many ECPs Don’t Seem To Have

QUESTIOn: What’s one professional skill you’re currently working on?

• I am slowly learning more and more about the capabilities of my EMR (Crystal) and management system (Solution Reach) which I have been putting off since it is so far out of my comfort zone. — Marc Ullman, OD, Academy Vision, Pine Beach, NJ
• Understanding prism better. — Star Taylor, Richens Eye Center, St George, UT
• Communication…because it’s always changing and so are we. — Billy Isgett, Eyecare of Florence, Florence, SC
• Educating myself on all the new technology out there. — Frances Ann Layton Eye Associates of South Georgia, Valdosta, GA
• Improving my knowledge and usability of Excel. — Chris Dudley, Independent Optician, Lake County, Fl
• Patience. — Deb Jaeger, Eye Center of the Dakotas, Bismarck, ND
• Learning to do the OCT machine and the Zeiss camera. — Maureen Garbis, Compass Eyecare, Oak Park, IL
• Constant love and attention to each patient. — Valorie Davis, Big Lake Eye Care, Okeechobee, FL
• Being more efficient in my time management skills. — Cassandra Oliveira, DeCesare Eye Associates, Providence, RI
• Patience. — Paula Hornbeck, Eye Candy & Eye Candy Kids, Delafield, WI
• Patience. — BJ Chambers, Carrera Optical, McQueeney, TX
• Keeping up with new lens materials and options. — Elias Awad, Invision Eyewear, Overland Park, KS
• Sleep. — Jen Heller, Pend Oreille Vision Care, Sandpoint, ID
• Providing constructive criticism to my employees, even though bringing up their mistakes makes me nervous. I’ve learned that letting things go is not the answer. — Elizabeth Knaus, A to Z Eye Care, Arcata, CA
• Patience, or is it patients? — Dave Goodrich, Goodrich Optical, Lansing, MI
• Communication. — Rick Pascucci, Towpath Vision Care, Clinton, NY
• Trying to understand Mask Talk. The masks make all my patients sound like they have marshmallows in their mouths. — Texas L. Smith, OD, Dr. Texas L. Smith & Associates Citrus Heights, CA
• Wearing a mask without fuzz going up my nose. — Angel Miller, Cynthiana Vision Center, Cynthiana, KY
• Changing how I approach customers with something I know is not possible. — Monica Tracey, MyEyeDr, Charlottesville, VA
• Social media marketing. — Heather Aites, Family Vision Center, Westminster, CO
• I am constantly trying to engage in new knowledge so I can take my advanced certification test with ABO/NCLE. COVID-19 has not allowed a lot of time for this in my case but with tenacity and hard work I will accomplish this professional advancement for myself. — William Chancellor, Best Chance Optical, Forsyth, GA
• My answer will always have to be patience. — Sherry Berry, Eye Against Eye, Aston, PA
• Peace. — Zachary Dirks, OD, St. Peter and Belle Plaine Eyecare Centers, Saint Peter, MN
• Patience. — Steve Geis, Metro Eye, Milwaukee, WI
• Patience. — Judith Whitelaw, Dr. Gregory Char, OD, Orange, OR
• Bolder styles for men. — Rick Rickgauer, Vision Associates, Girard, PA
• Social Media competency. — Verbelee Nielsen-Swanson, Oxford Eyes, Orlando, FL
• Time management. — Kristina Jordan, The Eye Site, Mishawaka, IN
• E-commerce, how to make our sight more visible. — Sherry Morgan, Logan Eye Care, Lake Mary, FL
• HR training. — Danielle Doniver, Heritage Optical, Detroit, MI
• Wanting to take the Advanced ABOC test, but am not sure where to start for study guidance? Found the outline of the test on the website, but I’d like to chat with someone that has taken it. — Kim Hilgers, Monson Eyecare Center, Owatonna, MN
• Growing our marketing. We are currently working on our yearly photoshoot, which our patients love, and funny educational videos for our YouTube channel, which our patients come in for or send emails telling us that they love. — Nytarsha Thomas, OD, Visionelle Eyecare, Zionsville, IN
• Typing. I knew I should have taken typing in high school instead of shop class! — Mark Perry, OD, Vision Health Institute, Orlando, FL
• Time management. — Ann-Marie Weaver, Optimal Eye Care, Lewis Center, OH
• Not getting over-stressed, so basically learning when to say no! — Sarah Montes, Hockemeyer Family Eye Care, New Haven, IN
• Consistent accounting. I’m a procrastinator. — Nikki Griffin, EyeStyles Optical and Boutique, Oakdale, MN
• Frame making is a constant skill I’m working on. — Kevin Count, Prentice Lab, Glenview, IL
• Always a work-in-process. — Miguel Rodriguez, Fava & Maria Eye Associates, Lebanon, PA
• Building a website. — Mitchell Kaufman, Marine Park Family Vision, Brooklyn, NY
• Making custom frames. It’s a niche that very few people are filling across the country and one that I’m extremely passionate about. — Travis LeFevre, Krystal Vision, Logan, UT
• Keeping up my American Board Certification MOC programs. — Robert M Easton Jr. OD, FAAO, Oakland Park, FL
• Public speaking. — Jennifer Stewart, OD, Norwalk Eye Care, Norwalk, CT
• Myopia control. — Douglas Holle, OD, Sunset Eye Care, San Angelo, TX
• Courtesy. — Vittorio Mena, OD, Optical Academy, Little Ferry, NJ
• Leadership training for our department managers, learning to train them to be leaders. — Melanie Jenkins, Spring Hill Eyecare, PLLC, Spring Hill, TN
• Getting organized… a lifelong dream I’ve been chasing. — Jennifer Leuzzi, Mill Creek Optical, Dansville, NY
• Reading/podcasts on self-improvement. — Ron Catterson, Clear View Optix, The Villages, FL
• Tolerance towards the entitlement crowd. — Jeff Grosekemper, Casa De Oro Eyecare, Spring Valley, CA
• Managing my anxiety in this climate. — Tiffany Firer, Lifetime Eyecare, Jenison, MI
• I’m finally studying for my NCLE! Tips welcome. — Kris Kittell, Encinitas Vision, San Diego, CA