Eyeworld

R EFRACTIVE ROUNDTABLE standard lens with femto surgery, femto surgery with advanced lens. It's all laid out—what's in- cluded and what it costs—and it makes it easier for a patient to make a decision. Dr. Wiley: I think education is a key portion. Often it takes what we call "five points of touch," and we want that with the patient as many times as possible prior to the doctor seeing them. We set up an education phone call coupled with a survey to see what the patient might be interested in, followed by another phone call, followed by literature to help explain things, followed by an email with videos. The day of the consult they meet with a refractive surgery counselor to discuss different possibil- ities. I think it's important so that they under- stand the options. We tend to simplify those options by boiling it down to what the patient's visual goal is. We break it down to three things: Do you mind wearing glasses? Are you going to be wearing glasses for distance and near, or do you want to get out of your distance glasses but still wear them for reading? Or are you looking to get out of glasses for both distance and near? Depending on what the patient chooses, we'll choose the technology to fit what their goals are. Dr. Vukich: When do you provide patients with information about premium IOL options? If you send information prior to their appoint- ment, do you find that this helps them with their decision making? Dr. Wiley: A lot of patients zero in on that because I think many patients think all cataract surgery is the same and if they learn that it's dif- ferent the day of the consult—the day they see the doc—they seem to be overwhelmed. But if you can start that education process sooner, they tend to absorb it more and can make a better decision. We also offer monthly seminars continued on page 46 Patient out-of-pocket expenses for premium cataract surgery Today's best practices and lessons learned The Refractive Surgery Clinical Committee hosted a roundtable at the 2019 ASCRS ASOA Annual Meeting. The roundtable was chaired by John Vukich, MD, and Vance Thompson, MD. They were joined by Daniel Chang, MD, Eric Donnenfeld, MD, Kerry Solomon, MD, Robert Maloney, MD, George Waring IV, MD, and William Wiley, MD. The following is the first part of the discussion. The transcript has been edited for length. The next three parts of the discussion will be shared in upcoming issues of EyeWorld. Dr. Thompson: The first question is about preparing your practice for working with patient pay. Does anyone want to take a stab at the refractive cataract consult in their practice? Think of it in three phases: preop/diagnostics, intraop, and postop. Dr. Maloney: I think it's important to get the options in writing in front of the patient in a clear and simple way. You're asking the patient to pay a lot of money, often for services that are confusing. Anything you can do to clarify that makes it easier for the patient to make a decision and move on. In our practice we have grid-like forms that show the offerings: standard lens with standard cataract surgery, About the doctors Daniel H. Chang, MD Empire Eye and Laser Center Bakersfield, California Eric Donnenfeld, MD Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island Garden City, New York Robert Maloney, MD Maloney-Shamie Vision Institute Los Angeles Kerry Solomon, MD Carolina EyeCare Physicians Charleston, South Carolina Vance Thompson, MD Vance Thompson Vision Sioux Falls, South Dakota John Vukich, MD SSM Dean Clinic Madison, Wisconsin George Waring IV, MD Waring Vision Institute Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina William Wiley, MD Cleveland Eye Clinic Brecksville, Ohio Dr. Thompson leads a discussion with members of the ASCRS Refractive Surgery Clinical Committee, starting with the topic of patient out-of- pocket expenses for premium cataract surgery. Source: ASCRS 44 | EYEWORLD | SEPTEMBER 2019

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