EyeWorld is the official news magazine of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
Issue link: https://digital.eyeworld.org/i/1494912
104 | EYEWORLD | APRIL 2023 P RACTICE MANAGEMENT by William Rabourn Jr., and Jill Maher, MA, COE About the authors Jill Maher, MA, COE Principal Consultant Maher Medical Consulting Chicago, Illinois William Rabourn Jr. Managing Principal Medical Consulting Group Springfield, Missouri F or young ophthalmologists finishing their fellowship, choosing which practice to join can be a daunting task. Up to this point, many decisions have been made for them. Now they have the opportunity to choose which practice to join, and the options seem endless. Determining which practice to join is a decision that warrants expertise, time, and preparation. Because this is a decision many ophthal- mologists have been waiting years for, it is important to not be fearful but rather empow- ered about the decision. Don't feel intimidated or anxious. Engage professionals experienced in contract negotiations, particularly within ophthalmology. Utilize the abundant resourc- es available through ophthalmic associations, journals, groups, podcasts, etc. Be prepared to discuss the details and ask the hard questions. This decision is the culmination of years of hard work. It should be treated as such. Interview prep A strong interview can put an ophthalmolo- gist in a good position when entering contract negotiations. Do the homework and become familiar with the practice before interviewing by exploring the website, online reviews, and social media channels. An interviewing ophthalmologist stands a better chance of arriving at an agreement with the practice when both parties have a realistic understanding of each other's expectations, so come prepared with plenty of questions. During the interview process, applying ophthalmologists should outline and rank priorities: salary, geography, culture, organiza- tional structure, subspecialties, practice volume, ownership. What is most important to you? • Salary • Ownership • Volume • Subspecialties • Staff and culture • Facility and technology • Geography and recreation • Fringe benefits The opinion of significant others cannot be understated here as well. Deals can fall Win/win: contract negotiations for young ophthalmologists continued on page 106 Source: iStock.com/DjelicS