EyeWorld is the official news magazine of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
Issue link: https://digital.eyeworld.org/i/87458
continued from page 25 create an organization dedicated to abolishing the disease—it becomes heartfelt to read how quickly Charlton and Linda Heston (and many other Hollywood elite) came on board and supported the organi- zation financially and through fundraisers. It's obvious once RP International got established, Ms. Harris' memoirs truly come to life. Throughout the book she regales readers with her own poetry, which mostly describes her angst at no longer being able to see, and litters chapter introductions with accolades from the multitude of speakers at RP International's Vision Awards. Among the noted ophthalmologists and scientists honored at the Vision Awards: Jules Stein, M.D.; Roy H. Steinberg, M.D.; Gholam Peyman, M.D.; Herbert Kaufman, M.D.; Alan Laties, M.D.; Dean Bok, Ph.D.; Thomas S. Tooma, M.D.; Keith Black, M.D.; SriniVas Sadda, M.D.; continued from page 23 Sell the FTEs on the concept that this is an attempt to make their jobs easier and more rewarding. Open communication with staff members during staff changes is critical in maintaining trust and loyalty within a practice. • Offer flexible hours. Many employees have situations that may allow them to work only part time. Use this to your advantage. By allowing flexibility for employ- ees with part-time hours, you will retain these employees longer, thus eliminating the costly expense of retraining. If circum- stances change for the employee and the practice, and a new posi- tion opens up at the same time your PTE would like more hours, you will already have a trained, experienced employee who has become a part of your team. • Present financial incentives. Most practices don't offer PTEs any bonuses. That may be a mistake. Set up a bonus plan for them based on company revenues, as this may be the spark that ignites their interest and enthusiasm and gets them motivated to excel. Offer your PTEs a raise after a period of review and training. This will keep your competitors from raiding your employee pool, forcing you to rehire and retrain. Many PTEs become full time after a period of time based on proven performance and practice need. • Include PTEs in company activi- ties and culture. Employees who work fewer hours will find that a lot goes on in their absence. Make a point to include your part-timers in company-based activities (holi- day parties, planning meetings, etc.). Inclusion strengthens your team and solidifies morale. A successful practice can always find 26 Ophthalmology Business • October 2012 value in a fresh perspective and new talent. Treat PTEs like family Often overlooked as a valuable asset to the office, PTEs may prove a verita- ble wealth of talent. Pairing them up with a full-time mentor and including them in staff meetings, bonus pro- grams, interesting work assignments, and company activities will help minimize any sense of isolation and alienation a part-timer might be feel- ing. Treating part-timers like they are part of the family from the start will result in better work performance from these individuals. OB Bob Teale is senior eyecare business advisor, Allergan Access. He can be contacted at teale_bob@allergan.com Kerry Assil, M.D.; Mark Humayun, M.D.; Vincent Chow and Alan Chow, M.D.; Shalesh Kaushal, M.D.; and Gavin Herbert. Ms. Harris shares stories from her younger days, days when her pride and concern about outward appearances were all-consuming. In essence, Ms. Harris ostracized herself from humanity and from the social life she so clearly enjoyed because she refused to admit she had vision issues. First she stopped going to the movies with her siblings, since she couldn't see the screen and other patrons were intolerant of the movie being described in detail to her. Next, she became a recluse when her family bought its first TV, as she again could not see the screen. But because she was unable to enjoy one of her favorite pastimes, as an adult she vowed all blind people would be able to go to the movies and use ear pieces that would describe the onscreen happenings in detail. Forrest Gump became the first film to be described for blind people. One of Ms. Harris' goals is to have TheatreVision in every theater in the nation so people with severe vision issues can attend movies alongside their sighted friends. For the reader, Ms. Harris offers 13 steps for "surviving retinal disor- ders," among them informing others of personal vision issues, trying to maintain a positive attitude while allowing self pity to occupy only 5 minutes daily, and incorporating healthy diet and exercise into daily routines. Ms. Harris also includes a section on treatments currently being evaluated for RP, including increasing vitamin A intake. But finally, perhaps the most telling page of her memoirs is the final one—a blank page, "waiting for a cure for RP." OB