Eyeworld

113 OPHTHALMOLOGY BUSINESS February 2018 digital.ophthalmologybusiness.org a storm, Dr. Mendelsohn said he might see one or two people a day with corneal abrasions or foreign bodies; during the storm prepara- tions, it was about 10 people a day. Some patients came to him directly, while others were referred by local ER physicians. Dr. Mendelsohn stayed in the area during Irma. He thought it was important to be present and help the large number of patients who would have eye trauma. Once Irma recovery began and residents cleaned up trees and removed plywood, Dr. Mendelsohn saw another surge of eye injuries with the same causes. Pearls and lessons learned • Preach safety goggles. It can't be said enough, according to Dr. Mendelsohn. In Miami, Bascom Palmer used public service an- nouncements to remind residents about the importance of safety goggles. • Think about what needs to be moved in your office before a storm. Dr. Mendelsohn's first floor location has floor-to-ceil- ing windows, but the building management prohibited plywood coverings. Although the building had hurricane-resistant windows, it was unclear how they would work in a large storm. There was also a fear of looters if windows busted open. To help protect the practice's large optical display, Dr. Mendelsohn hired four men who took 8 hours to move all optical products to a different area. That same manpower had to occur afterward as well. "That was a big expense," he said. How- ever, in the scheme of things, Dr. Mendelsohn considers that effort and expense just a headache com- pared to what could have hap- pened if the storm was as strong as originally predicted. Monumental flooding "Almost 7 years ago, Nashville was changed forever," said Ming Wang, MD, Wang Vision Institute, Nash- ville, Tennessee. "Beginning on May 1, 2011, almost 14 inches of rain fell over a 36-hour period, doubling the previously held record." It caused nearly $2 billion in property damage and displaced more than 10,000 residents, Dr. Wang said. Dr. Wang had staff members who were trapped in their homes by the flooding or who were displaced to stay with relatives outside of flood zones. The practice offered to pay for hotel room stays for some affected patients and staff. Dr. Wang's practice, located on the 11th floor, did not have damage, but business slowed significantly in the months and even years after- ward. "Once the waters receded, the impact of the flood had lasting effects. Elective surgery took a hit as patients prioritized repairing their homes and lives," he said. The practice hosted a fundrais- ing event to raise money to benefit patients. Pearls and lessons learned • Earmark savings to make up for an anticipated dip in revenue in the months following a natural disaster, Dr. Wang suggested. "Elective surgeries become a luxu- ry that few will desire when they are focused on rebuilding their lives," he said. • Establish a relationship with area hotels. This could help patients and staff stay there for a lower cost if needed. • Build in a generator that can last for at least one week in case of an electrical outage. • Have backup staff for each key staff position, in case regular staff members are unavailable or out of town during a natural disaster. EW Editors' note: The physicians have no financial interests related to their comments. Contact information Alfonso: ealfonso@miami.edu Habash: ranya@habash.net Mendelsohn: karensuedennis@gmail.com Wang: drwang@wangvisioninstitute.com Coming in the March 2018 issue of Ophthalmology Business: • Supplementary services that can net profits • Time spent on EHR • Telemedicine for corneal diseases • Fewer residents entering ophthalmology digital.ophthalmologybusiness.org An ASCRS Publication December 2016 digital.OphthalmologyBusiness.org DEVICE SIMULATES DIFFERENT IOLS BEFORE SURGERY P. 25 The opportunity in dry eye is the chance to improve patient outcomes P. 20 TM VIRTUAL CARE CLINIC P. 6 OB Cover_December 2016.qxp_Layout 1 11/10/16 5:01 PM Page 1

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