If a poll were taken of the financial concerns and stressors for ophthalmology practices, it would probably include

• Declining fee schedules

• Increasing overhead to include

• Employee pay rates

• Benefits

• Employee retention

• Cost of medical supplies, injectable drugs, repairs to aging equipment

The list could go on, but I hear these concerns most frequently from practices I serve as a consultant. The bottom line is the age-old question: how to manage the practice with reduced income and increased overhead?