Friday, February 18, 2011

Let's be Friends

This summer will mark twelve years of practice for me. In getting a bit nostalgic, I am not pretending to remember the "good old days" of Optometry. I know nothing other than the modern world of third-party vision and medical benefit plans. But I do remember the days of having your practice's phone number in the phone book simply so our patients can call us if they lose their reminder card - though it appears those days are over.

Don't get me wrong, I am not advocating for, nor will I speak out against, advertising. A portion of our membership still resists the idea of advertising for various reasons. However, according to my very un-scientific perception of things, many of our members have embraced the concept of practice promotion. We see many ads in the yellow pages, in the newspaper and on television. The problem with relying only on this type of community interaction is that many people are getting their news and information in other ways.

We must realize that many of our patients, especially younger generations, are relying on various forms of social media for their information. These new technologies have given people new ways to communicate information and ideas.

Our Pennsylvania Optometric Association has embraced these new opportunities and we are now on both Facebook and Twitter. If you haven't already joined us, you can find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaOptometricAssociation and follow us at http://twitter.com/poaeyes# on Twitter.

I admit that I have resisted these forms of social media in the past. It may be because I have a bit of my father in me -- he boasts about being the last person on the planet to have bought a VCR. The only reason he owns a desktop computer and DVD player is because he benefits from hand-me-downs from my sisters and me. I have also tried to justify avoiding forms of social media because I spend all day at the computer with the EHRs we have at the VA Medical Center and had little interest in extra computer use at home.

On the other hand, my wife loves to post and view pictures of the kids and share them with friends and family on Facebook. She Instant Messages her friends and enjoys her time online. She has convinced me to take the leap -- I aspire to create a Facebook page and, hopefully by the time you read this editorial, I will be welcoming and soliciting friends and, of course, "Liking" my professional association. 

As part of the POA's commitment to technology, we are offering a completely new type of CE program -- a webinar. On February 4, POA offered its first live webinar for COPE-approved Glaucoma CE credit, which is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I hope you will join me in taking advantage of this low-cost member benefit. As you have heard your POA leadership say numerous times, supporting the POA's sources of non-dues income is imperative. We believe this webinar is a great opportunity for you to do just that while earning the CE credit you need with the convenience you want.

Join me in the commitment to advance with technology - using it not only to provide the best of care in our offices, but also to provide information in our communities.

And speaking of technology, POA included a short technology survey in the February Keystoner and the President's Editorial and Member Bulletin e-mail that was sent to members on February 15. The survey is designed to determine our technology needs so POA can help us meet our goals. I ask that you return the survey from the Keystoner or simply hit REPLY to the President's Editorial e-mail, type an "X" in front of your answers and send your feedback to POA. Thanks in advance for your participation.







Daniel F. Russell, O.D.
President,
Pennsylvania Optometric Association

http://www.poaeyes.org/