Al Cleinman's Blog

A Consumer's Perspective on Vision Insurance and Optomap

I came across the following post by a fellow blogger.  This gives an interesting and balanced perspective on the perceived benefits of Optomap while reiterating the danger of sales exaggerations and scare tactics.  It also speaks to the overall expectations of insureds. 

Enjoy!

http://www.overclockeddrama.com/2009/07/28/consider-it-a-health-investment/

What Do GenXers Want?

I recently read this interesting article in the Albany Times Union.

A WORKING LIFE GUIDED BY JUST THREE LETTERS

 

"What the hell am I doing?" It's something we all have asked about our careers at least once -- or once a week.

I quit every few hours, every day, for the first few years of my career. So why do we do it? For the massive pay check that barely covers our extravagant lifestyle of Piels and pizza? For the glory of being the King of the Spreadsheets? To tell our grandchildren "I worked my way up, and became head geek in a foam factory!"

Why do we take out massive amounts of student loans, sacrifice the best years of our lives, fight the Northway and deal with all of the BS?

When I first entered my field, I learned about the Three I's, the motivating factors that lead to success and beyond. I believed in the Three I's, then embraced them. Now I know that they apply to almost all fields, and to Generation X and Millenials more than to previous generations because of our mental makeup.

So, what are the Three I's?

The first "I" is income: When we start, it is all about the Benjamins. We are a capitalistic society, and we have needs for food and shelter and big-screen TVs. So we listen to our parents, go to a good school, study hard and try to get good grades, maybe even go to grad school.

Then we get a nice, safe job with a big corporation and climb the ladder -- except those insane enough to believe in themselves more than they do the nameless suits above them in the corporate pyramid (who already know what flows downhill) and decide to build their own hill instead.

These entrepreneurs take outsized risk for the potential of outsized reward. They also are programmed differently. But we almost all start by chasing the dollar.

After a bit, we discover that money isn't all it is cracked up to be. Yes, it's nice -- OK, very nice. But we realize it is 10 p.m. and we are still at work for someone else and we missed the Yankees game, that our six-pack abs are now a mini-keg, and that we need to have time to do what we want and need.

We want the second "I": independence.

My wife used to complain that she got two weeks' vacation, and I could go and play golf with clients whenever I wanted to. I had independence, but that freedom wasn't free. I paid for it with sleepless nights worrying over making payroll, solving problems and doing what needed to be done.

I have even more independence now, but guess who goes to pick up the sick kid? You betcha: Mr. 2nd I.

The first two I's, although great, are not worth it in and of themselves. If that was all, we'd work like dogs for 20 years, retire at 45, and live on an island drinking fruity drinks with funny umbrellas. There is a reason why my adviser from grad school is still in academia in his 80s: It's impact.

Impact is why I write articles for the Times Union and why I write books. It is why my friends with more money than the mint keep working. And it's why some of my friends are in Iraq: They believe that through what they do, they can make the world a better place, that through their efforts someone is better off.

More than money or time or glory, they want to influence the future and make it brighter. That's what impact is, and it is the most powerful of the I's.

Impact drives the creation of new businesses, which drives our economic engine. These risk-taking entrepreneurs start with the third "I" and create small companies that change the world and become large companies that everyone wants to work for. And once they have changed the world with their impact, the founders leave, to go do something more.

Wonder why so many successful business owners go into philanthropy?

Sure, some of it is to see their name in lights, and financial is a big part of it, too.

But more often it is for the same reason they started their companies and took the risks in the first place: to make the world a better place.

To be at the top of the pyramid (Maslow's, not the corporate one), and use the results of the income and independence to drive the third "I", to make the world better. That is why Bill Gates does what he does, and that is why I wrote this: to have some impact on you.

So go and make the world better by doing what you do, because now you know why: I-I-I.

NextGen Workbytes is written locally by and for Gen Xers learning the realities of the workplace. Joseph R.R. Templin is the head geek at Unique Minds Consulting Group LLC in Ballston Spa and is the author of "Financial Mistakes of New College Grads: The Seminar."

Honing a Message for Improved Eye Health

It's a travesty that consumers spend 50% more on shoes than they do on their eyes.  Shoes are...well, shoes...important but not necessary...at least not always.  But our eyes and vision system affects all that we do.  In addition to the obvious, eyecare impacts such diverse areas of our lives as vehicular accidents; sports performance; behavior; confidence and self-worth; productivity in the workplace, learning and safety.  And yet, most americans take their eyesite for granted.  Well, the time has come for a change.

I was honored to be invited to participate in the Eye Health Summit, a two-day meeting of about 120 industry leaders held in Chicago over the past two days.  The summit's purpose is to identify the elements necessary for a public health message about the importance of eyecare.  Sponsored by the Vision Council, the event has brought together a diverse group of members of the eyecare industry to begin the process of forging a message and methodology to lead our society to improved eye health. 

Ours is a big challenge and an even bigger opportunity.  Vision problems are the second most prevalent health problem in America, affecting more than 120 million of our citizens.  A unified public health message would mean earlier diagnosis of disease and improved quality of life for many.  The Eye Health Coalition has a daunting task.  It's charge is to bring together such diverse groups as optometry and ophthalmology; insurance firms and manufacturers; associations, schools and government to put forth a unified message about the importance of eye health checkups.  

When the time comes for you to participate in this process, which may take several years to bring to fruition, it is my hope that you'll get behind this important message.  

For additional information about the Eye Health Coalition, visit their website at:

 The Eye Health Summit

10 Things You Don't Tell Your Patients

My fellow bloggers at the Optical Vision Site first broke this story, but it bears passing on.  Written by Smart Money Magazine, here's an interesting consumer's perspective on eyecare.

10 Things Eye Doctors Won't Tell You

Now, before you blame Smart Money forproducing an inaccurate article about our business, take a look in the mirror.  Are you doing all you can to educate your patients about all the wonderful things that optometrists do?  Is the industry doing a stellar job with communicating itsvalue proposition?  What messages do we send with "BOGO" and "50% Discounts?"

Our industry, at every level, is to blame for whatever perceptions consumers,and authors, have.  What do we need to do to correct these perceptions?

Kiss "Fee-for-Service" Goodbye

A Massachusetts state commission recently focused attention on health care cost containment and has issued a comprehensive report (see below).  Their recommendation, which is coming from other fronts around the land: do away with paying docs and hospitals for procedures and pay with global payments to take care of a specific population (sounds like capitation to me).

The report summarizes that the existing "fee-for-service" system incentivizes docs to provide testing and treatment; perhaps more than is really necessary.  (Well...duh...how would you ever make a living under managed care otherwise).  Incidently, Massachusetts has led the way with attempting to reform healthcare; virtually everyone in the state is now covered by some form of insurance.

Wayne Gretzky, the famous hockey player, when asked why he was so successful, always replied "because I go where the puck's going to be, not where it is."

Is "fee-for-service" doomed?  What if it were?  How would you be impacted?  So...where's the puck going?

Here's a copy of the report for your dining pleasure.

Download Mass Panel - End Fee for Service - Report

VSP Reduces Provider Reimbursements to Support Employee Lunches

I have a client who once told me that he never drove his Porsche in his own community.  His reasoning?  He didn't want his patients to get the impression that he was getting rich serving them.  While that's a pretty conservative approach, it was likely the right approach given my client's visibility in his mid-western community.  In any event, he simply didn't want to rub his patient's proverbial noses in his success. 

VSP just cut your contact lens reimbursements, eliminated your eyewear case allowance and told you (not a request) to provide additional discounts to VSP patients from your own pocket.  Their message: "it's a cold, cruel, competitive world out there and we all have to sacrifice."  

The article below comes directly from VSP's own blog and was proudly crafted by a member of VSP's Public Relations staff (thanks to a loyal reader for passing this on to me).  What a great response to your sacrifice. 

 

The Times They Are a Changin'

The world is changing...fast.  It's also shrinking...fast.  Perhaps you've already seen the attached video, but it bears another view.  This time, when you view this amazing presentation, consider the implications on you and your business. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY

Does this mean that an eye exam will be obtained at a kiosk in the mall (already happening...the technology exists)?  Does this mean that you won't be able to hold onto great staff...even if you wanted?  What's the future hold and what are you going to do to hold your place in it? 

As Bob Dylan said many years ago:

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.

The Great Al Gallodoro...Revisited

On June 20th, the man whom Jimmy Dorsey called "the greatest sax player who ever lived" would have been 96.  Al Gallodoro passed away in October, 2008 at age 95, less than 10 days from his last gig.  He was a professional musician for over 80 years and an inspiration to anyone who ever crossed his path.  He played with the best of the best; under the best of the best conductors, at the best venues in the world...including Carnegie Hall.  I was lucky enough to have known him; he called my restaurant "home" and we hosted his 94th and 95th birthday bashes. 

I just came across a copy of his music video, which debuted back in 2006. I thought you might enjoy this piece of history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr6ynMTuHn4&NR=1

I encourage you to acquire some of Al's work, which can be found on his website at www.algallodoro.com.  If you like the sax or clarinet, you'll love Al Gallodoro.  If you'll take the time to learn a little about Al (there are a number of videos featuring Al on YouTube), you can't help but to be inspired. 

Al was truly an inspired musician and an amazing man.  He had more heart and more energy than people half his age.  I rest assured knowing that he continues to entertain audiences and practices daily.  RIP, my friend.

Declaration of Independence

On this, the anniversary of our country's birth, I took a few moments to actually read the Declaration of Independence.  It's a fascinating document and well worth taking 10 minutes to study.  I share it with you here.

Download Declaration of Independence

233 years ago, our forefathers took an action that changed our world.  It was a monumental task, one that cost about 25,000 lives (interesting to note that only about 8000 were from battle wounds while the rest died from disease) and a struggle that lasted 8 years. 

Perhaps, after reading this amazing manifesto, you'll think about the threats that currently exist to your own independence?  What exists in your world that needs to be changed?  What actions are you willing to take? 

What's your "declaration?"

The Sixth Sense...Operating with Total Transparency

I recently wrote about doctor rating sites and their potential impact on your practice and our industry (see post of June 25).  Well, the following amazing presentation by MIT professor Patti Maes takes the potential for doctor rating to an entirely new level.  Imagine a patient having immediate access to ratings on both you and your entire staff while you're talking to them.  Imagine the patient's ability to be able to identify the COST of everything that you present to them.  Imagine the patient's ability to comparison shop any product while they're in your practice...just by looking at the product. 

We are fast entering a world where information and the tools necessary for decision-making are, literally, at our fingertips...even wired directly to our brain. Way beyond Google, what is coming is that the entire universe of knowledge will be available to all.  There will be no secrets...everyone can know everything.   

Think it impossible?  Take a look at this presentation about the future of information and your access to it.  When you're finished, please enter a comment about how you see this technology impacting our world. 

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/pattie_maes_demos_the_sixth_sense.html