About Me

My photo
Master of Science, Healthcare Administration. Certified Healthcare Business Consultant. Certified Business Appraiser. Certified Valuation Analyst.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Designing an Optical Dispensary for an Optometry Practice

I found an older article on the Review of Optometry website about building a startup optometry practice from scratch, written by Dr. Diecidue OD. An interesting excerpt discusses the design and building of an optical dispensary: Combining the dispensary with the reception area gives patients the opportunity to browse frame inventory while staff helps to pre-select eyewear. Designing the dispensary and reception area to be open and airy is important to create a non-confining or claustrophobic environment. Higher ceilings (9 foot+ ceilings) and windows foster an open atmosphere for browsing frame inventory. The presentation and showcase of frame inventory is also important in driving optical sales. Mapping out the dispensary for patient flow is an equally important part of this process. On the practical aspect of completing a project, the article also discusses startup optometry loan financing.

Funding is usually the crucial first step in getting the project underway. The nuances of project based financing for start-up optometry practices and other vision care offices need to be carefully planned for. I've previously written about the importance of having an optometry business plan and projections, which are good tools in developing an approach to foreseeable challenges when starting from scratch. The transition phase from construction/build-out of the physical space, into the actual practice opening and development of the business as a going concern can be treacherous if not properly addressed in advance.

No comments: