TRANSITIONS EXPANDS ON “TELLING THE BEST STORY” COURSE
WITH A NEW SKILLS WORKSHOP AND QUICK STUDY MODULE
Skills Workshop and Quick Study Module Complement COPE/ABO Course to Provide Eyecare Professionals With Guide for Becoming the Preferred Provider of Choice
LAS VEGAS, Oct. 5, 2007 – Transitions Optical, Inc. is expanding on its popular Telling the Best Story lecture course by introducing a new two-part Skills Workshop and comprehensive Quick Study module. This education series was created to help eyecare professionals improve their clinical, managerial and marketing skills in order to “tell the best story” and demonstrate their value in the eyes of their patients, by addressing trends in the eyecare industry such as increasing health care costs, fierce competition and the ever-expanding roles of optometrists and opticians.

“We know that our profession has a great story to tell. By using several points of patient contact, eyecare professionals can learn how to tell their best story,” said Carole Bratteig, manager, education and training, Transitions. “Telling the Best Story uses tips from top eyecare practices to show how to connect with patients more meaningfully and maintain a successful business.”

The existing COPE and ABO-approved lecture and new two-part Skills Workshop, for presentation in-office, were authored by Tim Fortner, trade development manager, Transitions. Fortner has been sharing his Telling the Best Story lecture with eyecare professionals across the country over the past year.

Part I of the Telling the Best Story Skills Workshop takes a look at three key areas of management that can help eyecare professionals establish themselves as a preferred provider of choice – patient care, marketing and organization. Part II offers advice on establishing benchmarks to measure financial progress and performance, setting goals and increasing patient satisfaction.

“Telling the Best Story provides eyecare professionals with tools that can impact their bottom line immediately,” said Fortner. “It can be surprising to discover that doing small things like welcoming patients by name; collecting patient history and data; and providing fun, useful facts about vision can make a huge difference in terms of patient satisfaction.”

Drawing on Fortner’s expertise, the course shares common-sense strategies to assist eyecare professionals in building a special connection with their patients and improving the financial success of their practice.

The Quick Review module covers similar material and is available as part of Transitions Optical’s STAR Lab Learn & Earn program. Through the program, Transitions is partnering with its STAR Lab partners to help bring education resources to eyecare professionals, and is rewarding both the lab representatives who offer the courses and the eyecare professionals who take them.

Eyecare professionals who review the Quick Study modules can complete a quiz to earn a chance for a quarterly cash prize drawing, while lab representatives who deliver the course earn a chance for quarterly cash prizes and a grand prize of a V.I.P. trip to the 2008 Transitions Academy.

To take advantage of the new Telling the Best Story Skills Workshop, or to participate in the Transitions Learn & Earn program, eyecare professionals should contact their Transitions Optical Solutions Team or STAR Lab representative, or call Transitions Optical Customer Service at (800) 848-1506.

About Tim Fortner
Tim Fortner is a respected industry trainer and the trade development manager of Transitions Optical. With more than 30 years of experience in the optical industry, Fortner is a frequent lecturer in both the United States and abroad, addressing the industry’s latest challenges and opportunities.

Fortner came to Transitions from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn., where he was on staff as Chief of Ophthalmic Services. He was a founding partner of Streamline Communications, a marketing company that specializes in professional retail training and education for optical professionals.

Fortner has also served as vice president of Muller Optical and Progressive Lens Laboratory, president of Creative Concepts, and director of training and education for Transitions Optical. He has held leadership positions in the Optical Laboratories Association (OLA), and has served on the National Panel of Presbyopia.