PALs and RX'd PDs Venting!

[OptiStudent]

Venting! Pal outside Rx w/ pd wrote on rx "64/61." I ignore it & handwrite job w/ mono-dpd 33/31. Mngr starts to key in o-of-n insurance job for me & ?'s my pds-- I know this because I hear her call another opt on phone about it. They decide to go w/ Dr pd. Job is keyed DPD 32/32. ---because the Dr. may have wanted to make prism to turn the eye.

I picked to ignore the pd on the Rx because..
1) I know that it would be optically poor to decenter an aspheric lens for prism & also know Dr's know this, regardless of what their staff writes on the rx. If it it was a sv rx, sure check w/ dr.
2) aspheric lenses should have mono-pds

I feel humiliated, etc....
All comments and ?'s welcommened.

[uncut]

It's a manager's perogative and duty to make the decision, and obviously, not lightly....(noticed that they consulted). It should have been handled differently. You should have been involved in the decision-making process. That would have allowed you to state your logic, and have it confirmed or refuted.

By the way, I understand what it feels like to feel humiliated.....what does it feel like to feel etc'd?

[For-Life]

If biocular PDs start being used for PALs, non-adapts will go through the roof.

[scriptfiller]

PD is the responsibility of the dispenser.

[Uncle Fester]

I would have called the doctors office.

[MikeAurelius]

Where did the 33/31 come from?

[eyeguy21]

Venting! Pal outside Rx w/ pd wrote on rx "64/61." I ignore it & handwrite job w/ mono-dpd 33/31. Mngr starts to key in o-of-n insurance job for me & ?'s my pds-- I know this because I hear her call another opt on phone about it. They decide to go w/ Dr pd. Job is keyed DPD 32/32. ---because the Dr. may have wanted to make prism to turn the eye.

I picked to ignore the pd on the Rx because..
1) I know that it would be optically poor to decenter an aspheric lens for prism & also know Dr's know this, regardless of what their staff writes on the rx. If it it was a sv rx, sure check w/ dr.
2) aspheric lenses should have mono-pds

I feel humiliated, etc....
All comments and ?'s welcommened.

I think if the Mgr thought enough of you to hire you they should trust you to do your job, especially if it's your good name on the workorder. Also I'm wondering how you took the pd. If you took it with a pupilometer and 5 more opticians did the same you'd get measurements varying as much as 4 or 5mm's. With that in mind why bother quibbling. So I guess I'd say you probably have more important things to worry about (but venting is definitely good, particularly if you have a sniveling mgr that likes to undermine and micromanage).

Another thing I'd question is that I very rarely see a pd on the rx from a Dr. I'm wondering why if the Dr. wrote the PD as binocular your mgr took it upon herself to assume they wanted it split evenly? isn't 33/31 mono still 64 binocular?

Last thing to consider would be that near pd. Why is that specified if your going with a PAL? It sounds like a suggestion as much as anything. Especially given the nature of progressive lenses. It's more common for the pd to be uneven from one patient than the next and you want to be as close as possible on it or you can have all sorts of adaptation issues. Small reading area or the patient may see better turning their head to one side or the other to name a few.

[OptiStudent]

It's a manager's perogative and duty to make the decision, and obviously, not lightly....(noticed that they consulted). It should have been handled differently. You should have been involved in the decision-making process. That would have allowed you to state your logic, and have it confirmed or refuted.

But the mngr. is not licensed and the store is registered with my state under my license. I am the LDO/OTC.
I measured with a pupilometer.
I agree with eyeguy21 that the pd on the rx was just a suggestion.
I will never get myself into a situation like this again-working for a non-licensed mngr who thinks she knows it all. She doesn't know that you can not decenter for prism on an aspheric lens. It just doesn't make sense! I am not the optician in charge, I am the optician liable. Last week's battle was quit putting kid's in high index even if the Dr checks a box reccommending it.

[uncut]

[QUOTE=OptiStudent;356978]But the mngr. is not licensed and the store is registered with my state under my license. I am the LDO/OTC.
.[/QUOTE]
Since you are the licence of record, dispensing should be under your jurisdiction. The measurement should be your call, not the manager's. That is the way it is in my jurisdiction in Canada. The licence of record has the ultimate responsibility for dispensing and all that it encompasses.

[eyeguy21]

But the mngr. is not licensed and the store is registered with my state under my license. I am the LDO/OTC.
I measured with a pupilometer.
I agree with eyeguy21 that the pd on the rx was just a suggestion.
I will never get myself into a situation like this again-working for a non-licensed mngr who thinks she knows it all. She doesn't know that you can not decenter for prism on an aspheric lens. It just doesn't make sense! I am not the optician in charge, I am the optician liable. Last week's battle was quit putting kid's in high index even if the Dr checks a box reccommending it.

In light of this new information I'd like to reiterate my earlier comments with more emphasis. Especially the micro-managing part. It really sounds like she has insecurity issues and feels threatened by you. How would you feel if someone who worked for you was more qualified? There's nothing worse than having some nerd holding you down for fear you're going to show them up. The good news is that she's probably about as high up on the corporate ladder as she's going to go because the people that get promoted higher realize that the best offices showcase the best employees instead of sweeping them under a rug.

[Wes]

But the mngr. is not licensed and the store is registered with my state under my license. I am the LDO/OTC.
I measured with a pupilometer.
I agree with eyeguy21 that the pd on the rx was just a suggestion.
I will never get myself into a situation like this again-working for a non-licensed mngr who thinks she knows it all. She doesn't know that you can not decenter for prism on an aspheric lens. It just doesn't make sense! I am not the optician in charge, I am the optician liable. Last week's battle was quit putting kid's in high index even if the Dr checks a box reccommending it.

This is one of the pitfalls of working in a chain. You'll find that credentials go a long way as far as getting done what you know is right. Licensed opticians are a dime a dozen, but ABOMs are not. With that said, perhaps it has to be clarified to this "manager" that questions of optics and what gets dispensed go through you.
Unfortunately, at this point, she'll likely never give you respect. You're better off looking elsewhere.

In light of this new information I'd like to reiterate my earlier comments with more emphasis. Especially the micro-managing part. It really sounds like she has insecurity issues and feels threatened by you. How would you feel if someone who worked for you was more qualified? There's nothing worse than having some nerd holding you down for fear you're going to show them up. The good news is that she's probably about as high up on the corporate ladder as she's going to go because the people that get promoted higher realize that the best offices showcase the best employees instead of sweeping them under a rug.

I see this all the time. Some dead-end former food/jewelry/automotive manager in a dead-end optical manager job thinking that because they have experience as management that they should be making decisions about a medical device. Another pitfall of chains.
See, eyeguy, we can get along!

[eyeguy21]

And the people said...AMEN!

[OptiStudent]

This is one of the pitfalls of working in a chain. You'll find that credentials go a long way as far as getting done what you know is right. Licensed opticians are a dime a dozen, but ABOMs are not. With that said, perhaps it has to be clarified to this "manager" that questions of optics and what gets dispensed go through you.
Unfortunately, at this point, she'll likely never give you respect. You're better off looking elsewhere.



I see this all the time. Some dead-end former food/jewelry/automotive manager in a dead-end optical manager job thinking that because they have experience as management that they should be making decisions about a medical device. Another pitfall of chains.
See, eyeguy, we can get along!

You nailed it! Thanks for all the replies and support. Due to an LDO leaving my district- a position down the road opened, but our floater had 1st dibs, so, I have choosen to take the floater job and get the license to operate out of my name. Wish me well, I'll still be in my current store 20 hrs vs. 40. Looking for a job?

[Wes]

From what you've told us, I wouldn't take that position for all the tea in china. Probably because I like indian tea, but...

[OptiStudent]

I hear ya! Looks like I'm still in THE position. The floater who's job I was going to take put their 2 wks notice today. I need to make a stand! I also now need someone to give me my days off, 2 wks down the line. Need xtra hrs.?

[OptiStudent]

From what you've told us, ...

Still venting, let me tell you some more.
Customer comes to desk w/ rx fr. "indep. dr next door" --
Freshlooks clear or color.
OD -1.00
OS -0.75

Wants to order 2, or 3 colors. I say "how many boxes?"--6/box, diff. rx per eye, need to order 2 of ea. per color.

Cust. says the dr said she could just go w/ the -1.00 for both eyes & it would be ok.

Long to short, cust understads rx wasn't wrote like that and gratiousley walks back to dr side to have dr write rx like what cust relayed to me the dr communicated to her. I was not sure if this was the dr-pt communication but did not xpress this.

While cust is on dr side, non-lic-mngr, ask me what the prob. is?-- Why don't I just order the R CLs for her, who care's what she does w/ them afterwards." I respond w / the info. the cust just gave me, I can't ignore it & tell the mngr to put the order under her name.

Cust. actually came back in minutes w/ new rx -1.00 OU

Was I not correct?

How can I make a stand?

[Mizikal]

I see this all the time. Some dead-end former food/jewelry/automotive manager in a dead-end optical manager job thinking that because they have experience as management that they should be making decisions about a medical device. Another pitfall of chains.
See, eyeguy, we can get along![/QUOTE]


Wow you just described my current situation. My boss was a jewelery/shoes department manager.If I had not been in school I would have and should have applied for the job. My patients and my store are to good to have somebody like that managing. She took the job because is was more pay and she thought less work.I would have been okay training her if I was the only associate training her. I need to stop now or I will be in a full rant.

[Mizikal]

I may work at a Wal-Mart Vision center but I am still an eye-care professional. We have rules and laws that govern what we can and cannot do. This is not Burger King and you cannot have it your way.

[HarryChiling]

Still venting, let me tell you some more.
Customer comes to desk w/ rx fr. "indep. dr next door" --
Freshlooks clear or color.
OD -1.00
OS -0.75

Wants to order 2, or 3 colors. I say "how many boxes?"--6/box, diff. rx per eye, need to order 2 of ea. per color.

Cust. says the dr said she could just go w/ the -1.00 for both eyes & it would be ok.

Long to short, cust understads rx wasn't wrote like that and gratiousley walks back to dr side to have dr write rx like what cust relayed to me the dr communicated to her. I was not sure if this was the dr-pt communication but did not xpress this.

While cust is on dr side, non-lic-mngr, ask me what the prob. is?-- Why don't I just order the R CLs for her, who care's what she does w/ them afterwards." I respond w / the info. the cust just gave me, I can't ignore it & tell the mngr to put the order under her name.

Cust. actually came back in minutes w/ new rx -1.00 OU

Was I not correct?

How can I make a stand?

The manager doesn't want the patient walking out of the shop. Rightly so.
You don't want to fill a verbal Rx. Rightly so.

Next time call over to the doctors office and have them fax over a new Rx -1.00 OU while you start writing up the order make that contingent upon the Rx coming over in the fax or the patient may go over and pick it up while you finish inputting the order. Now the manager shouldn't complain since you have followed all the rules and you have not wasted time but worked out the problem efficiently. I have worked a chain enviornment before and unfortunately the easy way is always to ignore your duties and just fill the script, but their are ways to act ethically and still meet all your objectives. One of those objectives should be to find a place that fits your skill sets and ethics a little better, but don't forget what you learn there in that chain you will need to constantly think outside the box to be able to live with yourself and you'll find that upon leaving you can handle the most heated situations with a cool head.

[Jubilee]

As for the PD issue.. I know our EMR doesn't allow for monocular PD's on the doctor's side. So typically it will show 64 and in the "notes" box the doc will have either x2 if it is split evenly or the monocular. When we go to the optician's side in the PM system, if that 64 is left alone, it will autofill in 61 for the near pd on the assumption that most people have a 3 inset on the near. If the doc bothered to measure the near (cause he was thinking either readers or segmented MF lenses) then it would show whatever he keyed in for near.

[OptiStudent]

Thanks Harry for the thoughtful advice.

[eyeguy21]

Still venting, let me tell you some more.
Customer comes to desk w/ rx fr. "indep. dr next door" --
Freshlooks clear or color.
OD -1.00
OS -0.75

Wants to order 2, or 3 colors. I say "how many boxes?"--6/box, diff. rx per eye, need to order 2 of ea. per color.

Cust. says the dr said she could just go w/ the -1.00 for both eyes & it would be ok.

Long to short, cust understads rx wasn't wrote like that and gratiousley walks back to dr side to have dr write rx like what cust relayed to me the dr communicated to her. I was not sure if this was the dr-pt communication but did not xpress this.

While cust is on dr side, non-lic-mngr, ask me what the prob. is?-- Why don't I just order the R CLs for her, who care's what she does w/ them afterwards." I respond w / the info. the cust just gave me, I can't ignore it & tell the mngr to put the order under her name.

Cust. actually came back in minutes w/ new rx -1.00 OU

Was I not correct?

How can I make a stand?

I think I agree with HarryC on this one. I can see where the mgr doesn't want the business to walk because statistically if a customer walks out of your door there's only about a 50% chance your going to see them again. So when people talk about 'capture rate' that's a lot of it.

Where I would have concerns is with your mgr's propensity to insert herself into situations where it sounds like you're more qualified. It's her insecurity working against you. I'd be curious to know if she talks over your shoulder during customer encounters and if so do you have to correct her on occasion?

I got out of the management game a long time ago because I realized that being salaried was just an excuse for an employer to overwork you, but I managed for a chain in a time where they used to send you away for mgmt training. Everything from interacting with angry customers to Profit and loss, etc. One of the most useful things I learned was that happy employees make for happy customers and that the employees ARE the customers of the manager. Sounds to me like she doesn't realize that and looks at you more like just a 'worker.'

I don't know if making a stand is the right thing to do, but there's certainly nothing wrong with having a face to face with her and explaining (peacefully) your feelings. At the very least you'll let her know it's not going unnoticed and you can maybe gain a little understanding of where she's coming from.

[Barry Santini]

Overall, I think my main Rx rule applies to this and other situations:

If the written Rx is made and filled properly, and the client isn't satisfied, it's NOT fine

If the client wears her sister's eyewear and sees "fine" and satisfactory, with no ill side effects, It's FINE

If a client wears and OTC reader for DV, and is "fine"...it's fine.

Bottom line: with no negative symptoms present in *any* scenario, My feeling is "no harm...no foul"

If 20/40 is "good enough" for a truly-consequential societal activity like driving, and we don't register this amount of blur in *statistical* harm terms...then just what harm is there with a small fudge of an truly unknown quantity like the original or even modified Rx, without a *trial or get-used-to period*, in this situation?

The bottom/bottom line: If it works w/o consequence, it's works. If it's perfect, (carefully-vetted Rx, FF lenses, AR, Harry Chilling-Rx calculations, Robert Martellaro-fitting) and they don't like it, it doesn't work.

And youse gotta figure it all out, and change it till it is. Of course all this assumes a "get used to" period before rendering judgements.

Discussion.

B

[Fezz]

Overall, I think my main Rx rule applies to this and other situations:

If the written Rx is made and filled properly, and the client isn't satisfied, it's NOT fine

If the client wears her sister's eyewear and sees "fine" and satisfactory, with no ill side effects, It's FINE

If a client wears and OTC reader for DV, and is "fine"...it's fine.

Bottom line: with no negative symptoms present in *any* scenario, My feeling is "no harm...no foul"

If 20/40 is "good enough" for a truly-consequential societal activity like driving, and we don't register this amount of blur in *statistical* harm terms...jthen ust what harm is there with a small fudge of an truly unknown quantity like the original or even modified Rx in this situation?

The bottom/bottomn line: If it works w/o consequence, it's works. If it's perfect, (carefully-vetted Rx, FF lenses, AR, Martellaro-fitting) and they don't like it, it doesn't work. And youse gotta figure it out, and change it. Of course all this assumes a "get used to" period before rendering judgements.

Discussion.

B

B-,

All of that is well and good, but you still cannot paddle your canoe with a pancake!

[optical24/7]

B-,

All of that is well and good, but you still cannot paddle your canoe with a pancake!

You sir obviously haven't tried my sister's pancakes. You could paddle the Titanic from the bottom of the sea with her "frisbees" ! :bbg: