unfair? unprofessional? anti-competitive?

[LandLord]

Prescription Policy

"At (name withheld) Optometric Centre, our doctors determine the prescription that will give you the best possible vision for your personal needs as discussed during your eye examinations. We strongly recommend you purchase your corrective eyewear from our prescribing Optometrist to avoid complications with your vision.

If you choose to purchase your eyewear elsewhere:

Please take into consideration if you have difficulty seeing with your new eyewear because the above prescription recommendations are not followed or improper measurements, frame selection, or lens choice is the cause of your vision problems, there will be a charge of $29.00 for checking your eyewear."

[For-Life]

Illegal?

You are in Ontario, correct?

[finefocus]

I wish we could do something like this (our MD's won't). I spend a lot of time on eyeglass checks, glasses purchased elsewhere that just don't work somehow. The *&%##*&**@ dispensers, not knowing what to do, tell the patient the Rx must be wrong, go see the Dr. again. The Rx is seldom wrong, and the other dispensers usually get the power right (that is the easy part, right?). Most of the time, it's adjustment, position, explanation of how the lenses work, etc. Sometimes it's because a poor PAL design was used, but usually simple adjustments fix the problem. Patients now go buy cheap, because they expect us to fix any problems, expect us to enable them. Why shouldn't we be paid for fixing our competition's failings?

[k12311997]

you don't get a second opinion at a doctors office for free, so I don't see the problem charging to verify the glasses. When I read that I see - if you get your glasses elsewhere they will be wrong and when you bring them in we will charge you $29 to tell you we told you so. I bet they waive the 29 if you then buy glasses from them.

[LandLord]

Illegal?

You are in Ontario, correct?

No, it is not illegal in any province but it is at least unfair considering the optometrists would expect opticians to cover the cost of dr's errors.

[Opticianjw]

If a patient is notified and advised ahead of time that there could be complications if you purchase eyeglasses online or at a discount optical than why should it be the doctor responsibility to spend extra time and not be compensated. I also agree that in todays era, optical shops should be charging the doctors for remakes when errors are made in refracting and a new prescription is given to the patient. Why should it be the responsibility of the optician or optical shop to remake the eyeglasses at no charge.

[Johns]

I don't think it's illegal, but it real takes the gloves off and reveals what the doctors (at this practice) are really there for...to sell glasses.

I think it puts the practice in a bad light.

[braheem24]

I think it puts the practice in a bad light.

You could inform the patient, the doctor will re-examine your eyes and check your glasses, if the fault is with the Rx it's of course at no charge but if the glasses are at fault the U&C fees for an eye exam will apply.

If your doctor is tactful, they should come out feeling like they've been educated and appreciative.

You can probably get half the people to return the junk under the 30 day no questions asked guarantee and apply the exam fee towards thier new new pair of glasses.

[optowalt]

I don't think it's illegal, but it real takes the gloves off and reveals what the doctors (at this practice) are really there for...to sell glasses.

I think it puts the practice in a bad light.

I check the rx for accuracy and if it turns out to be measurements or adjustment, I send them back to the place that made them. If I receive an rx with that disclaimer, I tell the patient about accepting responsibility for their work and suggest they find a dr that will check their own work.

[varmint]

I think they have the right to charge a fee for verifying the Rx, but there might be a gray area implying they purchase the eyewear from them, at least here in the US.

Az Optometry Rules
R4-21-306. Optometric Prescription Standards; Release to Patients
C. A licensee shall be available to verify that a prescription written by the licensee but filled by another provider of ophthalmic goods is accurately filled. The licensee may charge a fee for verifying the accuracy or quality of ophthalmic goods dispensed by another provider.

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
16 CFR Part 456

[RIN 3084–AA80]

Ophthalmic Practice Rules
II. Description and Background of

Ophthalmic Practice Rules

The Ophthalmic Practice Rules
require an eye care practitioner (an
optometrist or ophthalmologist) to
provide a patient, immediately after
completion of an eye examination, with
a free copy of his or her eyeglass
prescription (the ‘‘eyeglass prescription
release rule’’). The Rules also prohibit
an eye care practitioner from
conditioning the availability of an eye
examination on a requirement that the
patient agree to purchase ophthalmic
goods from the practitioner. The Rules
further prohibit an eye care practitioner
from making certain disclaimers and

waivers of liability.

[optowalt]

I didn't say they don't have a right to charge. I just don't think it's good a good business practice to slam the competition. The comp can do the same thing back.
Writing on the rx that the other guy is automaticlly wrong if the patient has troubles is just not right. But I won't clean up somebody elses mistakes. We verify the rx and thats all. I want to make sure we didn't do something wrong.

[varmint]

I didn't mean it that way, I think to put that kind of disclimer on their Rx makes them look unprofessional. What if the refraction is wrong & they eyewear is correct, how would they know unless they verify the eyewear & then they tell the pt they are charging them??

[optowalt]

Exactically

[Johns]

I didn't say they don't have a right to charge. I just don't think it's good a good business practice to slam the competition.

:cheers:


Exactly!

[LENNY]

$29 is cheeeeeeeeaaaaap!

[rdcoach5]

It used to be illegal or un-ethical,I'm not sure which, for doctors to have their own dispensary.It was kind of like the same as owning a drug store and prescribing to the store that you own. I think everyone can see the conflict in this. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN DOCTOR'S OWNING THE OPTICAL DISPENSARY? Where's Chip when we need him? I'm sorry that he p###ed off some-one and he did me sometimes, but on some subjects, he was right on.

[LandLord]

My New Prescription Policy

Dear Valued Client:

Our licensed opticians are specialists in filling eyewear prescriptions written by optometrists. We are highly trained to ensure your glasses are measured, ground, verified and fitted accurately and properly. We strongly recommend you purchase your eyeglasses from us to avoid complications with your vision.

Please understand that if you have difficulty seeing with your new glasses because your optometrist prescribed the wrong lens powers, we CANNOT provide you with free replacement lenses. For your convenience, we will be happy to request payment from him/her. However, in the event your optometrist refuses to pay for his/her mistake, you must cover the cost.

[Barry Santini]

is a complex, sometimes subtle and nuanced one.

This was the topic of my ABOM paper.

"Beyond ANSI... A new model of degree and interaction for evaluating eyewear"

Words like right or wrong do not, IMHO, belong in any discussion or evaluation of how eyewear interacts or performs with a client.

It's all about "degree"

If you would trouble shoot your own Rx/fulfillment of eyewear, than I see no reason one shouldn't if filled elsewhere.

For me, having a client return, asking for help with eyewear made elsewhere is an opportunity to have them return to the fold.

After all, what other chance will you get to simultaneously strut your stuff, and differentiate yourself from other providers?

It's the clients that *don't* return that you have to be concerned about.

But then, how would you know?

Barry

[Oedema]

It used to be illegal or un-ethical,I'm not sure which, for doctors to have their own dispensary.It was kind of like the same as owning a drug store and prescribing to the store that you own. I think everyone can see the conflict in this. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN DOCTOR'S OWNING THE OPTICAL DISPENSARY? Where's Chip when we need him? I'm sorry that he p###ed off some-one and he did me sometimes, but on some subjects, he was right on.

Where do you get this idea that optometrists didn't dispense in the past? They've always been dispensing, ever since opticians started refracting and calling themselves optometrists there has been dispensing OD's.

Back to the OP, yes very tacky, but perhaps they're responding to a rash of poorly made specs coming back in and messing with their schedule? I know when I worked in a clinic in Ontario just about every pair purchased at Hakim would be out of ANSI tolerance...

[Opticianjw]

To all the Opticians of America stop complaining and start becoming part of the solution and join your state and national organization. Evolution in the optical field went like this and opticians have just sat by and watched the optical field pass them by and still just complain but never have been organized to get any changes that could and would help there cause. When optometrist started treated glaucoma and infections with prescribing medication( TPA ), Ophthalmologist became enraged and opened dispensaries putting independents out of business and opticians pathetically did nothing. Optometrists use ancillary staff and delegate the duties of Opticians and Opticians and have kept a blind eye to this and have never had a unified voice or banned together to stop this practice. So stop complaining if you are not an active member in your state or national organization because that is the only way to make change.

[Aarlan]

Absolutely a good idea to charge for the practices time. Everybody is slamming the OD, but it doesn't have to be the OD that analyzes/troubleshoots the outside spectacles. Someone has to verify the accuracy, adjustments, measurements, material and design selection etc. Why on earth would you do that for free? If you made the glasses, that service is presumably built into the price...why would you take care of an outside competitors problems, and why would you do it for free?



Years ago, we used to remake Dr's rx changes free of charge, but most of the labs we use now only credit 50% on uncuts for Dr's changes. We now will only remake our own OD's rx's for free and the two largest MD referral sources...all others are charged a fee to remake if there is a Dr's change.

[IndianaOD]

My New Prescription Policy

Dear Valued Client:

Our licensed opticians are specialists in filling eyewear prescriptions written by optometrists. We are highly trained to ensure your glasses are measured, ground, verified and fitted accurately and properly. We strongly recommend you purchase your eyeglasses from us to avoid complications with your vision.

Please understand that if you have difficulty seeing with your new glasses because your optometrist prescribed the wrong lens powers, we CANNOT provide you with free replacement lenses. For your convenience, we will be happy to request payment from him/her. However, in the event your optometrist refuses to pay for his/her mistake, you must cover the cost.

That will cost you quite a few patients.

[cocoisland58]

Someone has to verify the accuracy, adjustments, measurements, material and design selection etc. Why on earth would you do that for free?

Years ago, we used to remake Dr's rx changes free of charge, but most of the labs we use now only credit 50% on uncuts for Dr's changes. We now will only remake our own OD's rx's for free and the two largest MD referral sources...all others are charged a fee to remake if there is a Dr's change.

We call it "customer service" where I'm from. It hardly takes but a few minutes of an optician's time to troubleshoot an rx or readjust a pair of glasses regardles of where they were made or prescribed.

I've certainly rolled my eyes over the "free" remake unwritten policy over the years but in truth if you want referrals you will eat the remake charge and assuming there aren't that many still come out on top in the eyes of the prescribing doc as well as the patient. But you go right ahead and get all idignant about if you want. It isn't doing your practice a lick of good in the long run unless of course the economy hasn't affected you overly much and you've got more than you can handle already.

[YrahG]

Years ago, we used to remake Dr's rx changes free of charge, but most of the labs we use now only credit 50% on uncuts for Dr's changes. We now will only remake our own OD's rx's for free and the two largest MD referral sources...all others are charged a fee to remake if there is a Dr's change.

I like the idea, in a few cases their are doctors around our practice that don't take the time or have the patience to properly refine an Rx or in laymans terms they have a higher than normal remake. I try to convince those patients that a second opinion from our doctor is recommended to provide the best in service to these patients. Often they skip the exam and choose to fill it as is and in many cases the glasses are remade and our office east this costs. It may be an additional motivator to charge these patients that refuse a second opinion.

[wmcdonald]

Where do you get this idea that optometrists didn't dispense in the past? They've always been dispensing, ever since opticians started refracting and calling themselves optometrists there has been dispensing OD's.

Back to the OP, yes very tacky, but perhaps they're responding to a rash of poorly made specs coming back in and messing with their schedule? I know when I worked in a clinic in Ontario just about every pair purchased at Hakim would be out of ANSI tolerance...

Or maybe they are trying to capture every Rx thrugh the use of this fear tactic?