Poll: Would you choose optometry if...

[IndianaOD]

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Would you still choose optometry if commercial practice (walmart, sears, lenscrafters, target) was the only practice type available?

Please be honest with your first instinct.

 

[xmattODx]

Would you still choose optometry if commercial practice (walmart, sears, lenscrafters, target) was the only practice type available?

What is the point of this poll? Let's say you get the results that you are hoping for - the vast majority of students say they wouldn't practice if optometry were completely commercial. So what?

That isn't the reality. If it were to become the reality what can we do? What should we do to keep this from becoming the reality?

Are all students expected to open their own practice? You didn't.
Are all students expected to join a practice? Are there enough practices?

Yet more fluff. Nothing concrete.

 

[Ben Chudner]

Would you still choose optometry if commercial practice (walmart, sears, lenscrafters, target) was the only practice type available?

I would imagine that no one will answer yes to this question, but it really doesn't change the fact that there are oppotunities in both commercial settings and private settings. I think knowing why recent grads are choosing to go into commercial practices when the majority of them originally wanted to go into private practice is much more valuable. Is it because of lack of opportunity? If so, we should strive to make private practice opportunities easier to find. Is is because of salary? If so, then we need to seriously take a look at the cost of tuition. We could also educate grads on debt management, the long term benefits of private practice, and give them the tools they need to be successful in private practice. Rather than creating a poll that is an obvious attempt to bash corporate optometry, let's try to uncover the motivation for going corporate so we can find ways to make the percentage of docs going private after their 4th year equal to the percentage that said they wanted to go private in their 1st year.

 

[EyeQ]

Please stop wasting your time with this nonsense. Deal with it with the AOA.

Would you still choose optometry if commercial practice (walmart, sears, lenscrafters, target) was the only practice type available?

 

[docwatson]

Please stop wasting your time with this nonsense. Deal with it with the AOA.

Don't be surprised if this poll gets published in one of the trade magazines. Whether you like it or not, it *IS* a very good exercise. Commend Indiana for once for asking the right question. There is nothing wrong with getting a little conversation going.

Frankly, I find the hostility incredible....

 

[Ben Chudner]

Frankly, I find the hostility incredible....

Would that be the hostility towards corporate docs or the hostility towards those that are hostile towards corporate docs? 😆

 

[IndianaOD]

Please stop wasting your time with this nonsense. Deal with it with the AOA.

The AOA has proven it will not do anything but yell "anti-trust"

 

[docwatson]

Would that be the hostility towards corporate docs or the hostility towards those that are hostile towards corporate docs?

Really the post in question, but it's interesting that hostility should beget hostility. I don't get that. If you think someone is an idiot, what is there to get hostile about?

 

[eyestrain]

Wow, FIVE "yes" votes so far. Five people are willing to go through 8 years of school and $150,000 even if no other option but commercial existed? Yikes.

 

[Ben Chudner]

Wow, FIVE "yes" votes so far. Five people are willing to go through 8 years of school and $150,000 even if no other option but commercial existed? Yikes.

Or they are trying to make a point. 😎

 

[prettygreeneyes]

Or they are trying to make a point. 😎

😳😉

 

[docwatson]

Wow, FIVE "yes" votes so far. Five people are willing to go through 8 years of school and $150,000 even if no other option but commercial existed? Yikes.

Uh, it was 1 yes to 8 no just a short time ago. I suspect someone has multiple logins or there are people who are not even associated with optometry school who don't know the issues.

 

[docwatson]

And come on: BE HONEST WHEN ANSWERING. Don't just answer because you feel like you have a big stake in your education and you're willing to do anything to be an OD even if you had to work commercial the rest of your life. Answer as if you were already an optometrist. What is your ideal situation? Commercial or private practice?

 

[Ben Chudner]

What is your ideal situation? Commercial or private practice?

This is not what Indiana asked. The question was would you still choose to be an optometrist if there were only commercial practices. For those that enjoy working in a commercial setting, the answer to his question would be yes. For those that are in private practice but love the practice of optometry so much that it wouldn't matter what setting they are in, the answer would also be yes. For people like me that did not like being in a commerical setting, the answer would be no. Don't be upset because the results aren't turning out how you like. 😉

 

[xmattODx]

Don't be surprised if this poll gets published in one of the trade magazines. Whether you like it or not, it *IS* a very good exercise.

If this completely unscientific and poorly conceived poll is ever published/referenced/discussed again I'd be aghast and embarrassed...and ashamed.

 

[IndianaOD]

If this completely unscientific and poorly conceived poll is ever published/referenced/discussed again I'd be aghast and embarrassed...and ashamed.

The poll is very inacurate, just fun really. I don't think the "yes" answers are truthful. Probably from those who don't understand the difference or are doing it for kicks.

There is no way I'd spend 8 years in school to work like a factory employee with a high school grad telling me how to practice.

At one point is was 6-0 NO s.

The future of our profession is looking very bleak.

 

[xmattODx]

There is no way I'd spend 8 years in school to work like a factory employee with a high school grad telling me how to practice.

I realize that much of what you write on the internet is exaggerated to make a point but you've written this more than once. The above doesn't happen. It just doesn't. Factory employee, yes. High school grad. telling you how to practice. Not so much.



They have at least a community college degree.

 

[broadway]

The poll is very inacurate, just fun really. I don't think the "yes" answers are truthful. Probably from those who don't understand the difference or are doing it for kicks.

There is no way I'd spend 8 years in school to work like a factory employee with a high school grad telling me how to practice.

At one point is was 6-0 NO s.

The future of our profession is looking very bleak.

Why do you think so many optometrists work at Lenscrafters?

 

[IndianaOD]

Why do you think so many optometrists work at Lenscrafters?

Oversupply

Wanting a job instead of a Career

Doing the minimum

Lack of drive

 

[docwatson]

This is not what Indiana asked. The question was would you still choose to be an optometrist if there were only commercial practices. For those that enjoy working in a commercial setting, the answer to his question would be yes. For those that are in private practice but love the practice of optometry so much that it wouldn't matter what setting they are in, the answer would also be yes. For people like me that did not like being in a commerical setting, the answer would be no. Don't be upset because the results aren't turning out how you like. 😉

I'm not upset. I'm questioning people's motives. So you are upset at what I said? I'm not the one who is whining here. I'm just asking people to be honest. Apparently you think it's okay to lie but maybe that fits into your daily routine. 😉

Is there some reason why you continue to say things without having the data to say so? Where is the study that says that "For those that enjoy working in a commercial setting, the answer to his question would be yes. " How do you know this to be 100% true? Where is the study Ben?

 

[cpw]

This whole forum is becoming counter-productive. Instead of a happy forum for students to ask questions and concerns it's become : Commerical = bad .. private practice = good just like EVERY.SINGLE.OTHER optometry forum out there.

Docwatson, just because you personally don't like the answers to the poll doesn't make it wrong. I have a feeling people are voting the way they are just to prove a point. They're tired of being harped on.

Personally, I only check this forum a few times a week now because it's become so depressing. Which is sad, because I'm the senior mod who helped start this forum.

 

[Ben Chudner]

I'm not upset. I'm questioning people's motives. So you are upset at what I said? I'm not the one who is whining here. I'm just asking people to be honest. Apparently you think it's okay to lie but maybe that fits into your daily routine. 😉

Is there some reason why you continue to say things without having the data to say so? Where is the study that says that "For those that enjoy working in a commercial setting, the answer to his question would be yes. " How do you know this to be 100% true? Where is the study Ben?

🙄 I feel very sorry for you.

 

[docwatson]

Docwatson, just because you personally don't like the answers to the poll doesn't make it wrong. I have a feeling people are voting the way they are just to prove a point. They're tired of being harped on.

I'm not harping on anyone. I personally like a lot of commercial docs so I don't know where you are going with this. However, I dislike the large corporations who prey on optometrists though. They are the real culprits here. What anyone else thinks is wrong with commercial optometry, that's their problem and I'd appreciate you not lumping me into the same bucket. I realize that it is really easy to do so, like saying all conservatives are southern rednecks or all liberals are California hippies. But it is wrong. I bet there isn't anyone in this forum that would say that the big corporations are nice and they treat our doctors fairly.

So please tell me where you think I went wrong. I think asking for honesty is a perfectly legitimate statement. Would you rather that the poll be dishonest?

I really don't have any stake in this. I already know what the answer is, I just think this is a fun exercise to find out if people can be honest.

Interesting that there have been a few students who have responded to my plea for questions and not one of them has ripped me like you did. They all have been very polite and respectful and I gave them some good advice they can use. Anything wrong with this?

It's really odd why the docs on this forum can't be more respectful of each other. I don't understand the hostility. Please go back and read everything I've said and you tell me where I specifically ripped anyone like you and Ben did.

 

[docwatson]

🙄 I feel very sorry for you.

Where is the study Ben!

 

[Ben Chudner]

Where is the study Ben!

If only I could foward the messages from my PM box.🙁

 

[cpw]

I didn't mean to personally attack anyone. I was asked to step in on this thread because the thread got reported to the mods as degenerating.

I've been on this board 6 years and wouldn't be in the position I am if I had a habit of going after other users. I only step in when asked to.