Walgreens ODs

[ohiostateboy]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I know this is old news, but some other members may not be aware of Walgreens plan to penetrate the profession. I cut and pasted the below from the AOA OCC.

Optometrist
Walgreens
View all opportunities from this practice

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Opportunity Information
Post Date: Mar 15, 2011
Availability Date: Immediately Employment Situation: Commission
Location: US - Tennessee - Memphis Opportunity Type: OD: Lease



Practice Information
Practice Name: Walgreens, formerly Ike's Ophthalmology Practice: No
Practice Type: Independent Contractor Age of Practice: 20 years
Practice Area: General Practice/Primary Care No. of Employees: 7
Community Served: City No. of Locations: 1
Diagnostic Analyses: - n/a - No. of Exam Rooms: 1
Practice Dispenses: Frames,Contact Lens Automated Instruments: Threshold Visual Field,Auto Refractor,Auto Keratometer,Video Keratography,Non-Contact Tonometer
Type of Building: - n/a - Diagnostic Instruments: Goldman Tonometer,Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscope,Fundus Camera,Anterior Segment Camera,Ultra-Sound A-Scan/B-Scan,Contrast Sensitivity Testing,Photo Slit Lamp,Scanning Laser/Ophthalmoscopy
Assist in Financing? - n/a - Ancillary Instruments: Office Computer,Ophthalmic Lens Finishing,Microbiology Lab Testing,Contact Lens Modification Lab


Opportunity Details
Description
There's a way. Walgreens has something for everyone who wants to build a successful career. Anywhere you go, you'll find supportive co-workers, a positive environment and the tools you need to pursue your interests, grow your skills and advance your career.
With over 7,500 locations in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, we're much more than your neighborhood drug store. We're a company of IT professionals, accountants, nurses, pharmacists, retail store staff and more. And each one of us shares common goals – to take our careers further and to expand our position as America's most convenient provider of consumer goods and services, and pharmacy, health and wellness services.
Optometrist (Doctor of Optometry, OD)
Job Duties and Responsibilities
• Examine eyes to diagnose vision problems, such as nearsightedness and
farsightedness, and test patients' depth and color perception and ability to
focus and coordinate the eyes
• Prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses, and provide other treatments,
such as vision therapy or low-vision rehabilitation
• Conduct screening tests for glaucoma and other eye diseases and diagnose conditions
caused by systemic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, referring
patients to other health practitioners as needed.
• Prescribe medication to treat vision problems or eye diseases.
• Encourage preventative measures by promoting nutrition and hygiene
education to patients to minimize the risk of eye disease.

Qualifications
• Doctor of Optometry degree is required
• Maintain Tennessee state license
• Pass the National Board of Examiners in
• Therapeutically certified with a DEA number
• Must enter into a lease agreement with the Walgreens Company for the rented space
• Must obtain phone line
• Responsible for financial and accounting aspect of the space, including automatic credit card handling
• Responsible for maintaining bookkeeping and record keeping
• Responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the office
• If needed, must provide internet capabilities independently
• Must maintain the functionality of all equipment, which is provided
• Must coordinate appointment with Vision Center
• Must have through skill and knowledge in the use of diagnostic devices
• Must have excellent communication skills
• Must have excellent interpersonal and people management skills
• Business acumen, self-discipline, and the ability to communicate and interact with patients
To apply, please forward a resume to [email protected]




Contact Details / Apply for this Opportunity
Contact Information
Walgreens
Name: Pat Hedge
Address: 102 Wilmot Road
City: Deerfield
State/Province: Illinois
Zipcode: 60015
Country: United States
Ph: 847-315-4899
FAX: 847-315-8016
Email: [email protected]

 

[Shnurek]

I know this is old news, but some other members may not be aware of Walgreens plan to penetrate the profession. I cut and pasted the below from the AOA OCC.

Optometrist
Walgreens
View all opportunities from this practice

[ Back to search results ]

Opportunity Information
Post Date: Mar 15, 2011
Availability Date: Immediately Employment Situation: Commission
Location: US - Tennessee - Memphis Opportunity Type: OD: Lease



Practice Information
Practice Name: Walgreens, formerly Ike's Ophthalmology Practice: No
Practice Type: Independent Contractor Age of Practice: 20 years
Practice Area: General Practice/Primary Care No. of Employees: 7
Community Served: City No. of Locations: 1
Diagnostic Analyses: - n/a - No. of Exam Rooms: 1
Practice Dispenses: Frames,Contact Lens Automated Instruments: Threshold Visual Field,Auto Refractor,Auto Keratometer,Video Keratography,Non-Contact Tonometer
Type of Building: - n/a - Diagnostic Instruments: Goldman Tonometer,Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscope,Fundus Camera,Anterior Segment Camera,Ultra-Sound A-Scan/B-Scan,Contrast Sensitivity Testing,Photo Slit Lamp,Scanning Laser/Ophthalmoscopy
Assist in Financing? - n/a - Ancillary Instruments: Office Computer,Ophthalmic Lens Finishing,Microbiology Lab Testing,Contact Lens Modification Lab


Opportunity Details
Description
There's a way. Walgreens has something for everyone who wants to build a successful career. Anywhere you go, you'll find supportive co-workers, a positive environment and the tools you need to pursue your interests, grow your skills and advance your career.
With over 7,500 locations in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, we're much more than your neighborhood drug store. We're a company of IT professionals, accountants, nurses, pharmacists, retail store staff and more. And each one of us shares common goals – to take our careers further and to expand our position as America's most convenient provider of consumer goods and services, and pharmacy, health and wellness services.
Optometrist (Doctor of Optometry, OD)
Job Duties and Responsibilities
• Examine eyes to diagnose vision problems, such as nearsightedness and
farsightedness, and test patients' depth and color perception and ability to
focus and coordinate the eyes
• Prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses, and provide other treatments,
such as vision therapy or low-vision rehabilitation
• Conduct screening tests for glaucoma and other eye diseases and diagnose conditions
caused by systemic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, referring
patients to other health practitioners as needed.
• Prescribe medication to treat vision problems or eye diseases.
• Encourage preventative measures by promoting nutrition and hygiene
education to patients to minimize the risk of eye disease.

Qualifications
• Doctor of Optometry degree is required
• Maintain Tennessee state license
• Pass the National Board of Examiners in
• Therapeutically certified with a DEA number
• Must enter into a lease agreement with the Walgreens Company for the rented space
• Must obtain phone line
• Responsible for financial and accounting aspect of the space, including automatic credit card handling
• Responsible for maintaining bookkeeping and record keeping
• Responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the office
• If needed, must provide internet capabilities independently
• Must maintain the functionality of all equipment, which is provided
• Must coordinate appointment with Vision Center
• Must have through skill and knowledge in the use of diagnostic devices
• Must have excellent communication skills
• Must have excellent interpersonal and people management skills
• Business acumen, self-discipline, and the ability to communicate and interact with patients
To apply, please forward a resume to [email protected]




Contact Details / Apply for this Opportunity
Contact Information
Walgreens
Name: Pat Hedge
Address: 102 Wilmot Road
City: Deerfield
State/Province: Illinois
Zipcode: 60015
Country: United States
Ph: 847-315-4899
FAX: 847-315-8016
Email: [email protected]

Yes, let all TN ODs do injections in a walgreens. /sarcasm They lose 90% of their education to do the job of a technician. It doesn't take a genius to refract.

 

[DawgOD]

wow.. i knew they were getting an optical.. didn't know they would be getting an OD to work the store too.. :smh:

Just Say NO!!!!

this is only gonna open up the thinking heads of like stores like CVS, Rite Aid, etc... this is crazy.

 

[Jason K]

Yes, let all TN ODs do injections in a walgreens. /sarcasm This is why I hate commercial ODs, they don't realize how dumb they are. They lose 90% of their education to do the job of a technician. It doesn't take a genius to refract.

And just where are new grads supposed to go to earn the $ money to pay back their loans? Let's pretend that no graduates from the class of 2011 would have gone into commercial (I'd argue that most of them did, BTW). Where would they go, Shnurek? Where are they supposed to land if not in one of the doc-in-the-boxes or one of the other slimy commercial landing spots? Are they all supposed to uproot and move to the North Pole? Can't do it - there aren't enough rural opportunities.

Let's be completely insane and say there are 1500 opportunities for FT docs with great benefits in rural settings right now. If every 2012 grad were to take one of those opportunities, you'd run out of jobs before you got through one graduating class. Where do next year's grads go? You just don't get it. The boat is full, Shnurek. You can't continue cramming thousands of bodies into a life boat designed to hold 35 people and expect the boat to keep afloat. That's why the profession is sinking - too many people are trying to get into the lifeboat.

There aren't enough "good" places to land. Is every new grad supposed to start his own practice? Is every new grad supposed to buy a practice? Is every new grad supposed to hold out for the nonexistent private practice associateship that pays enough to to be fair. That can't happen. There aren't enough places that could support a new OD. There aren't enough for practices for sale since ODs are now working until they're old enough to turn to dust during an exam. And there certainly aren't enough FT associateships since ODs simply aren't hiring FT docs right now.

As a first year student, it's easy to crap on a doc who slums it in a mall or in a box somewhere. The fact is THERE ARE TOO MANY ODs for what the profession can support. That's why these places are popping up in the first place. That side of the profession, the dark and ugly side, wouldn't be growing out of control unless there were plenty of excess grads to fill the spots and feed the fire. You'll be there too very soon. Maybe you'll manage to avoid it, maybe you won't, but one this is for certain => the vast majority of your classmates will not be able to avoid the commercial crap trap because that's what's available.

This is where the profession is heading. You may not like it, but that's reality. Walgreens, CVS, Longs, RiteAid, the list goes on and on..... That's where the ODs of the future will be practicing once insurance reimbursements bottom out. It won't be long into the future before the ratio of commercial ODs : private practice ODs is greater than 9:1, much like pharmacy. Just because something is unpleasant to think about doesn't make it any less of a reality.

But please - do tell us all where your ~2000 classmates, who will graduate in 3.5 years, are supposed to go, if they don't go into commercial optometry. You just don't see what's staring you right in the face. There's no other place to go for most ODs these days. That's why I've been on here.

 

[ohiostateboy]

Could someone from SCO or in the Memphis area give us more information, please. Has this position been filled? Has Walgreen's started "independently" contracting ODs?

I assumed that this never came to fruition since it was posted in March 2011. However, I don't know because I don't live near Memphis.

Thanks in advance.

 

[blazenmadison]

Walgreens purchased A regional pharmacy chain in 2009 in The Memphis area. I can't remember the name. That pharmacy chain had a a few opticals in them with independent optometrists. When walgreens took them over they retained the optical. As far as walgreens expanding into the optical business, I don't know. If those opticals are successfully managed in Memphis then maybe they will expand. I doubt it though because the laws in TN require a two door and keeping ODs staffed in them is tough. Plus SCO is in the area so competition for patients is already tight. Walgreens has already made contacts available online so this may be a stepping stone.

 

[ohiostateboy]

blazemadison, the AOA OCC posting states:

Practice Name: Walgreens, formerly Ike's


Well, I'm relieved that Walgreens isn't creating new opportunities to further saturate the market - yet.

On ODWire or Optcom, a rumor was that the new OD school in Mass is in cahoots with Walgreens. On a tangent, I'm certain that the students in Grundy, VA will have a thorough clinical experience with the town population of 1,000.


.

 

[DawgOD]

The one I saw that had a sign saying it was filling glasses was actually in MS, right outside of TN.

Store 10517
7030 Hacks Cross Rd
Olive Branch, MS 38654
662-890-8644

Not sure about the ones here in Memphis though.. There are Walgreens everywhere, but I haven't seen anything about eye docs.

 

[CL Doc]

And just where are new grads supposed to go to earn the $ money to pay back their loans? Let's pretend that no graduates from the class of 2011 would have gone into commercial (I'd argue that most of them did, BTW). Where would they go, Shnurek? Where are they supposed to land if not in one of the doc-in-the-boxes or one of the other slimy commercial landing spots? Are they all supposed to uproot and move to the North Pole? Can't do it - there aren't enough rural opportunities.

Let's be completely insane and say there are 1500 opportunities for FT docs with great benefits in rural settings right now. If every 2012 grad were to take one of those opportunities, you'd run out of jobs before you got through one graduating class. Where do next year's grads go? You just don't get it. The boat is full, Shnurek. You can't continue cramming thousands of bodies into a life boat designed to hold 35 people and expect the boat to keep afloat. That's why the profession is sinking - too many people are trying to get into the lifeboat.

There aren't enough "good" places to land. Is every new grad supposed to start his own practice? Is every new grad supposed to buy a practice? Is every new grad supposed to hold out for the nonexistent private practice associateship that pays enough to to be fair. That can't happen. There aren't enough places that could support a new OD. There aren't enough for practices for sale since ODs are now working until they're old enough to turn to dust during an exam. And there certainly aren't enough FT associateships since ODs simply aren't hiring FT docs right now.

As a first year student, it's easy to crap on a doc who slums it in a mall or in a box somewhere. The fact is THERE ARE TOO MANY ODs for what the profession can support. That's why these places are popping up in the first place. That side of the profession, the dark and ugly side, wouldn't be growing out of control unless there were plenty of excess grads to fill the spots and feed the fire. You'll be there too very soon. Maybe you'll manage to avoid it, maybe you won't, but one this is for certain => the vast majority of your classmates will not be able to avoid the commercial crap trap because that's what's available.

This is where the profession is heading. You may not like it, but that's reality. Walgreens, CVS, Longs, RiteAid, the list goes on and on..... That's where the ODs of the future will be practicing once insurance reimbursements bottom out. It won't be long into the future before the ratio of commercial ODs : private practice ODs is greater than 9:1, much like pharmacy. Just because something is unpleasant to think about doesn't make it any less of a reality.

But please - do tell us all where your ~2000 classmates, who will graduate in 3.5 years, are supposed to go, if they don't go into commercial optometry. You just don't see what's staring you right in the face. There's no other place to go for most ODs these days. That's why I've been on here.

You also need to consider that rural living isn't for everyone, I know, I've been there. I think there are more people in optometry school today who would choose a suburban Walmart over a professional practice in a rural community.

I know ODs who can't sell their practices because too many of today's grads are unwilling to live a rural lifestyle.

 

[Jason K]

You also need to consider that rural living isn't for everyone, I know, I've been there. I think there are more people in optometry school today who would choose a suburban Walmart over a professional practice in a rural community.

I know ODs who can't sell their practices because too many of today's grads are unwilling to live a rural lifestyle.

No argument here. The whole point of the quote you cited above was to demonstrate that not all OD grads can go rural and that going rural doesn't necessarily do anything for you. There seems to be a pervading belief among some pre-opt and optometry students that all can be solved by simply moving to a rural community to avoid saturation. It's simply not a solution and it only addresses on of the many problems optometry faces. Sure, there might be some practices in boonies somewhere that can't be sold, even if it's a great office that's doing well. It has no impact on the future of the profession or the fact that the majority of opportunities for future grads will be commercial, not private. If someone wants a career in Walmart, more power to him. Go for it, I say. The fact is, though, that most pre-opts and certainly OD students on this site don't think they will end up in commercial. They don't know that there's really no other possible outcome if the cohort of current and future students is looked at as a unit. There simply aren't enough non commercial opportunities to satisfy the need. Commercial is where it's at.

My last statement illustrates the point that it's a dangerous thing to criticize an OD for going into commercial. Most of them don't do it because they want to, they do it because they need to. The vast majority of the graduates leaving school now and in the future will do just that. There's simply no other possible outcome given the current optometry we live with.

I'm not here to bash optometry. The "boots on the ground" in optometry are, by and large, very knowledgable, highly-trained individuals. Unfortunately, their profession is falling away beneath their feet and there's no one in charge with the drive to keep it from happening.

 

[4Eyes]

All the more obvious stuff aside, I wonder if ODs working more or less side-by-side with pharmacists will start to get mad that they are ICs while the pharmD is an employee with benefits and whatnot. Not so much an issue where ODs can't legally be employees, but where it is legal.... I don't know. There are obviously lots of differences between the way a pharmacist practices and an optometrist practices...and the way a pharmacist makes money vs. the way an optometrist makes money. But working under the same roof, it seems there might be room to draw some comparisons between professionals. I guess in the end people just bend over and take it because they either have no choice or they perceive they have no choice.

 

[q1we3]

I want a career at Walmart. I often shop there because of their great affordable prices and I heard ODs get discounts on groceries.....

lol I am sorry

 

[ohiostateboy]

q1we3,

walmart od's don't get discounts on anything in walmart, let alone groceries, unless they practice in a state where they are an associate.

For example, in Michigan, ODs are associates, so yes.
In Ohio, not associates, so no.
both states are 1-door, but have different rules.

In any 2-door state, Texas, Tennessee, etc, no discount.

Does anyone know all the states where ODs can be associates of Walmart?

 

[q1we3]

Jason, I look at it like this. I have always believed that there are not enough good jobs in the world and too many people competing for the same things. We know that most of the graduates of today will end up commercial, lets say 60%. But, there is the other 40 % that will not. They will be in solo/group practices, hospitals, military, maybe with OMD etc etc...... There will always be people at the top of the optometry food chain, practicing optometry the way it should be, who we all aspire to be. I just have to make sure I am one of those 30-40% that actually make it. And if I don't who do I blame, I blame myself.

The piece of paper that says "Doctorate of Optometry" does not guarantee a 6 fix salary or life of happiness and security. That part must be earned afterwards.
Also, I love how schools like PUCO advertise non-competitive environment. What? The entire profession is about beating your colleagues to that one coveted PP position that the entire graduating class would be applying for. "Survival of the fittest" baby!

 

[Jason K]

Jason, I look at it like this. I have always believed that there are not enough good jobs in the world and too many people competing for the same things. We know that most of the graduates of today will end up commercial, lets say 60%. But, there is the other 40 % that will not. They will be in solo/group practices, hospitals, military, maybe with OMD etc etc...... There will always be people at the top of the optometry food chain, practicing optometry the way it should be, who we all aspire to be. I just have to make sure I am one of those 30-40% that actually make it. And if I don't who do I blame, I blame myself.

The 60% figure is a bit on the optimistic side. Even if it were that now, it will be more like 90% in a very short time given the changes that are going on now. Practicing optometry "the way it should be practiced," is something that will not be taking place forever. When PP optometry fades away, the optometry that's left over will be anything but what it should be. Given commercial expansion meeting little/no resistance, it will happen just like it did to pharmacy. Get ready for CVS.

The entire profession is about beating your colleagues to that one coveted PP position that the entire graduating class would be applying for.

If that's what you believe, then the marketing folks at the private schools are rubbing their hands together. That one "coveted PP position" will likely become a very different thing in your eyes if you obtain it, though. You're assuming that once you arrive in a PP position, you'll be offered fair pay, benefits, and a future with ownership possibility. Don't make that assumption. The laws of supply and demand govern optometric hiring just like anything else. If there's 100 people all competing for the same spot, the hiring entity knows that if you turn down the offer, there will be 99 other people behind you in line.

The cruise ship is sinking. Don't assume that because you might run into one of the first-class state rooms just before the whole liner goes down, that you'll avoid the problem at hand. You guys just don't see it for what it is. It's the entire profession that's ailing. The commercial nonsense is just a symptom of the disease, not the disease itself. Avoiding it puts you in a better place temporarily, but it doesn't save you from the problem. Older, established ODs will probably be able to ride out the sinking and float around in their life boats until they "retire." Newer ODs will almost certainly not be so lucky.

You guys need to stop seeing optometry for what you want it to be and start being honest with yourselves about the fact that things may not be as you would wish. They're not. Don't pick optometry for what you want it to be - that's what I did. I was one of you guys not that long ago. Pick it for what it really is or you'll be leaving not long after you enter. Worse yet, you'll be trapped in it for 35-40 years.

 

[thecgrblue]

Not to make the outlook more abysmal, but military optometry isn't a cakewalk.

Yes, they will pay for your school and you'll have a job during your repayment. Tax breaks and other benefits are good to have as well.

If you decide to stick in it for a career (aiming for a length of service large enough for a piece of retirement) there are some things to be aware of. In most branches optometry is a part of the non-physician medical corps (with botanists, psychologists, administrators, entomologists, etc. etc). They compete for rank promotions with each other and the amount of spots is ever shrinking as you move up.

It is a political game and if you don't spend enough time schmoozing you may get passed up for a spot that you are qualified to get. If you don't rank-up at a fastest enough pace they eventually will try to squeeze you out before you hit retirement age. Since your pay only goes up for time of service for 3 to 4 years at each rank you obviously want to be ranking up otherwise your income is stagnant.

I'm not making this up, I've heard this similar tale from 3 military ODs.

 

[Tippytoe]

The 60% figure is a bit on the optimistic side. Even if it were that now, it will be more like 90% in a very short time given the changes that are going on now.

Listen to Jason. He knows what he is talking about.

I feel most here don't see the seriousness of the situation. As I was pontificating in another tread, the current number of graduating ODs is around 1,100 per year currently (and has been steady for many years). I believe perhaps 500 or so die or retire yearly (probably less) leaving a grand total of 600 additional new ODs each year.

So that leaves 600 ODs graduating each year looking for work. They are already finding it difficult to find work.
In five years or less, we will have another 500 newly minted ODs to add to the 600 already.

So if we have trouble finding jobs for 600 ODs. How do you think we are going to do trying to find work for 1,100 of them !

Take the emotions out of it and just use the facts and numbers folks. Can anyone explain to me where the additional 600 ODs are going to go every year.

 

[CL Doc]

Jason, I look at it like this. I have always believed that there are not enough good jobs in the world and too many people competing for the same things. We know that most of the graduates of today will end up commercial, lets say 60%. But, there is the other 40 % that will not. They will be in solo/group practices, hospitals, military, maybe with OMD etc etc...... There will always be people at the top of the optometry food chain, practicing optometry the way it should be, who we all aspire to be. I just have to make sure I am one of those 30-40% that actually make it. And if I don't who do I blame, I blame myself.

The piece of paper that says "Doctorate of Optometry" does not guarantee a 6 fix salary or life of happiness and security. That part must be earned afterwards.
Also, I love how schools like PUCO advertise non-competitive environment. What? The entire profession is about beating your colleagues to that one coveted PP position that the entire graduating class would be applying for. "Survival of the fittest" baby!

I'm curious...what type of pay offer do you expect when you graduate and how much debt do you think you will have?

Part of the problem is that private practice ODs can't pay enough to support the average optometry school debt.

Schools need to drop some of the fluff pre-requisites and make you guys take some basic business courses like economics.

 

[Meibomian SxN]

All the more obvious stuff aside, I wonder if ODs working more or less side-by-side with pharmacists will start to get mad that they are ICs while the pharmD is an employee with benefits and whatnot. Not so much an issue where ODs can't legally be employees, but where it is legal.... I don't know. There are obviously lots of differences between the way a pharmacist practices and an optometrist practices...and the way a pharmacist makes money vs. the way an optometrist makes money. But working under the same roof, it seems there might be room to draw some comparisons between professionals. I guess in the end people just bend over and take it because they either have no choice or they perceive they have no choice.

Wow, here the pharmacist is making ~$100K with FULL benefits and the OD will only make profit off exams and CLs? Pathetic.

Just wait until opticians get refracting rights, then the students and young ODs will wake up; all but too late

 

[q1we3]

I'm curious...what type of pay offer do you expect when you graduate and how much debt do you think you will have?

Part of the problem is that private practice ODs can't pay enough to support the average optometry school debt.

Schools need to drop some of the fluff pre-requisites and make you guys take some basic business courses like economics.

Loan around 50k. Salary expectation, whatever the market is offering...To be honest I wish had a choice, it is too late for me and as they say I am going down with the ship. I still like checking eyes, no other health profession interests me. I can't see myself doing anything else right now even if it means commercial Optometry. So, I am going for it. Plus, I learn things the hard way.

 

[Meibomian SxN]

Loan around 50k. Salary expectation, whatever the market is offering...To be honest I wish had a choice, it is too late for me and as they say I am going down with the ship. I still like checking eyes, no other health profession interests me. I can't see myself doing anything else right now even if it means commercial Optometry. So, I am going for it. Plus, I learn things the hard way.

There's nothing wrong with that decision. The other docs and I just want to make sure you know what you are truly up against.

Its quite absurd to think "Agh, this OD thing isn't working out so I'm going to go apply to med school and deliver babies instead". Best of luck with everything

 

[q1we3]

There's nothing wrong with that decision. The other docs and I just want to make sure you know what you are truly up against.

Its quite absurd to think "Agh, this OD thing isn't working out so I'm going to go apply to med school and deliver babies instead". Best of luck with everything

Thanks! Much appreciated. ........I have definitely lowered my expectation of this profession, compared to a year or ago. Which I am thankful for so I won't be in for a huge shock once I get out. That's life for you, I guess.

 

[Shnurek]

Yeah, it is what it is. I'd actually want to buy into one of those rural practices so hopefully the prices stay low in 3.5 years! Hell, might even make the move to Kentucky if that means people won't ask me, "So, you are going to sell glasses?" 🙂

 

[Jason K]

Hell, might even make the move to Kentucky if that means people won't ask me, "So, you are going to sell glasses?" 🙂

If you think you'll be able to avoid "selling glasses" by going to a state that allows you to pick up a scalpel or fire little laser beams around the office, you're in for a surprise. You're not going to be submitting claims for surgical codes to pay the bills.

Students and pre-opts seem to believe that KY is somehow now an OD surgical hotbed where optometrists can move in, pick up some surgical instruments, and start racking in the cash to the dismay of their surrounding ophthalmologists. Optometrists who perform surgery in KY will not be able to cut out optical as a revenue stream. That would be like an OD saying he was going to semi-retire at 40 because he was planning on making a ton of money by selling his used clothing on ebay. We're talking about relatively low reimbursements for the procedures in question and even lower numbers of procedures to be performed.

There's nothing wrong with selling glasses as an OD. That's one of the things we do. Actually, that's one of the things we used to do. Now we let corporations do the materials selling while we simply crank out the paperwork to make it legal for them. It's not all bad, though, they gave us a nice pat on the butt and a few scraps in exchange for our entire profession.

Maybe one day we'll get an apology letter from commercial that reads, "Hey, sorry about tanking your whole profession like that. Kinda sucks that your services are now basically worthless since we gave them away in exchange for being able to sell our junk to patients....I mean customers. Oh well, win some, lose some, right? ....Cha-chiiiiiiing....!!"

 

[q1we3]

Maybe one day we'll get an apology letter from commercial that reads, "Hey, sorry about tanking your whole profession like that. Kinda sucks that your services are now basically worthless since we gave them away in exchange for being able to sell our junk to patients....I mean customers. Oh well, win some, lose some, right?"

Why would commercial optometry apologize? Why? They don't force anyone come to work for them. Blame AOA, the leaders of Optometry if you must. They are the ones who should apologize to ODs stuck in Walmart and other places. If there wasn't a oversupply of schools and ODs nobody would end up where many are and will be. You should contact AOA and demand a written apology.

They knew big named companies would eventually enter the optical business and they gladly welcomed them, while giving accreditation to many new unnecessary schools. There are about 5-7 extra optometry schools in the US that need to be shut down. AOA should announce that for the next 15-20 years they will not be giving accreditation to any new schools no matter what.

 

[CL Doc]

Why would commercial optometry apologize? Why? They don't force anyone come to work for them. Blame AOA, the leaders of Optometry if you must. They are the ones who should apologize to ODs stuck in Walmart and other places. If there wasn't a oversupply of schools and ODs nobody would end up where many are and will be. You should contact AOA and demand a written apology.

They knew big named companies would eventually enter the optical business and they gladly welcomed them, while giving accreditation to many new unnecessary schools. There are about 5-7 extra optometry schools in the US that need to be shut down. AOA should announce that for the next 15-20 years they will not be giving accreditation to any new schools no matter what.

That would be restraint of trade, which is illegal.

 

[Jason K]

Why would commercial optometry apologize? Why? They don't force anyone come to work for them. Blame AOA, the leaders of Optometry if you must. They are the ones who should apologize to ODs stuck in Walmart and other places. If there wasn't a oversupply of schools and ODs nobody would end up where many are and will be. You should contact AOA and demand a written apology.

Maybe you were unaware that the AOA and commercial/corporate optometry are pretty much one in the same these days. Just visit their website and count the logos. I'd love an apology letter from the AOA, but they're too busy "owning 3D" and trying to figure out how to spend all the cash they're pulling in from corporate bed-buddies.

 

[JMU07]

Yeah, Walgreens bought Ikes and when I came back to Memphis for boards in November I noticed that a lot of the Walgreens now have opticals inside. Where they plan on putting the docs, I have no idea.

 

[blazenmadison]

Yeah, Walgreens bought Ikes and when I came back to Memphis for boards in November I noticed that a lot of the Walgreens now have opticals inside. Where they plan on putting the docs, I have no idea.

So are they adding opticals to existing walgreens?

There weren't that many ikes turned walgreens.

 

[JMU07]

So are they adding opticals to existing walgreens?

There weren't that many ikes turned walgreens.

Yeah, they just added them. I don't know if they actually built on to them or just rearranged the inside so it would fit. I haven't gone in and looked at them so I'm not sure how big they are. The one on Whitten is always advertising Gucci frames, lol. I wonder how their prices are.