Patti Barkey Addresses Doctors Treating Dry Eye
“Dry eye patients walk through the doors of ophthalmology practices every single day. In recent years, we’ve been blessed with many new technologies that help us provide quality care for dry eye. On one hand, that’s fantastic; on the other hand, it means the practice must figure out how to put it all together and make it work to help patients,” writes Patti Barkey for Ophthalmology Management.
Present Options and Benefits
According to Barkey, “Patients will pay for what they want and what they believe is helpful to them. Therefore, it’s not our job to “sell” things to them but rather to “present the benefits” of what we have to offer to help their condition and let them decide where to spend their money. Remember, dry eye patients aren’t like refractive surgery patients or premium cataract surgery patients; dry eye patients have discomfort and, in many cases, have been seeking relief for a long time.
When presenting treatment options to patients, it’s helpful to use images. Show them pictures, for example, of the Bruder Moist Heat Eye Compress compared with less effective, potentially harmful options, such as hot spoons or a sock full of rice.”
Continue Reading Barkey’s article in the March 2018 issue of Ophthalmology Management.
Comparing Cost and Insurance Benefits
While it is true that Bruder eye care products are not covered by most insurance plans, it is also true that patients will pay for the products they understand to be valuable for their treatment and recovery. Patients can use funds from an FSA or HSA account toward their purchase of Bruder eye care products. Compare the cost of different dry eye treatment approaches with your patient to make sure they understand the available options. Provide Bruder eye care products in your dry eye practice to offer effective solutions for less than a tank of gas.
Develop a Consistent Standard of Care
Creating a treatment protocol for your dry eye patients will help you care for patients with all degrees of dry eye disease symptoms. The first tier of treatment should be to offer the use of at-home products, like the Bruder Moist Heat Eye Compress and Bruder Hygienic Eyelid Sheets. These products are effective tools for natural relief even if you believe additional treatments might be beneficial. Manual expression might also be offered as a first line of defense along with the use of at-home eye care products.