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Three Secrets to a Successful Cataract Surgery Day

Here at Sightpath, our techs have just about seen it all. In fact, last year Sightpath technologists and engineers traveled a combined distance of 2.39 million miles – or five round trips to the moon!

This week, we spoke to two of our cataract technologists (Krystle Barnes, Maryland; William Perkins, Mississippi) about the difference between a good cataract surgery day and a great cataract surgery day. We also spoke with Bill Baker, one of our mobile operations managers.

What did they have to say?

1. Great cataract surgeons keep an organized OR

Keeping an organized OR is essential during long, stressful case days. There’s nothing worse than reaching for an instrument only to realize it’s tucked away in a forgotten drawer, or worse – missing entirely.

“When you have a disorganized OR, everything is all over the place,” said Krystle Barnes. “As a surgeon, you need to know exactly where to find your instruments when you need them, or you’ll waste precious time inside the eye.”

Before each case day, identify potential problem areas. Do you have the necessary equipment for your patients? What about instrumentation? Is anything missing or experiencing technical problems?

Did you know that Sightpath can help with OR efficiency? “Both surgeons and facilities love when Sightpath shows up because it means they don’t need to worry about nitty-gritty stuff like that,” said Bill Baker. “We scrub the room and make sure all of their instruments are ready. There are never any surprises.”

2. Great cataract surgeons trust their techs

When you’re performing cataract surgery, the procedure tends to go a lot more smoothly if you and your techs are on the same page.

“You need a tech who will pay close attention to your gestures and body language,” said William Perkins. “I can’t tell you how many times a doctor has asked for an extra instrument and I’ve already opened the packaging.”

The best way to develop a strong bond with your tech is to work with them regularly. Not only can they memorize your preferences, but they will begin to pick up on subtle cues in your behavior and learn how to anticipate your needs.

Sightpath understands how important it is to build trust in the OR, which is why we do our best to give you the same tech every time. “I’d definitely say they trust me,” said Perkins. “In fact, I have a couple of doctors who offered to cancel case days just because I won’t be there.”

3. Great cataract surgeons co-manage

When people first experience vision problems associated with developing a cataract, they’re more likely to visit their usual optometrist than seek out an unfamiliar ophthalmologist. Because of this, optometrists tend to catch cataracts first.

They then refer those patients to a trusted ophthalmologist.

“One of my doctors has an amazing optometrist network,” said Perkins. “Because he has such a great relationship with his optometrists, he’s able to bring in patients in a four-county radius.”

We’ve recently published a blog about ways to build your OD network. Which methods are you using? Is there anything you can do to strengthen your referral network?

Sightpath Medical can help you build your optometrist referral network with a targeted marketing campaign. For more information, check out our campaigns with Sightpath Creative, our internal creative agency.

Would you like to hear more about how Sightpath Medical can improve your OR experience? Contact us today!