Since our foundation in 1986, OD Professional™ has built a reputation of excellence and trust, based on quality world-class software solutions, delivery, and service within the eyecare industry

OD Professional is a recognized market leader in developing innovative, state-of-the-art, flexible systems using the InterSystems Cache/Ensemble platform. Our business strategy is based on strong and long-term relationships with our partners. OD Professional works closely with key industry players in order to better advise our customers by anticipating the evolution of their solutions. These partnerships are very important to us but are even more important to our clients. They're a critical component in providing a complete enterprise-wide solution.

Over the past two decades, OD Professional has maintained steady growth based on repeat and referral business.

Vision and Mission
At OD Professional we are passionate about being the company whose software optometrists most want to buy.

Commitment to Quality
We will continually improve the quality of our software and services in order to maintain and extend our reputation for excellence.

Culture
OD Professional places high value on people and on the strength of our relationships with our clients, staff, and business partners. Our consistent emphasis on improving business practices has developed the trusting relationships that contribute to our continued growth, staff loyalty, and client satisfaction.

Team building is a strong component of our culture. While our staff are individually gifted in tackling technical and business challenges, they don't hesitate to ask for help from a coach or mentor.

The diverse personal and professional backgrounds, creative insight, and technical strengths of our team are brought to bear quickly and effectively to solve the unique business needs of our clients.

Staff
With an emphasis on personal character and skills, the OD Professional team of software and training specialists has acquired a market-leading reputation for delivering high-quality, client-focused service. This comes from our technical excellence, innovation, and a team approach to finding optimal solutions for our clients

Our professional attitude and credibility are key to our success and to the creation and implementation of our World Class Software!

Selecting the Right Software to Manage Your Practice
In today's world, dependence on technology is a growing reality. Whether it's diagnostic equipment, hardware or software, you can't run your practice without it. Selecting software for your practice can be one of the most important decisions you make — and the one of the most overwhelming.

Your office is a mission-critical healthcare environment; you can't afford system crashes or lost data. Complete practice management software moves beyond the front desk into every nook and cranny of your business. You need a software solution that not only helps you run your practice, but helps you improve patient care.

Here are some tips to help you select the right software to manage your practice.

Software Search Tips
Recognize the different types of software solutions available.
Recognize the value of partnership and support.
Seek the proper advice.
Research company stability, size and resources.
Consider training as part of the cost of the software.
Choose software based on your future goals and not immediate needs.
Budget software as an investment instead of an expense.
Involve staff members in the decision making process.
Create an IT resource team.
Allow the appropriate amount of time for a successful transition.

Recognize the different types of software solutions available
All software is not created equal. At the low end you'll find packaged products accompanied by only a user manual. These packages are inexpensive, but are usually developed on a low-end technical platform with limited functionality. At the high end you'll find customized solutions that are configured to meet your specific needs. These solutions are installed by a highly-skilled technical team and are generally built on a high-end technical platform.

Recognize the value of partnership and support
With packaged products, your interaction with the vendor is a one-time purchase with little follow-up or product support. Even the product warranty is limited. However, with customized solutions, you are investing in a tool that will grow with your practice and has a support team that will help you with technical problems in your unique environment . You will also receive upgrades and support as part of your partnership, rather than at an additional cost.

Seek the proper advice
If you don't know a lot about software, you may turn to your colleagues for their opinions. But if they don't have a technical background, are they really the right people to be advising you? Seek out people who are well versed in database-driven software for their opinions. Pay careful attention to the programming language and database. Your software solution should be at the front end of its life cycle, not the back end.

Watch out for:

• Systems that boast old or low minimum requirements such as Windows 95 or 98 or slow processor speeds.
• DOS systems that have been upgraded to a Windows shell.
• Databases with size limitations.
• System crashes that result in data loss.
• System support requiring all computers be shut down to service one workstation.
• Programs that are not regularly updated or that cannot be updated easily.

Research company stability, size and resources
The software industry is full of small, mom-and-pop businesses hiding behind slick websites. It is easy for companies like this to generate more business than they can support. Do your due diligence. How long has the vendor been in business? How many employees are in the company and at what capacity? At least half should be in the development and support divisions — these people are your lifeline!

Consider training as part of the cost of the software
Regardless of how great a software solution claims to be, it really is just a tool. Once installed, it is not going to magically transform your office. It's the users who transform your office. Invest in the proper training for you and your staff, and refuse to buy from a vendor that does not provide training or implementation services.

Training can be expensive, especially for small offices. When considering the numbers, factor in training as part of the cost of the software. Training is the key to earning a return on your investment.

Choose software based on your future goals and not immediate needs
Take the time to write down what you want from your software solution.

• Do you see the practice being "paperless" someday?
• Do you want to integrate your software into the optical and clinical sides of the practice?
• Do you want bar coding and instrument linking?

If so, invest in software that can take you there. It may be tempting to start with more "economy" software now and upgrade later, but look at this "savings" over the long term: you'll need to purchase new software, retrain your staff and pay for data conversion. That's no savings.

Budget software as an investment instead of an expense
Determining your return on investment can be time consuming, but well worth it. Up-front costs become less of an issue if you know when you are going to see efficiency-based savings in your pocket. Write down all of the duties your staff performs each day and apply a wage rate to them. Wherever the software can eliminate work for your staff, you realize a savings in the practice. These savings can come in the form of reduced chair costs, increased clinic revenues, or more time off for you!

Involve staff members in the decision making process
New software is not like a new computer monitor or office furniture. It will impact everyone in the office. Attitude is everything, and positive attitudes are created when staff members participate in the process. If your budget allows, send a key staff user to visit another office that is using the software.

Create an IT resource team
Appoint an on-site staff "expert" to manage the software selection process and to head up training and implementation — someone other than the doctor, whose main priority is taking care of patients. An office manager or technology-savvy staff member is ideal.

Let your software and hardware vendors work for you. (You're paying them, right?) Make sure both vendors have capable teams who can work well together. Have your hardware vendor on-site for the software implementation — write it in your service agreement if necessary. When you are preparing to "go-live" you need everyone on the same team.

Allow the appropriate amount of time for a successful transition
The promises and advantages of new technology can sometimes sound like a dream come true — you want everything to be up and running immediately! But a successful transition takes time. There will be a learning curve for you and your staff. Break the implementation down into manageable parts.

Start with the practice management basics — scheduling and billing.

• Allow your staff time to get used to the new software.
• Take the time to resolve any network issues up front before moving further.

The next phase is up to you — clinical or optical?

The clinical module makes sense from a workflow and patient flow perspective.

• It's the next logical step for the patient and provides more "wow" factor in the exam room.

The optical module makes sense for practices that have a large percentage of revenue coming from the dispensary.

• Keep in mind that this can be one of the most complex modules to install.
• Setup and implementation for inventory, pricing, bar coding, insurance and purchase orders is time consuming.

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