For the Passion of Patient Care – Prairie Vision
Dr. Tanya Jones-Greenwood discusses providing patients with the care they deserve, and the Eye Recommend Network
What does independent optometry mean to you?
Independent Optometry means that I get to choose how my patients are served and cared for. From the location, comfort, and accessibility of my office to the excellent team of educated staff that help me look after all their visual needs. There is often this deception that in a small town you don't have all the services available to you as you would in a bigger center and I work to defy this. We practise full scope with some of the best technology and offer premium services and products to the patients in our community.
What about Eye Recommend drew you to the network?
When I purchased the office it was an Eye Recommend member. I maintained that membership and was so thankful I did! When I purchased the office I was a mere two years out of school and I was in no way prepared for budgeting, staff reviews, marketing plans, employee policy manuals, standards of service etc. Eye Recommend has so many valuable resources and templates that I was able, with the help of my Business Coach, to use and jump-start the practise under new ownership.
What drew you to the profession of optometry?
I became interested in optometry as a young child as I loved going for my annual visits to an optometrist. As I became older, optometry was appealing to me as I loved health and anatomy and it mixed well with my passion for helping people.
"I chose independent optometry so I had the freedom to practise to my full scope and provide my patients with the services they deserve."
- Dr. Tanya Jones-Greenwood
What are some challenges you have faced as an independent optometrist, and how have you overcome these challenges?
Challenges vary from year to year. In the last 12 years, I've had to navigate two large challenges: the sudden passing of an associate Optometrist/friend and the COVID-19 pandemic. Both require me to make quick decisions about procedures and policy and lead the team through uncertainties. Consistent challenges from year to year would be integrating new technology, managing change and growth and training new team members.
What's something you are proud of in regards to your team and practice?
I am proud of how much my team cares. They care to learn more, they care about all the patient's needs, not just their visual. For example, if a patient needs a taxi we make sure to keep a list so we call the correct one, we try to minimize the number of trips for those out of town who have a long way to travel to our office, they often help out with younger children when the parent is in for an exam. We do community outreach initiatives because we care about our community and being involved. They are just an excellent team that shares this joy for community and humanism that is contagious.
We stay at the forefront of the newest technologies, services and products so that our patients always have a premium option. I consider it big-city technology wrapped up in small-town customer service.
What's one piece of advice you would give to students who are interested in pursuing a career in independent optometry?
For those looking at ownership: I would say you need a buying group that is going to support you in more than just discounts. There are so many things that come up when running a business that the unwavering support of my business coach and member peers in Eye Recommend has helped me with. The BIG group meetings are a safe place to discuss different aspects of running a business, the NTE events are great networking opportunities, the training staff and marketing staff at Eye Recommend are top-notch, I could go on. For those looking for a position as an associate: Independent Optometry is going to offer you so many avenues to practise. When I graduated I was heavily interested in vision therapy and pediatrics and while I still am there is now myopia management and dry eye specialities. I can easily delve into new specialties and practise to my full scope. You spent a lot of time and money to get the degree, use it to its full extent!