Beyond the Exam: Building a Comprehensive and Passion-Driven Optometry Practice with Dr. Charles Shidlofsky
In a world where specialized care is becoming increasingly vital, Dr. Charles Shidlofsky stands out as a visionary in the field of optometry. We recently had the privilege of speaking with him about his remarkable journey, transforming a general practice into a comprehensive center for advanced vision care. Dr. Shidlofsky's practice in Plano, Texas, is a testament to the power of passion, continuous learning, and a deep commitment to patient well-being, with only about 10% of their current practice dedicated to comprehensive eye exams.
Dr. Shidlofsky's story began with a keen interest in sports vision, ignited by a fourth-year optometry school project. This initial foray quickly revealed a broader impact: improving not just athletic performance, but also academic success in young patients. This discovery led him down the path of vision therapy, where he witnessed firsthand the transformative power of addressing visual processing problems. His dedication to this specialty even allowed him to establish a vision therapy practice within an ophthalmology setting for eight years – a truly unique endeavor. This pioneering spirit eventually led him to open his own practice in 2003, initially focusing on neuro-vision and vision therapy, which now accounts for a staggering 90% of his practice.
His journey didn't stop there; it organically expanded into myopia management and dry eye treatment, all while embracing inpatient hospital consultations for rehabilitation. Shidlofsky, humbly referring to himself as an "accidental tourist," emphasizes that this evolution was a "happy accident," driven by success and a genuine desire to help.
Key Takeaways:
Niche Down with Passion: Dr. Shidlofsky’s success hinges on his deep passion for neuro-vision and sports vision. He strongly advises practitioners to identify what they love to do and build their career around it, emphasizing that true fulfillment comes from pursuing what you’re passionate about, not just dabbling.
The Power of Referrals and Word-of-Mouth: Dr. Shidlofsky’s practice has grown almost entirely through word-of-mouth referrals. His consistent success in treating patients and collaborating with other professionals in various fields has created a powerful network of advocates.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Building relationships with other healthcare professionals, such as occupational therapists and physical therapists, has been instrumental in expanding his referral base and delivering holistic patient care.
Beyond the Eyes: Treating the Human Being: Dr. Shidlofsky stresses the importance of seeing patients as whole individuals, not just a set of eyes. Understanding their concerns, listening actively, and having genuine conversations are key to providing truly impactful care.
Embrace Growth, Address Challenges: While growth is exciting, it comes with challenges, particularly navigating the complexities of insurance companies and managing rising operational costs. Dr. Shidlofsky highlights the importance of finding ways to deliver high-quality, affordable care amidst these hurdles.
Interview Highlights with Quotes:
On his practice's evolution: "We're about down to about 10 percent comprehensive eye exams at this point in time."
On the impact of early vision therapy: "I was having a big impact to, uh, more than just their sport… his schoolwork certainly is getting a lot better."
On opening his own practice: "20 years ago I went out and decided to do this on my own and just focus on neuro vision and things of that nature and doing and envision therapy."
On the organic growth of his specialty: "It's all been word of mouth. And just by being successful at doing what you're doing, it's just naturally propagated on its own."
On choosing a specialty: "Choose what you love to do. Because I've been in practice 35 years now, and I'd love to come to work every day still."
On staff philosophy: "You don't want people have just come in here and work, you know, having a job. You want them to have a career."
On the growth of neuro-optometry: "The growth in the neuro optimetric world has really been staggering over the last few years."
On concussions and vision: "It doesn't affect central vision per se, but it affects spatial vision. It affects convergence, affects optimotor skills."
On the biggest challenge: "The biggest challenge is the same challenge that every practice has, and that's dealing with insurance company."
His final advice: "Love what you do. You do if you do your job the right way, the money will follow... Remember, those eyeballs are connected to a human being. Okay. You have a human in your chair. You got to treat them like a human."
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Eric Levenhagen, CPA CTS is the only financial consultant who helps private practice optometrists improve the financial health of their practice with a simple, proven process called Financial Harmony which will reduce their taxes and increase their after-tax profits by at least $10,000 in the first year, guaranteed.
DISCLAIMER: The financial figures presented in this blog are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Actual results may vary depending on individual circumstances and market conditions. Readers are encouraged to consult with a qualified financial advisor or accountant before making any financial decisions based on the information provided in this blog.
