ESCRS focuses on innovation

The ESCRS Practice Management and Development Innovation Award 2019 is a new award that will focus on innovations from ophthalmologists and their practice staff that enhance patient services. The competition enables ophthalmologists to demonstrate what they have achieved with their entrepreneurial skills and show colleagues what they may be able to do in their own businesses. Entries should be based on a recent innovation introduced into a practice, clinic or hospital by an ophthalmologist. The innovation may be business- and/or customer- and/or society-focused, and its impact should be proven and measurable in qualitative and quantitative terms. There is no fee to enter and the competition is open to all ophthalmologists. A shortlist of entries will be selected by of the Practice Management and Development Committee, with the shortlisted entrants invited to give a presentation on their projects at the 37th Congress of the ESCRS in Paris, France during the Practice Management and Development Programme. The winner will be decided by an audience vote, which will take place after the presentations. The winning entrant will receive a €1,500 bursary to attend the 38th Congress of the ESCRS in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in October 2020. Further details are available at http://www.escrs.org/paris2019/programme/ESCRS-Practice-Management-and-Development-Innovation-Award.asp LinkedIn Practice Managers Group Practice Managers are also invited to join the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons Practice Managers Group on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12179696/. This group is for Practice Managers who want to share their experiences of working in an ophthalmological practice. Paul Rosen, chairman of the ESCRS Practice and Management Development Committee, said he hoped the new group would encourage practice managers to talk about the challenges they face on a daily basis. “How do you attract and retain patients to your practice? What innovations have you introduced that has enhanced your practice, for practice staff and patients? These are some of the topics we hope to discuss in the coming months,” said Dr Rosen. Dr Rosen told EuroTimes that although the major focus of the ESCRS Practice Management and Development Committee was to produce exciting and innovative programmes for the annual ESCRS congresses, they were conscious of the need to enhance the programme on an annual basis. “The principal focus of the ESCRS is education and research but there are other aspects to our professional lives that we need to develop. To advance and introduce new technologies, we have to maximise the efficiency of our practices and work in a more business-like way. “We hope that the Innovation Award and the LinkedIn Practice Managers Group will encourage ophthalmologists and their practice staff to share their knowledge and enhance their development,” he said.

Tags: innovation, ophthalmology