The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) will host a new refractive cataract surgery-focused initiative designed to support the adoption of advanced-technology (AT) intraocular lenses (IOLs) across ophthalmic practices.
First, an ASCRS rundown.
Established 50 years ago, the national organization has grown to become a trusted resource in allowing cataract, refractive, cornea, and glaucoma surgeons access to the latest clinical information, published research, and regulatory information that may impact patient care.
- Recent news: Earlier this spring, ASCRS named key opinion leader (KOL) and laser vision correction / advanced cataract surgery specialist Vance Thompson, MD, as its newest president.
Now this initiative.
The ASCRS Business of Refractive Cataract Surgery Summit (BRiCS) will kick off this fall as a two-day event intended to provide ophthalmic practices with three key areas of focus for adopting AT IOLs:
- Knowledge
- Resources
- Confidence
According to Dr. Thompson, chair of the program, not enough practices are offering the implant technologies needed to achieve the refractive results for the over 50% of cataract consultation-seeking patients interested in going spectacle-free.
- The reason: A lack of confidence and resources, he noted.
Now the setup.
The summit will offer 18+ hours of in-person coursework for attendees, networking opportunities with faculty and industry exhibitors, as well as access to recorded sessions and an extensive online resource library available post-meeting.
- Included among these library resources: customizable business forms, checklists, and educational slideshows
About this coursework: Sessions will cover the patient experience cycle from all stages of the refractive cataract process, including the business side as well as preoperative and postoperative.
Can I get a sneak peek of these sessions?
Six sessions will be spread across two days (with three sessions per day):
- Session 1: The Business of Refractive Cataract Surgery: An Evo- and Revo-lution
- Session 2: The Premium Practice Journey Preparation
- Session 3: The Patient Clinical Journey
- Session 4: The Advanced-Technology Implant Surgery
- Session 5: Materials and Checklists for a Successful Premium Practice
- Session 6: Aftercare and the Postop Journey: The Keys to Success
Get the rundown on each session.
Do these sessions count toward CME?
ASRCS noted that the summit has been approved for 6 American Medical Association (AMA) PRA Category 1 credits.
See the complete summit agenda.
And the instructors?
With ASCRS President Dr. Thompson serving as chair, his co-directors include:
- William Wiley, MD
- Dagny Zhu, MD
- Patti Barkey, COE
- Carrie Jacobs, COE
Other faculty and program committee instructors are:
- Richard Tipperman, MD
- Richard Lindstrom, MD
- Jennifer Loh, MD
- Robert Weinstock, MD
- Blake Williamson, MD
- Neda Shamie, MD
- Brian Shafer, MD
- Debbie Davis, COE
- Matt Jensen
Nice! Now about those exhibitors you mentioned …
In between sessions, attendees can check out the following sponsors and exhibitors during the summit’s Exhibit Hall hours:
- Alcon
- Bausch + Lomb
- Harrow
- Johnson & Johnson
- Ocular Therapeutix
- RxSight
- Trukera Medical (recently acquired by B+L)
- Viatris, Inc.
Let’s talk when and where.
When:
- Friday, Sept. 27
- 7 am – 7:30 pm CST
- Saturday, Sept. 28
- 7 am – 7 pm CST
Where:
- The Omni Las Colinas hotel
- Irving, Texas
And the cost?
In total (per practice): $7,500.
What this tuition covers: all sessions, follow-up experiences, and materials for two attendees per ophthalmic practice.
Which brings us to: Who should be attending this?
Per ASCRS, attendees should be ASCRS members and ideally include both the lead physician on the surgical side and the lead implementer on the business side (or office manager/administrator) of the ophthalmic practice team.
This physician-staff component is a critical element to ensuring successful AT IOL adoption, according to Dr. Thompson.
“Educating the rest of the staff, who interact with these patients too, gives the practice team a sense of ownership in the process and ensures a positive patient experience from consultation to postoperative visits,” he stated.
Lastly, how do I enroll?
Those who qualify and are interested in enrolling in the BRiCS inaugural class can click here.
Keep in mind: Space is limited to only 75 physicians 75 lead implementers/office managers.