(L to R) PECAA member Jeremy Beam, OD,
PECAA member Lonnie Ness, OD and PECAA vendor partner and guest speaker, Scott Jens, OD, FAOO, CEO of RevolutionEHR.
STEVENSON, Wash.— Professional Eye Care Associates of America (PECAA) saw a record number of members and partner vendors attend the group’s recent annual meeting, the doctor alliance group for independent doctors reported.

The three-day event at the Skamania Lodge, held here last month, was designed to help members from around the country learn about key trends and helpful tactics to better strengthen their business.

PECAA said, “The event was built upon the uncomfortable truths and the achievable realities that independent eyecare professionals face today. Business-focused education topics included health care reform, patient communication, digital trends and improving practice performance. Scott Jens, OD, CEO of Revolution EHR was a special guest speaker and presented "Patient Communication Enhancements Within Meaningful Use."

Others on the program were: "Lens Capture In The Lane," sponsored by HOYA Vision Care, and presented by Neil Sika, OD; "Emerging Technologies," sponsored by VSP Global, presented by Don Oakley, president VSP Optics Group; “Living in a Digital World," sponsored by Zeiss, presented by Peter Kim, business development manager of professional networks/buying groups; "Improving Your Practice's Overall Financial Performance," presented by Doug Martin, director of membership, PECAA; "Healthcare Reform: The Reality Sets In," sponsored by Vistakon, presented by Dr. Richard Wallingford, senior director, professional affairs; and "Building or Enhancing a Medical Component to Your Practice," presented by Dr. Paul Karpecki, director of education, PECAA.

Doug Martin, PECAA director of membership, presents to PECAA Regional Leaders. PECAA’s Regional Leaders, standing is Jeff Yunker, OD from Lifetime Vision Center in Grand Forks, ND.

“As a relatively new member of PECAA, I have never encountered a group as passionate and motivated to provide top notch programs and opportunities to their members,” said Tyler Glaze, OD from The Eye Care Center in Edmond Oklahoma. “Every detail of the meeting from the exhibit hall to the speakers was beneficial to both my practice and me individually as a doctor.” Added Dave Rumpf, OD, The Eye Center, Bellevue, Wash., “This year's meeting included small group breakout sessions that gave us a chance to compare ideas and strategies with other practices similar to ours. The open sharing with other doctors is extremely valuable to me and my partners."

PECAA Member Chad Cleverly, OD from Boise Vision Care in Boise, ID and Renato Cappuccitti, director of Rx Sales, Costa.
PECAA continues to strengthen its relationships with vendor partners and to provide its membership with business tools and programs to increase practice profitability. Attending doctors browsed the vendor exhibit hall, in which all of PECAA’s vendor partners participated. “The event allows us to deliver key program messages, technology insights and industry trends influencing private practice optometry, as well as hear directly from the membership their needs to advance private practice,” said Dave Delle Donne, vice president business development for VSP Optics Group. “PECAA's annual meeting clearly demonstrated professionalism and a commitment to independent optometry,” added Larry Parrish, vice president, sales, Europa International. “We were able to have quality time with many PECAA members enabling us to build on existing relationships and create new ones as well.”

PECAA has opened registration for the group’s Business Symposium, to be held Nov. 8 to 10, 2013 at Camelback Inn Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz.