How to Stop the Spread of Viruses as Trade Show Season Kicks Into High Gear

Fall will officially arrive on September 22, heralding the beginning of the conference and trade show season. As the business travel season begins and people start to gather in large numbers indoors, the risk of getting infected with influenza (flu), COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) increases. So what’s a trade show attendee to do? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched a new national campaign to inform the public about common respiratory viruses and available vaccines. The campaign, aptly titled Risk Less. Do More., aims to increase the awareness of vaccines that reduce serious illness and limit the spread of these viruses among all Americans, HHS said.

EyeCare Partners Names Brian Sawyer as Interim Chief Information Officer

ST. LOUIS—EyeCare Partners LLC, a leading provider of clinically integrated eyecare, announced that Brian Sawyer has been appointed as interim chief information officer (CIO), effective Sept. 9, 2024, taking the spot held by former CIO Jason Chaffin. Sawyer joined EyeCare Partners in December 2020 as vice president, digital experience and omnichannel product management, where he worked on the company’s proprietary E360+ PM/EMR strategy and development, as well as the digital transformation strategy for ECP’s digital platforms, the company advised.

New England College of Optometry Wraps up Fourth Annual Industry Collaborative With Look at Scope of Practice, Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education

BOSTON—The New England College of Optometry’s (NECO) fourth annual Industry Collaborative, “Health Equity in Eyecare,” shifted venues on Tuesday from the school’s Beacon Street campus to the Artists for Humanity EpiCenter. The second and final day of the event featured a spirited panel discussion on the current scope of practice in optometry as well as a fireside chat from John Katzman, founder and CEO of Noodle, on artificial intelligence (AI) and education, hosted by Howard Purcell, OD, FAAO, current president of NECO.

New England College of Optometry Kicks Off Fourth Annual Industry Collaborative Meeting With Focus on Health Equity in Eyecare

BOSTON—The New England College of Optometry (NECO) kicked off its fourth annual Industry Collaborative meeting on Monday on the school’s Beacon Street campus with a focus on “Health Equity in Eyecare.” NECO president Howard Purcell, OD, FAAO, delivered opening remarks and welcomed attendees on the first day of the event, along with Gary Chu, OD, MPH, vice president, professional affairs at the college. “Almost everyone is represented in this room,” Dr. Purcell told attendees. “This is a unique opportunity for us in so many ways to come together and help solve some of the issues we face.

The National Average for Gross Revenue at ECP Locations Decreased for the Week of September 2–8, Jobson’s Latest Practice Performance Tracker Shows

NEW YORK—The national average for gross revenue at ECP locations decreased last week, September 2–8, when compared with the previous week, at a rate of -17 index points due to the Labor Day holiday weekend. That places gross revenue at an equal index point level to where it was at this point in time (Week 36) when compared with last year (2023), 2 points above the same period in 2022, 13 points above 2021, 6 points above 2020 and 32 points above 2019, according to Jobson’s most recent Practice Performance Tracker.