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Three Things To Look For In An Optometrist When Moving To A New Area

Three Things To Look For In An Optometrist When Moving To A New Area

The Asheville area is growing rapidly. Part of welcoming new residents to a new area is to provide tips and keys to finding great healthcare professionals and optometrists. In addition to the incredible beauty, cultural amenities, and excellent educational systems, western North Carolina benefits from nearby medical universities and the presence of Mission Health System. 

Nevertheless, finding new physicians, dentists, and eye care professionals is always difficult when people move to a new city.

Three Important Things To Consider When Looking For A New Optometrist

Whether you are moving to or from Asheville or anywhere else, you may be dreading the process of finding new physicians, optometrists, dentists, or other healthcare professionals.

As with looking for any new medical office to become a patient, convenience of access and proper accreditation are probably the most significant factors to look for when you have moved into a new area. You want a provider you can easily access and who can reliably provide the services you need.

However, these are only the bare minimum of what you want to take into consideration. Let us take a look at some important but often overlooked aspects to take into consideration when you look for a new optometrist.

1. Check For Good Recommendations And Reviews

With any health professional, it is essential to establish a relationship that facilitates openness and honesty. In other words, you need to be comfortable with your eye doctor and eye care professionals.

Ask around before you settle on an eyecare professional. Someone who trusts their eye doctor will be happy to recommend them to others. A person will only put their own reputation on the line to a healthcare professional they trust.

One of the great things that evolved from the information age is the availability of customer reviews on Google, Facebook, and other social media outlets. Small businesses, new products, and good ideas have consistently grown through word-of-mouth referrals, and internet reviews have made it possible to access those referrals with the click of a button.

If you are searching for a new optometrist, customer reviews can be vital in finding the practice that would best fit your needs and that of your family. But remember, sometimes good and bad experiences are matters of perception, misunderstanding, and miscommunication. To help you know how to discern useful reviews, regardless of industry, here are four key steps:

  • Check multiple review sources like Google, Facebook, or industry-specific directories
  • Look at the average rating
  • Take into account the number of reviews
  • Read reviews of different star ratings

2. Find A Provider That Is A Community Member

An eye care professional does not necessarily need to be native to the area to care about the city and the people. However, a good provider will know the area, its culture, and its people well. Look for a provider who seems to have a good grasp of:

  • The general history of the area, especially as it relates to health
  • Places and activities people frequent
  • Community organizations and initiatives

A better understanding of the city in which they practice gives healthcare professionals a keener insight into the lives and personalities of the people they serve. 

For optometrists and eye care practices, participating in community events is more than just a marketing opportunity. Festivals and events provide an opportunity for doctors and healthcare professionals to get to know their city and earn the trust of its residents.

3. Look For An Optometrist With A Good Work Culture

You can learn a lot about the trustworthiness of an eye doctor by the satisfaction of their employees. A healthy workplace is created by eyecare professionals you can trust.

A positive work culture promotes empathy and compassion among staff and leads to better patient interactions and improved overall care. 

  • A collaborative culture encourages teamwork
  • A culture that values clear communication will likely result in better patient education and engagement, leading to improved health outcomes
  • A culture of compliance ensures that all staff adhere to healthcare regulations and ethical standards, which is critical for maintaining licensure and avoiding legal issues

Every one of us has different eye care goals and needs. A trustworthy eyecare professional won’t push you for unneeded or expensive options but will be bold enough to tell you what you need to hear, including:

  • You need to check your eyes, even if your vision is 20/20.
  • You need to embrace your changing prescription
  • You are eligible for contacts or glasses

Additional Considerations

We mentioned this briefly at the beginning of this discussion, but ensure the optometrist is licensed to practice in your state and has the necessary certifications. While there is nothing wrong with a new practice, consider years of experience if you have a difficult eye condition.

If you are looking for a new optometrist and need more than regular eye exams, do some research to ensure the office offers the range of services you require. Some optometrists specialize in areas such as pediatric eye care, geriatric eye care, vision therapy, or contact lenses. Choose one whose expertise matches your needs.

Our final recommendation is to verify that the optometrist accepts your vision insurance. Or if they offer flexible payment plans or financing options for treatments not covered by insurance.

Asheville Vision And Wellness Provides High Quality Care

Don’t let the brisk mountain air, allergies, hormonal changes, or aging keep you from seeing the beauty of the world around you.  Asheville Vision and Wellness is dedicated to providing the best eye care in the region with highly trained staff and the latest technology.  We have provided Asheville and the greater area of Western North Carolina with the best care and latest technology available since 1989.

If you are new to the Asheville area, give us a call today! Asheville’s most trusted optometrist and eye care specialists are happy to help you with all of your eye care needs.