Issue Management Management Issue - Illinois College of Optometry

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P R E S I D E N T ’ S L E T T E R
A Message from the
Q
PRESIDENT
D E A R A L U M N I, C O L L E A G U E S A N D F R I E N D S,
What sets one college of
a
optometry apart from the others?
:
T H E P E R C E P T I O N O F V A L U E
That’s often what one uses to assess distinction. In the case of the Illinois College of Optometry, we are distinguished by the wealth of
patient care experiences our students gain during their optometric training. They care for truly needy individuals, both on our campus and
at our nearly 130 affiliated patient care/clinical training sites over the course of their education at ICO.
Our perceived value also includes a highly motivated faculty that
is truly interested in the success and welfare of our students. It
includes a state-of-the-art Learning Center, which is being constructed
on our third floor as you read this. It includes the largest network
of alumni optometrists throughout the world who provide access and
entry-to-practice situations virtually everywhere.
This perception of the value of the optometric education at the
Illinois College of Optometry is real. We are proud to have had the
largest number of applicants to our program of any college of
optometry during the past decade.
As you read about practice management in this issue of ICO
Matters, note that management of a successful optometric practice is
also largely assessed by perceived value. Clearly, we are committed
to excellence in contemporary optometric patient care, and our
patients rightfully deserve our best for their individual eye- and
vision-care needs. But to fully serve our patients, we also need to be
aware of how important patients’ perceptions are. If they leave your
office with the best optometric care available, but are not “wowed”
by the experience, both the optometrist and the patient are poorly
served.
I am so pleased that this issue of ICO Matters highlights what so
many of our outstanding alumni know: the successful practice of
optometry includes the knowledge and application of sound practice
management principles. That’s what sets them apart. That adds
real value.
ICO MATTERS SPRING 2008 / 4