Advantages of Optometry Solo Practice

The following post is from a fellow optometrist, co-lecturer, and good friend.  Ryan Parker, O.D. is in private optometry practice in Ardmore, OK.  He is a 2004 graduate of the Oklahoma College of Optometry and currently lectures throughout the country on his experiences and successes in private optometry practice.

Q.  What are the advantages of being in a solo optometry practice?

When I lecture to optometry students this is one of the most common questions I get asked.  I have been involved in two partnerships and currently run a solo practice.  Even though I am in a solo practice setting, I strongly believe an optometry partnership is truly a better mode of practice.  What does TEAM mean?  Together Everyone Achieves More, yes I stole that from my high school basketball coach, but it works for optometry partnerships as well.  I echo what Dr. Fleming said in his previous post about partnerships.  Also if we look at other medical professions, partnerships are the norm.  With that being said and my personal bias out-of-the-way, yes partnerships are not for every personality and there are some advantages to the solo setting.

1. Freedom to do it your way.  You don’t have to run anything by anybody, so you have complete freedom to run your practice the way you want to.  Everything from equipment purchases, EHR software, patient flow, time off, what frames to buy, what contacts to fit, it is all up to you.
2. Ability to manage every aspect of your practice.  Now this can be an advantage or disadvantage depending on your personality.  There are so many different aspects involved in running a practice, some people like to have their hand in all of it and some
   people like to delegate.
3. Look in the mirror, you get along great with your partner.  Partnerships are not always easy, they are an optometric work marriage and they take work.  If you are in a solo practice you do not have to worry about that dynamic.  There is not another doctor in the practice driving you crazy because they fit out dated contacts or refuse to use electronic medical records.  Most importantly you don’t have to come to an agreement with other parties when a decision needs to be made.

I think the most important thing to do when you are considering your practice setting is to take a look at your own personality and see what works for you.  Some people are great partners and some are great going solo.   In my opinion, I do believe the overall benefits are more numerous in a partnership as compared to solo practice.  In my case I do plan on adding a partner when the practice is ready.