Professionalism

​A professional shows up to make a difference, a worker shows up for a paycheck. YOU are an eye care professional! Let's discuss a few things that set a professional apart. ​

​#1 Tone. Be mindful of the tone you are using when communicating with patients, whether it's on the phone greeting the patient or working with the patient in the clinic or optical. Try and use high brow language, so that you sound educated and professional, slightly above the patient so you can earn their trust as the expert. ​

​#2 Body language. Try not to slouch, face your body in the direction when speaking to a patient, and stand tall and confident. ​

​#3 Multitask. In your role as a clinical optician, technician, or scribe, it is important to work on your ability to multitask in a professional manner, so that you're still engaged with the patient and that you're still able to accomplish everything in a timely fashion.​

​#4. Engage. It is important to engage and communicate with the patient on a more personal level. Be aware to maintain professional boundaries ​

#5 Attire. You want to be sure to present yourself in a professional manner. You know the part, you can talk the part. Make sure you look the part. ​

Also, since you’re working with patient's eyes and possibly even contact lenses, your hands will in the patient's view, and there may even be a time that you may need to touch the patient. Make sure nails are trimmed as not to injure the patient’s eyes, that they are clean and well kept. ​

#6 Confidence when working with the patient. We want to be sure we come across as confident and knowledgeable. Whether we're communicating with the patient, utilizing any of the instrumentation, we want to be sure we can answer their questions honestly and confidently. Any hesitations or confidence conveyed will impact the patient's overall experience.​

When a patient comments or provides feedback on your professionalism, use it as an opportunity if the feedback is negative. This may be shedding light on an area you can develop in. Take it as constructive criticism and be empathetic to the patient if it has affected their experience. If the feedback is positive, thank the patient for their positive feedback. Use it as an opportunity to mention referrals or ask the patient for an online review. Be confident in the services you're providing. ​

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