Congress Symposium to Highlight Practice Management Issues

Creating a culture of collaboration, educating patients to participate in eye care decisions, staying competitive and innovative on a budget, and investing in quality management systems are topics not typically covered in medical school. Ophthalmologists wanting to learn more about them can take advantage of a full-day symposium hosted by the ESCRS Practice Management Committee, Leadership, Business, and Innovation (LBI) on Sunday, 8 September, at the ESCRS Annual Congress in Barcelona. 

Comprising four modules, the symposium focuses on practice managers and clinical teams and will include presentations and panel discussions. One module, “Patient Decision Making,” features a pro-con debate by UK surgeons Sheraz Daya and Milind Pande on the correct balance for educating cataract-age patients and will include an audience vote.

The symposium will offer two modules in the morning and two in the afternoon, as follows:

• Team Collaboration and the Culture/Values of an Organisation (8:30 – 10:15), chaired by Vincent Qin
• Patient Decision Making: The path to shared decision making (10:30 – 12:15), chaired by Artemis Matsou
• Marketing: Staying competitive and innovative without breaking the bank (14:15 – 15:45), chaired by Basak Bostanci and David Lockington
• Quality Management Systems: Why they are a great investment in your practice (16:00 – 17:00), chaired by Kristine Morrill 

Sandwiched between the morning and afternoon modules will be a lunchtime symposium jointly sponsored with the European Society of Ophthalmic Nurses and Technicians (ESONT). The symposium will explore how to successfully implement innovative technology and especially the key factors to consider in evaluating, purchasing, and implementing high-tech equipment into your clinic. A boxed lunch will be served to attendees. Registration is required via the Congress website.

Inclusiveness to Feature Prominently at Congress

On Monday, 9 September, a two-hour session combining two ESCRS priorities—leadership and inclusion—will take place starting at 9:00. The session, “Leadership and Mentoring in an Inclusive Society,” will feature presentations on the following topics:

• What we can learn from ESCRS member surveys
• The influence of author gender on the peer-review process in vision science
• How the US National Eye Institute uses internships to reach under-represented communities
• Are we promoting or undermining equity in access to cataract surgery?
• The role of mentorship in inclusiveness
• How industry promotes inclusivity and leadership in their organisations
• Taking the lead on leadership and mentorship: Views from AAO, AUSCRS, ASCRS, and BRASCRS
• What comes next? Inclusiveness, mentorship, and ESCRS plans for the years ahead 

The ESCRS inclusivity initiative, BOSS (Building Our Sustainable, Inclusive Society), will present a session on Sunday, 8 September, titled “Combatting unconscious gender bias in ophthalmology, industry, and medicine: An evidence-based and practical course.” The course will present a wide range of perspectives, with speakers from Australia, Ireland, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The BOSS track will extend beyond the scientific programme, with the BOSS team hosting mentoring sessions at the ESCRS Booth and a brand-new family track. There will also be podcasts and webinars throughout the year.

Session on Clinical Trials to Highlight Industry Views

On Sunday, 8 September, a morning session will allow Congress attendees to hear presentations on clinical trials being conducted on topics such as the safety and efficacy of a new hydrophobic acrylic full-range-of-vision intraocular lens. The session, “EU Clinical Trials Spotlight Symposium,” marks the first time ESCRS has actively solicited abstracts from industry partners.

The session will feature seven presentations. The manufacturers represented in the trials are Bausch + Lomb, Johnson & Johnson Vision, Ophtec, BVI Medical, Hoya, Samsara Vision, and Zeiss.