You’ve heard the expression, “Hindsight is 20/20“. But if you ask us, we think great sight today, tomorrow, and in the future should be achievable for everyone! For this month’s Client Spotlight, we had the opportunity to talk to one of our favorite vision experts Dr. Brandon Friedman from Friedman Optometry Center. Not only is Dr. Friedman’s office a local optometry icon–they’re also a repeated winner of the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin’s Readers’ Choice Awards! Read on to learn more about this beloved eye care provider and Dr. Friedman’s tips to stay competitive in any industry!
Looking Back… And Forward
Originally founded in 1962 by Dr. Ignace Rosenberg, Friedman Optometry has since grown into a full-service optometry center with offices in both Rancho Cucamonga and San Bernardino. Owned and operated by father-son duo Drs. Arthur and Brandon Friedman, the business has flourished since its inception and for the 39 years it’s been in the Friedman family.
Functioning as a “primary care” optometry office, Dr. Brandon Friedman and his team provide a wide range of eye care services to their patients. Although much of their work is centered around prescribing glasses and contacts, Friedman Optometry also emphasizes medical eye care.
The Future of Eye Care
In a country with an aging population, proactive eye care is imperative to keep your eyes healthy and avoid preventable vision problems. Additionally, in an era where optometry as a profession is increasingly evolving towards healthcare, Friedman Optometry aims to constantly adapt and grow to meet their patients’ expanding eye care needs.
In the past, regulations limited optometrists to prescribing glasses and contacts to patients. Now, due to state-level legislative changes and new developments in training, the doctors at Friedman Optometry are licensed to treat glaucoma, dry eye, and other eye diseases.
Business Insights
Growing a business is no simple feat. Especially when that growth involves cultivating two successful locations! Through it all, Dr. Brandon Friedman’s laser focus on strategy has fueled the business’ success. Specifically, Dr. Friedman mentions three key areas that have helped Friedman Optometry thrive.
1. Staying on top of industry trends.
Having graduated from the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry in 2010, Dr. Friedman recalls being on the front lines of change in optometry legislation. Moving forward, he continues his commitment to staying current with technology and the expanding role of optometrists.
Ultimately, Dr. Friedman’s goal is to stay at the forefront of industry developments. By staying on top of these trends, their team can provide state-of-the-art care to patients, become increasingly accurate, and detect diseases even earlier than in the past.
2. Building strategic partnerships.
Even if you are incredibly skilled, it won’t matter if no one knows about you! Under this principle, Dr. Friedman is a strong advocate of building strategic partnerships to grow his business. While he notes this will look different for each business, he has found that doctors are a great mutual partnership opportunity for him.
Not only do these partnerships provide Friedman Optometry with access to a larger pool of patients. In addition, doctors benefit from the ability to refer to an office where they can be confident their patients will receive great care – and where they will be kept in the loop with relevant reports and communications for their patients.
3. Putting people first.
Finally, Dr. Friedman attributes his business’ success in large part to their focus on customer service. To this end, Dr. Friedman’s team focuses on relationships and an emphasis on education. Everyone at Friedman Optometry views their patients like family, and the personal touch they place on each interaction is undeniable. Dr. Friedman shares,
People tell me every day, ‘I’ve never had an eye exam so thorough… No one’s ever explained things to me like you just did.’ I love that. Ultimately, from the time a patient walks in to when they leave, we want them to have a positive experience every step of the way.
Why SDP?
As a former Paychex client, Friedman Optometry has undergone a unique payroll journey. After meeting SDP’s Director of Compliance, Dr. Friedman decided to make the switch to a smaller, independent service bureau in 2014. He describes the transition as very seamless, explaining that the interface was quick and easy to learn.
Further, he shares that his favorite experience is the rare occasion when he needs to contact SDP’s support team. With his larger payroll company, Dr. Friedman shares that he often had to “bank an hour of his time” anytime he needed to talk to them. He explains,
It was very difficult to operate the business side of things and be an eye doctor, and I often had to come in an hour early or leave an hour late if I needed to resolve a payroll issue. SDP makes everything easy. I can be confident that I’ll be able talk to someone who can help me within a minute of placing my call.
See the Difference
Does your business offer Vision Service Plan (VSP), Eyemed, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), Medical Eye Services (MES), Blue Shield PPO, Blue Cross PPO, Aetna PPO, or Primecare of Inland Valley insurance? Tell your employees to reach out to our friends over at Friedman Optometry to schedule their next eye exam today!
What about the kids? It is recommended for all school-age children to have a comprehensive eye examination by an eye doctor. In the examination, the doctor should measure eye coordination, health, and development. Schedule an appointment at either the Rancho Cucamonga or San Bernardino office to screen your little ones just in time to go back to school!
SDP Client Spotlights: Celebrating Our Clients
Every month, we highlight one of our amazing clients with the SDP Client Spotlight. Here at Southland Data Processing, we’re in the people business and strive to always put our clients first. So if you or your organization is interested in becoming our next Client Spotlight, please contact us at [email protected] and we’d love to hear your story!