International Vision Expo East Adds New Series of Sessions Focusing on Practice Management; ``The Business Institute'' Offers 20+ Hours of Education Developed Especially to Help Practice Owners and Administrators Increase Profitability.

NORWALK, Conn. -- For the first time, the International Vision Expo East Continuing Education (CE) program will feature The Business Institute, a new series of sessions focusing on Practice Management. International Vision Expo East is scheduled for March 30 - April 2 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York. This year is also the 20th anniversary of the entire event.

The Business Institute is a series of 13 sessions and more than 21 hours of education designed specifically to provide practice owners and administrators with information that they can implement immediately to start increasing profitability. The new program grew out of the Conference Advisory Board's recognition that truly successful patient care is a combination of clinical and medical expertise, and skillful practice management, as well as knowledge of cutting-edge technology and new products. The Business Institute program debuted at International Vision Expo West in September 2005.

"As ophthalmic professionals, our primary concern is always the health and care of our patients' eyes," notes Kirk Smick, OD. "The best way to ensure that we have the appropriate energy and adequate time to focus on that is to invest in learning how to create practices that run as smoothly as possible, and how to develop teams that are dedicated to that premise. With The Business Institute, we have developed courses that will help practice owners analyze what they do in a new way and make immediate changes in their approach, so they not only increase their profitability, but create an efficient team and operations that really do run like a well-oiled machine," he continues.

The Business Institute sessions will run throughout all four days of the conference and are easily identified in the conference brochure and on site signage by the blue and white Business Institute logo. Sessions include:

Thursday, March 30, 2006

1:00pm-3:00pm
Course 1116
How to Develop an External Marketing Plan for the Next Year
Peter Shaw-McMinn, OD

3:15pm-5:15pm
Course 1216
How to Analyze the Finances of Your Practice
Joseph Boorady, OD

Friday, March 31, 2006

9:00am-10:00am
Course 2121
Redesign Your Office to Increase Profits
David Kirschen, OD

10:15am-12:15pm
Course 2221
Creating Service Standards for the Moments of Truth that Occur in the
 Patient Visit
Gary Moss, OD

2:00pm-3:00pm
Course 2321
The Role of the Receptionist, Technician, Doctor, and Optician in
 Dispensing Eyewear
Peter Shaw-McMinn, OD

3:15pm-5:15pm
Course 2421
Presenting Fees and Prices so the Patient Recognizes the Worth of the
 Expense
Mark Wright, OD

Saturday, April 1, 2006

8:30am-9:30am
Course 3109
Train Your Staff the Best Way to Present Lens Options
Mark Wright, OD

9:45am-11:45am
Course 3209
Using an Internal Marketing Plan to Improve Patient Care and Prosper
Peter Shaw-McMinn, OD

12:45pm-2:45pm
Course 3309
Introduction to Eyecare Coding & Billing
Gary Moss, OD

3:00pm-4:00pm
Course 3409
Use a Pre-appointment Recall System to Grow Your Practice
Joseph Boorady, OD

Sunday, April 2, 2006

8:30am-10:30am
Course 4120
Create an Office Manual, Procedures and Strategies -- A Survival Kit
 for the Managed Care Era
Wayne Wood, OD

10:45am-11:45am
Course 4220
Expand Your Coding Capability Using E & M Codes for Medical Eye Visits
Gary Moss, OD

12:15pm-2:15pm
Course 4320
Hiring, Motivating and Managing Staff
Joseph Boorady, OD

International Vision Expo conference sessions have been submitted for ABO, NCLE, JCAHPO, COPE or AOA approval. The deadline for Early Bird registration is March 3. For specific continuing education pricing information, visit the web site at www.visionexpoeast.com or call [phone].

Proceeds Support Practice, Industry

Proceeds from International Vision Expo fund successful educational programs that teach consumers about vision health and encourage them to have regular eye exams with an eyecare professional. This includes the Vision Council of America's Check Yearly. See Clearly.(TM) program. Stop by booth #3858 to learn what Check Yearly. See Clearly.(TM) is doing to support professional growth and fortify the entire industry.

About International Vision Expo East

International Vision Expo East, the worldwide conference and exhibition for eyecare and eyewear, is a trade-only event schedule for March 30 - April 2 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York. The event attracts thousands of eyecare and eyewear professionals from around the globe, with more than 550 exhibiting companies in over 240,000 square feet of space. Co-owned by Reed Exhibitions and the Vision Council of America (VCA), International Vision Expo gives back to the entire ophthalmic community. VCA takes revenue generated at the International Vision Expo shows to create programs that educate consumers about the importance of regular vision care. For more information about VCA, visit www.visionsite.org.

For more information on International Vision Expo East, visit the web site at www.visionexpoeast.com or call [phone].