Top tips from the front desk

Morrow, GA-As a busy eye-care facility, Clayton Eye Center in Morrow, GA, employs seven optometrists and four ophthalmologists who examine as many as 200 patients daily.

As chaotic as that may sound, employees who work the front desk have found ways to help the practice run more efficiently. Their hints help avoid common obstacles that many practices face, such as patients who don't have a credit card or cash to pay their co-pay.

"Since we incorporated these tips, our entire check-in/check-out process is smoother," said Kirk Smick, OD, one of the optometrists at Clayton Eye Center.

A vital part of customer service is effective communication. At Clayton Eye Center, some employees are multilingual, speaking up to five different languages including Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian.

"We notify them up front and put a note in their chart about how they prefer to pay so when they get to check out, there's no problem," she said.