As I prepare this editorial, the focus of most everyone's attention is on the implosion of financial systems around the world. The US and European governments have approved a variety of "bailouts" to forestall the credit crisis that has been exacerbated by the financial meltdown. These events are unprecedented for most of us, and the implications remain uncertain.
Readers of Glaucoma Today must wonder why I am bothering to report what may be old news and something that appears unrelated to caring for patients with glaucoma. I believe, however, that the economic jolt will profoundly affect the delivery of healthcare for years to come. Certainly, future discretionary spending—especially on healthcare—will be restricted. Public funding for research will be threatened, as will government subsidies for care. Although we have all heard this before, this time, I sense it is true, and the companies that provide goods and services for the healthcare sector will thus also be significantly affected. To quote Bob Dylan, "The Times They Are a-Changin'."
For the practitioner and the academician, these new circumstances demand that we all tighten our belts and prepare for more challenging economic times. In a business such as healthcare for which we cannot control pricing, we must control our costs. In other words, how can we be more efficient in delivering quality care to our patients? How do we best utilize our employees? How can electronic medical records improve our practices' efficiency and save us money? What is the best use of our diagnostic tools such as advanced imaging technology and visual field tests? Are our billing practices optimal?
This issue of GToday is timely and ready to help. Its cover series is devoted to answering the questions I have posed and more. As always, we welcome your ideas regarding practice management. Do you have any tips to share with other readers? If so, please submit them as a letter to the editor. We look forward to hearing from you.
