Welcome to the inaugural issue of INVISION Insights — a quarterly newsletter from the team at INVISION Eye Care Specialists. Each issue brings you provider spotlights, expert advice on eye health, the latest in premium eyewear, and practical tips for protecting your vision.
Whether you're a long-time patient or new to our practice, this newsletter is our way of keeping you informed, engaged, and empowered to take charge of your eye health.
How does a fast-food restaurant achieve a level of service excellence that many healthcare practices aspire to?
Chick-fil-A's success is extraordinary. With fewer locations than its competitors, this fast-food chain consistently ranks No. 1 in per-location revenue in the quick service industry, outperforming McDonald's, Starbucks, and Wendy's — despite being closed on Sundays.
At INVISION Eye Care Specialists, we were inspired by Chick-fil-A's culture after experiencing exceptional customer service during a visit and became interested in understanding the company and its leadership model. After researching their mission, purpose, and vision, we found that it often centers on building legacies that inspire and being the world's most caring company, focusing on creating positive influence through their team, service, and business practices.
So, we decided to adopt many of their service principles into our practice. Our patient feedback and consistently high online ratings confirm the effectiveness of this approach. Chick-fil-A's servant leadership model works because it focuses on the development of employees, which builds loyalty and trust, and prioritizes both results and strong relationships.
Training and development play a crucial role in the success of Chick-fil-A. They have a well-structured program that includes hands-on training, classroom lessons, and online resources.
In our practices, we can use helpful training tools as well, such as the ASOA Learning Center, VMG Health, and industry partners. Beyond technical skills, it is important to ensure that training covers other critical areas such as customer service, efficiency, operational excellence, and the core values of the practice.
During the orientation process, have a consistent approach while adapting to the unique needs of each new employee. A great idea is to create a "buddy system," pairing new hires with experienced team members to guide them.
While technical skills would be taught for every technician, it is also important to be flexible with training timelines, as some people learn faster or slower than others. Shadowing experienced staff and scheduling regular check-ins can help assess a new employee's level of comfort and track their progress.
Like Chick-fil-A, we have embraced servant leadership. Rather than traditional leadership philosophies, they seek leaders who demonstrate strong character, competence, and interpersonal skills, with a focus on servant leadership, integrity, and a commitment to developing others.
Our research showed that effective leaders are not only managers, but also mentors and visionaries who are deeply committed to people and purpose. These qualities are essential for successfully running a medical practice.
Leaders who engage in serving others typically possess several important characteristics:
Fostering a friendly and supportive environment for both staff and patients is key to building strong relationships.
At Chick-fil-A, employees learn the importance of saying "My pleasure" when interacting with customers. In our practice, we can begin training staff from day one with various scenarios to help them respond to patients with positivity.
For instance, if a patient says, "Thank you for helping me fill out these forms," the employee could respond, "It's truly my pleasure!" Likewise, if a patient expresses appreciation for quick service, the employee might say, "Of course, it's my pleasure to make sure your eyecare needs are addressed."
These responses not only create a positive atmosphere but also show patients that we genuinely care.
Our operational practices can integrate several valuable principles from the Chick-fil-A model:
Vicki L. Corby, COE, is a practice administrator at INVISION Eye Care Specialists in Lakewood, NJ. She is also an ASOA member and Vice President of the National Board for the Certification of Ophthalmic Executives.
Premium sun protection, recommended by our team.
Maui Jim sunglasses are considered superior primarily due to their patented PolarizedPlus2® lens technology, which eliminates 99.9% of harsh glare while enhancing natural colors, contrast, and depth perception.
They offer superior eye protection, blocking 100% of UV rays and harmful blue light, and feature durable, lightweight materials designed for maximum comfort and clarity.
The INVISION Eye Care family is proud to celebrate our founder, Edward Hedaya, as he turns 70. His vision and dedication have guided our practice for over 30 years, building a legacy of exceptional eye care in Ocean and Monmouth County.
Thank you for everything, Dr. Hedaya. Here's to many more years of service.
Get to know the dedicated professionals behind your eye care.
Dr. McDonald has practiced full scope optometry for 10+ years in private practices in Newark and Passaic, NJ. She provided a range of services including comprehensive eye exams for children and adults, contact lens fittings, ocular emergencies, treatment of ocular conditions such as diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, dry eye syndrome, as well as pre and post-op management of cataracts and LASIK.
In her free time, Dr. McDonald enjoys home renovations, crafting, traveling and spending quality time with family.
Practical knowledge to help you understand and protect your vision.
A refraction test is a quick, painless eye exam that measures how light bends (refracts) as it enters your eye to determine your exact prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses.
It identifies common vision issues like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, typically using a phoropter to compare lens strengths. You look through the machine at a distant eye chart while your doctor clicks different lenses into place, asking: "Which is clearer, 1 or 2?"
March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month, designated by Prevent Blindness and the AAO to promote eye safety and health. It focuses on preventing digital eye strain, reducing eye injuries, and encouraging proper eye protection at work.
Schedule your comprehensive eye exam today. We accept most major insurances and offer convenient online booking.
Or call us at (732) 210-0140