Why Should I Join the Society for Excellence in Eyecare?
SEE Represents the Interests of Many of the Leading Ophthalmology Practices in the Country
If you are a successful, entrepreneurial, cutting-edge ophthalmologist, who is interested in providing high quality care, and who believes that protecting your patients and protecting your practice are not mutually exclusive goals, then SEE was established to respond to your interests. For the past 16 years SEE has taken an active role in promoting the quality of care provided at high quality, high volume practices, protecting the rights of patients to choose their health care provider, and successfully advocating for flexibility in response to restrictive governmental policies. By way of example, the following are among the successful initiatives undertaken by SEE:
- In response to criticism about the quality of care at high volume ophthalmology practices, SEE underwrote a study by Lewin & Company, one of the pre-eminent health care consulting firms in the country, which demonstrated that the criticisms were unfounded and that the high volume practices were indeed providing a high level of quality.
- In response to guidelines for cataract surgery issued by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), which many ophthalmologists believed were too restrictive as they failed to recognize the propriety of certain valuable diagnostic services, SEE led a consortium of 5 sub-specialty societies in developing and publishing broader guidelines that better served our patients. These guidelines were recognized by HHS in a proposed regulation, and served a major role in preventing the restrictive AHCPR guidelines from becoming national Medicare policy.
- SEE was responsible for having language incorporated into the legislative history of the patient inducement prohibition that allowed more flexibility for physicians to offer items for the benefit of their patients.
- SEE has developed guidelines relating to legal and ethical co-management which assures patient choice, and has successfully opposed attempts by States and Medicare carriers to impose restrictive co-management policies that would interfere with our ability to provide the best care for our patients.
- SEE works directly with other major ophthalmology organizations such as the AAO and ASCRS to develop policies that benefit our members’ ability to deliver the highest quality, most efficient health care. Since SEE is a small group of select, like-minded practices, we are each afforded an opportunity to influence key national and regional issues far more effectively than in any other ophthalmic professional organization.
SEE Provides a Forum for the Development of Best Administrative and Clinical Practices
In response to concerns about increasing risk of malpractice litigation, SEE sponsored, implemented and published a study to identify effective mechanisms for ophthalmologists to reduce their risk of malpractice.
Each year SEE sponsors a "Members Only" meeting where members share their most effective practice management strategies and leading practice consultants provide valuable practice management suggestions. Participants have said that this meeting is the most valuable benefit of SEE or any other organization to which they belong, and that the ideas generated from this meeting have resulted in improved patient care, cost savings and/or increased revenue which far exceeds the cost of membership.
Direct Membership Benefits in SEE May Cover More Than the Cost of Membership
SEE members are eligible to participate in a rebate program with CareCredit which provides financing for patients who have no insurance coverage, or who elect non-covered procedures. The average rebate received last year by SEE members was more than the annual membership fee.
SEE is exploring the establishment of a Clinical Research Organization which would provide opportunities for members to greatly expand their participation in cutting-edge clinical trials.
It has been said that SEE is the most effective group of ophthalmologists in preserving patient choice, in promoting quality of patient care, and in protecting a physician’s right to determine the appropriate care for his or her patient.
