Why National Vision Prioritizes Collaboration and Communication

I truly believe the key to National Vision’s success—and why it’s such a popular place to work—is because we are a listening organization that places a high value on two-way communication. This philosophy enables us to better understand what’s truly important to each other and focus on what will have the greatest positive impact on patients. National Vision has a collaborative culture that inspires growth and development and creates a strong support system among colleagues. We have several layers of support in the Doctor of Optometry network, so even new doctors are never alone and can continue to learn from each other.

Happy, engaged employees tend to perform at a higher level and attract more talent to the group. Studies have also shown that two-way communication keeps the team strong overall because employees are less likely to leave. Additionally, long-term, tenured employees have had time to develop their abilities and cross-functional skills so they can help their team members learn quickly. They also tend to be more committed to the success of the organization overall.

I can personally attest to the power of National Vision’s emphasis on communication. I began my career with National Vision over 14 years ago. I spent about half of my career as an optometrist seeing patients and half working in various corporate leadership roles I’ve really enjoyed. I started as a float doctor working in multiple offices in St. Louis before I joined the Clinical Advisory Panel and the Ambassador Team. I’ve had many roles, including Area Doctor, Regional Director of OD Recruitment, Clinical Director of OD Development, and currently, I’m a Vice President leading our remote care initiative in the Clinical Services Department. Each position I’ve had has allowed me to learn, grow, and then utilize those skills in my next position. I currently work on a team where the majority of us have had a decade of experience or more within National Vision. As a result, we can learn very quickly together and are highly productive. I love my job because of the amazing people I work with, our shared sense of purpose, and the ability to learn new things every day.

In my current role, I’ve helped my colleagues learn to use new technologies—as well as develop an entirely new mode of practice that allows doctors to provide synchronous patient care remotely. I don’t think we could problem solve and innovate the way we do without our dedication to communication and collaboration.

Remote care is a relatively new patient model for us where a doctor can work from home and leverage the latest technology to see patients in an office. We developed this exciting mode of practice in partnership with the independent practices affiliated with the National Vision Doctor of Optometry network. The model we’ve adopted is synchronous, meaning the doctor and patient interact with live video and audio feeds, in real time, through digital technology that protects the doctor-patient relationship. Additionally, the doctor can remotely control the phoropter and perform the refraction as well as receive data and test results electronically. Perhaps most importantly, the doctor and patient can have meaningful conversations about the patient’s vision as well as any concerns the doctor might notice.

Remote optometry and synchronous care are exciting to me because of both the impact it has in rural communities as well as how it’s advancing the profession of optometry. Remote care is enabling us to increase the number of patients who can conveniently access an affordable eye exam as well as allow for increased schedule flexibility and new work-life opportunities for doctors. I’m personally excited about what the future holds and how National Vision’s investment in remote care can help close the gap for patients who are currently without reliable access to vision care.

Learn more about how you can serve the populations who need your care most through a career within the National Vision Doctor of Optometry network.