Improve Efficiency and
Elevate Patient Care by
Adopting Modern Technology
in Your Practice
Meet Dr. Peter Santisi
Peter Santisi, O.D., owns Santisi Vision Care in Merritt Island. As his practice has grown, Dr. Santisi has been in the market for new equipment, looking for efficient, reliable technology that supports the needs of his patients without compromising on results.
Faced with a choice from a variety of leading brands, he decided to put his trust in Huvitz devices for a simple reason: value. “The features are exactly the same as a lot of other technology out there,” said Dr. Santisi. “If you compare them side by side, they’re almost identical at a fraction of the cost.”
After purchasing a Huvitz automated lensometer, he bought an HRK-9000 autorefractor/keratometer with an onboard Dry Eye Workstation and three HDR digital phoropters. My team had a chance to catch up with him about the ways he’s benefited from using Huvitz equipment in his office.
They Save Time on Every Exam
Referring to the Huvitz refraction systems, Dr. Santisi emphasized that the biggest benefit he’s gotten from using digital equipment is the time saved in every exam.
“Refraction is one of those things where you (traditionally) don’t have a big return on investment. You have to realize that time is probably the biggest return, and if you can save yourself time in the long run, that’s time you can devote to other areas of your practice or patient needs,” he explained.
Dr. Santisi estimates that aside from the quick, user-friendly operation of the devices, the fact that data is integrated with EHR systems saves him an average of 5-10 minutes per refraction: “I don’t have to take the data from the phoropter and copy it over to health records. Everything is integrated.”
What that does for him is give him the ability to spend less time with the equipment and more time focused on the patient: “Once I’m done with the refraction, I can click over and send it, and that gives me more time to talk to the patient, and to go over their options for eyewear,” said Dr. Santisi.
The Patient Experience is Vital
For Dr. Santisi, improving his equipment has had an unexpected effect on his patient base:
“I live in a very high-tech area,” he explained. “I’m just a few miles from the front gates of the Kennedy Space Center, and there’s a lot of engineers who love the technology and love to see something other than the old machines we’ve been using since the turn of the century.”
It speaks volumes to patients when their doctor implements new technology that makes their experience more efficient and convenient. As Dr. Santisi puts it, “I think people embrace seeing more technology in their daily lives, especially when it comes to healthcare.”
The Patient Experience is Vital
For Dr. Santisi, improving his equipment has had an unexpected effect on his patient base:
“I live in a very high-tech area,” he explained. “I’m just a few miles from the front gates of the Kennedy Space Center, and there’s a lot of engineers who love the technology and love to see something other than the old machines we’ve been using since the turn of the century.”
It speaks volumes to patients when their doctor implements new technology that makes their experience more efficient and convenient. As Dr. Santisi puts it, “I think people embrace seeing more technology in their daily lives, especially when it comes to healthcare.”
Modern Technology Makes Your Practice More Versatile
Technology like the HRK-9000 autorefractor/keratometer is an extremely accurate and reliable tool — Dr. Santisi uses this in every exam to generate the most precise vision prescriptions possible for his patients. But, what it also offers is the opportunity to add a dimension to an eye care practice — more effective management of dry eye cases.
The HRK-9000 comes with meibography and tear break-up time (TBUT) analysis features, which Dr. Santisi uses to help patients understand why they’re experiencing discomfort. “I use it on patients where I suspect there’s MGD issues, which is true in a majority of dry eye cases,” he says.
The HRK-9000’s dry eye workstation makes it easier to not only identify the underlying causes of dry eye, but also to explain the value of in-office treatments and adjunctive products to use at home. “I gently explain the makeup of the tear film and how a lot of dry eye cases involve issues with the oil glands. I explain that I want to get a picture so we can see what the oil glands look like, and I show it to them right there in the exam room.”
Huvitz Technology Is a Great Investment
When asked about his overall review of his Huvitz equipment after a few years of using it, Dr. Santisi was unequivocal: “I’ve been very happy with the technology overall. For the investment, it’s absolutely paid off. Would I buy again? The answer is absolutely yes.”