Davis Capaccioli, OD, the proud owner of Peak Eyecare in Durango, Colorado, embarked on the demanding journey of opening an independent eye care practice cold in October 2021. His
goal was not only to establish a thriving practice but also to ensure that it offered an exceptional patient experience. To achieve this vision, he sought support from PECAA, and he credits this
membership with helping him. “I was able to open sooner than I expected, with the patient experience I would want to have if I were a customer,” he says.
Dr. Capaccioli had ideas about the culture and environment he wanted as hallmarks of his practice. He had spent time working as an associate optometrist, gaining valuable insights into different practice models and their inner workings. “I did my homework before joining PECAA,” he says. “I knew what I wanted to do, but I didn’t have the bandwidth by myself.”
Cold Start Program
Guided by Bryan Hoban and Jenny Wiley, the Cold Start Program from PECAA helped Dr. Capaccioli tackle key challenges, reduce stress and organize the various aspects of practice setup. Having a roadmap for the first three and six months of operation was invaluable, and it allowed him to make steady progress without feeling overwhelmed. It also connected Dr. Capaccioli with trusted vendors and PECAA services, making the procurement process more straightforward. He says that the ability to call PECAA with questions and receive expert advice on various aspects of practice management was a lifeline during the early days of Peak Eyecare, knowing that he had a support network to rely on.
Practice As You Please
This flexibility in managing his practice independently is what attracted him to PECAA in the first place over other options.
Through his PECAA Max membership, he is also leveraging the additional exam revenue from the VSP Vision Exam Rebate that offers a $5 rebate for every VSP Vision™ commercial patient exam.
The flow of services and ideas are appealing to him. He was able to attend his first PECAA Annual Meeting in 2022 and found the experience to be ‘transformative.’ The Nashville meeting in 2023 also left a lasting impression. These gatherings provide an opportunity for business owners to connect, share their experiences and offer valuable advice to others in the same boat. As a rural practice owner, he appreciates having fellow PECAA members as his network of peers, which he does not have in his immediate vicinity. He also appreciates that his membership gives him access to the newest and best technology in the industry, including intense pulse light technology and the PECAA K-DISK dehydrated amniotic membrane, which he brought into his practice after the 2023 Annual Meeting.
“It sets my practice apart and shows that we are a highly medical office,” he says. “My patients have more trust in me with these products.” The savings on products from his preferred vendors such as Zeiss and MacuHealth are considerable, he says.
Even without product savings and rebates, the extensive support system makes membership worthwhile. He has worked with the Member Business Advisory Team, including Hoban, who regularly helps him review financial data; Kayla Irwin, Ph.D., on optical management; Shelby Wade on marketing; and Teri Thurston on billing and coding.
Since opening, Dr. Capaccioli’s practice growth has exceeded his initial expectations. He has expanded from one employee to five, and he credits much of his growth to the resources and support of the Member Business Advisory team.
Dr. Capaccioli also notes the educational benefits of his PECAA Max membership. The online CE courses have been informative and valuable, while the practicality and efficiency of the format have made it easy to fit into his busy schedule.
Dr. Capaccioli considers his PECAA Max membership to be pivotal to his success. From expert guidance, access to savings and a network of support, he says he is in a better place for a cold start than he could have imagined.