Laser vision correction is an intimidating procedure to undergo, with widespread fears ranging from the surgery itself to financing. At LasikPlus in Maple Grove, employees pride themselves on their dedication to an individual customer’s needs by integrating a strong relationship with the reliable surgeons and 360-degree approach to patient care. But the man who probably never meets the customers is the one who has made the experience so effortless in the first place.
Jason Schmit, vice president of strategic affairs and optometric relations at LasikPlus, realized he could improve business operations in the field after running his own private practice for a couple years. So he started with LasikPlus in 1999, and is now in charge of improving the relationships with customers and the overall experience with lasik—one way being the innovative Patient Journey Experience Schmit introduced. “We focus on the patient and what is important to them,” Schmit says. “Customer service is central to developing a relationship with patients—and is what sets us apart.”
Schmit’s behind-the-scenes work became front and center when he was selected as one of the 2011 Optometric Business Innovators in Business Management. The award was chosen by Vision Monday, a leading national magazine for optical retailers, and Review of Optometric Business, a weekly online publication designed for optometrists. The two publications launched a collaborative project in April to find the best business innovators across the U.S. Schmit’s reaction to winning this award was team-focused, similar to everything he does. “I feel honored, but it really is a testament to the great people working for me at LCA-Vision and LasikPlus,” he says. “We are changing the way health care should be delivered, and I couldn’t do it without a great team of colleagues to help me.”
