For ECPs across the country, recovery is clear—albeit not linear.
With most of the month of June in view, the GPN x EB Optometric Business Tracker data reveals that while exams were down slightly (0.4%) in June 2021 (from June 1 to 22) over the same period in 2019, patient payments were up by nearly 16% over 2019. Additionally, frame and lens sales were up (7.6% and 9.1%, respectively), and contact lens sales were flat with under 1% growth compared with 2019.
“When taking into account the month of June of each year, 2019 and 2021 (removing 2020 as an aberration), we see that the number of exams in 2021 remains flat,” says Evan Kestenbaum, co-founder and COO of GPN. “In 2020, the boom can be attributed to and aligned with the dates that businesses reopened, and stay-at-home orders were lifted. The floodgates opened, so to speak, and those who would have normally been seen in the months prior came in for their yearly examinations. Due to the circumstances surrounding the pandemic, we can hardly call this a ‘trend,’ and as things continue to return to normal, 2021 can only fairly be compared with 2019.”
Read on for the revealing real-time data from GPN covering more than 2,400 practice locations across the U.S., served up in partnership with Eyecare Business.
METHODOLOGY UPDATE
Beginning in January 2021, the methodology of sampling has been updated to reflect traditional same-store sales year over year. As locations stop sending data throughout the year due to closures, sales, etc., they will either be replaced or removed completely from the sample for all prior years. Therefore, each month will have the same number of stores reporting. This is different from the 2020 methodology whereas locations that closed, merged, or stopped sending data were left in the sample as the Covid-19 crisis had an impact on them.
PRACTICE RESOURCES
GPN is using its eyeTHRIVE business solutions channel (eyeTHRIVE.net) to offer timely webinars and resources to ECPs. The open-forum webinars feature some of the industry’s most successful O.D.s, practice management consultants, and business owners. eyeTHRIVE members are invited to attend live webinars, view recorded presentations, download useful tools, and participate in live Q&A sessions with industry pros.
GET MORE INDUSTRY DATA TRACKING
Visit eyecarebusiness.com/optometric-business-tracker semimonthly as we reveal the real-time data on countrywide practice sales and exams data provided by GPN.
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