If your optical capture rate could use a little love, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Capturing patients who buy their glasses, contacts, and other eye care products directly from your practice is a challenge for most optometry clinics. But here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be.
What if I told you there’s a way to skyrocket your optical capture rate, drive patient loyalty, and generate predictable revenue all at the same time? Yep, you guessed it: patient membership programs. These plans are like the golden ticket for optometry practices looking to increase patient spend, improve retention, and keep more of that sweet revenue in-house.
Let’s talk about how membership programs make it happen, the benefits for both patients and practices, and a real-world case study that proves this works. Oh, and spoiler alert: BoomCloud™ makes it all ridiculously easy.
What Is Optical Capture Rate?
Before we dive into the fun stuff, let’s define optical capture rate. It’s the percentage of patients who fill their eyewear prescriptions at your practice instead of going to a big-box retailer or ordering online.
The Problem with Low Capture Rates
When patients buy elsewhere, you’re not just losing revenue—you’re losing an opportunity to deepen the patient relationship. It’s a lose-lose.
How Membership Programs Increase Optical Capture Rates
A membership program flips the script by incentivizing patients to purchase their glasses, contacts, and even supplements directly from you. Here’s how:
For Patients:
- Discounts on Products: Membership plans often include savings on glasses, frames, and contacts, making your practice the obvious choice.
- Exclusive Perks: Members feel like VIPs with priority service and access to special promotions.
- Transparency: No surprise costs—just clear, predictable pricing.
For Your Practice:
- Higher Revenue: Members spend more per year on average, and they’re less likely to shop around.
- Stronger Relationships: Memberships create a sense of belonging that keeps patients loyal.
- Recurring Income: Monthly or annual fees generate Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) and Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR).
Case Study: Memberships in Action
Let’s look at VisionCare Elite, a mid-sized optometry practice that launched a membership program to boost their optical capture rate.
The Numbers:
- Members Signed Up: 673 patients.
- Monthly Fee: $35/month.
- MRR: $23,555.
- ARR: $282,660.
- Patient Spend: Membership patients spent $1,200/year on glasses, contacts, and supplements, compared to $400/year for non-members.
- Capture Rate Boost: Their optical capture rate jumped from 40% to 75%.
The Strategy:
- Membership Plan Benefits: Members received 25% off glasses, 15% off contacts, and free annual eye exams.
- Marketing Push: They used BoomCloud™ to send SMS and email campaigns promoting the plan to uninsured and inactive patients.
- In-House Promotion: Staff were trained to educate patients about the membership plan during appointments.
How BoomCloud™ Powers Membership Plans
If you’re thinking, “This all sounds great, but how do I actually manage a membership plan?” Relax. BoomCloud™ has you covered.
What BoomCloud™ Does:
- Custom Plan Creation: Use BoomCloud™’s templates to design a plan tailored to your patients and practice goals.
- Online Enrollment: Patients can sign up anytime through a sleek landing page on your website.
- Automated Billing: Forget chasing payments—BoomCloud™ handles everything.
- Metrics Dashboard: Track MRR, ARR, and membership growth in real-time.
- Patient Portal: Members can view their benefits, update payment info, and add family members.
BoomCloud™ takes the guesswork out of membership management, so you can focus on delivering amazing care & increase sales!
Tips for Boosting Optical Capture Rates with Membership Plans
1. Highlight the Savings
Make sure patients understand how much they’ll save by joining your plan and buying products through your practice.
2. Train Your Team
Your staff should be pros at explaining the benefits of the membership plan and answering patient questions.
3. Market Like a Pro
- Use Google Ads and Facebook campaigns to target uninsured patients.
- Send SMS reminders about membership perks, like discounts on glasses.
- Promote your plan in-office with flyers, posters, and friendly conversations.
4. Use Data to Improve
BoomCloud™’s dashboard lets you see what’s working and where there’s room to grow. Use this data to fine-tune your strategy.
The Big Picture: Membership Plans = Higher Capture Rates + Loyal Patients
Membership programs aren’t just a way to boost your optical capture rate—they’re a complete game-changer for your practice. By offering predictable pricing, exclusive perks, and a VIP experience, you’ll keep patients coming back (and spending) while generating consistent revenue.
With tools like BoomCloud™, launching and scaling a membership plan has never been easier. So, what are you waiting for? Start your membership program today and watch your optical capture rate—and your revenue—soar.
