19 December 2022
Specsavers has begun a global project to assess and enhance its in-practice consulting rooms.
The project, which began in September 2022 and is expected to take 12 months initially, will seek to understand the main ergonomic factors that affect the wellbeing and productivity of optometrists, contact lens opticians and audiologists during consultations.
It will look at consulting room environment and equipment from a safety, wellbeing, and efficiency perspective, and will work with chartered ergonomists, Morgan Maxwell, to do so.
The project will collect data through in-practice observations and interviews, in order to understand what processes look like in the consulting room currently and what changes might be required.
Experts from Morgan Maxwell will visit Specsavers practices to observe clinicians and carry out the project work.
A survey is also being sent out to Specsavers clinicians in order to further understand the dynamics of working in consulting rooms.
Specsavers practices across all global markets, including the UK, will be involved in the project, which the company hopes will lead to a ‘high-level understanding of clinician needs.’
Following analysis of the data collected, digital human modelling software will be used to ensure that any proposed design for new audiology and optometry testing rooms will provide a comfortable and efficient working environment for clinicians with a wide range of anthropometric measurements, Specsavers said.
The project began in September 2022.
Paul Morris, director of professional advancement at Specsavers, told OT: “This is an exciting global project which seeks to make consulting rooms as effective and comfortable as possible for clinicians.”
He added: “This will also benefit patients as we continue to go the extra mile in our mission to change lives through better sight and hearing.”
Lead image: Jude Edwards, optometry director of the Northampton Group of Specsavers practices, and Stephen Bowden, chartered ergonomist and human factors specialist at Morgan Maxwell
Comments (6)
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Anonymous13 February 2023
What is the definition of a sycophant?
Report Like 99
Anonymous13 January 2023
In a short form test room a patient commented their toilet was bigger than this room.
Report Like 70
Stuart Totten12 January 2023
Clearly the below comments are from those who have not worked for Specsavers in recent times if at all . Specsavers consulting rooms are generally a head and shoulders above the rest as it is ( i.e. things are usually not broken and actually work ) Specsavers optometrists in my opinion take a great deal of pride and time with their patients - that's why they're so succesful. What's wrong in looking to see if it's possible to make things even better !!
Report Like 90
Anonymous08 January 2023
With reference to the final paragraph: the best way patients can benefit is NOT to go to Specsavers in the first place. Nor in fact to any of the multiples. Go to an independent who does actually take pride, care & time regardless of ergonomics.
Report Like 91
Anonymous05 January 2023
This is why I have left the profession. You are just a refraction monkey with these guys. Loss of care/empathy and just another salesman for greedy managers. Boo!
Report Like 121
Anonymous04 January 2023
"productivity of optometrists" Another way of saying how optometrists for Specsavers can cut their testing times down to 15 minutes and flog even more specs, making even more profit for Doug and Mary in Guernsey
Report Like 147