Category: A. Introduction

The ultimate purpose of our work in this office can be stated in three words: TO HELP PEOPLE. Our patients ask for our help and we must provide service to them when it is needed. This office has to have operating policies and rules to aid in reaching that objective. Every member of the health care team must understand that the objective is more important than the rules themselves. If a rule appears to interfere with the goal of helping people, then it must be questioned. These changes and exceptions are matters which should always be discussed with the doctors or Practice Administrator.

Many of the rules and policies of this office are intended to build the confidence a patient feels in the doctor and other personnel who work in this office. A strong doctor-patient relationship is a must if the patient is to receive full benefit from the doctor’s services. The patient must feel sure that he/she can talk freely to the doctor, that the doctor is knowledgeable and conscientious, and that the office is well managed. Only if these attitudes prevail will the patient be likely to take the doctor’s advice and do his/her part in following through with the treatment plan. You play an important part in building this confidence by being cheerful, friendly, tactful, neat, capable, and industrious.

Another important principle governing the rules and policies of this office is that the doctor’s time is the most valuable resource of this office. This resource must be used carefully if sufficient health care is to be made available to all who need it. Regular attendance and punctuality are, therefore, absolutely necessary in this office. You must do everything possible to help the doctor use their time effectively. If problems arise, efforts must be made to solve them without interrupting the doctor while he is performing his duties. This will eliminate extra stress. We expect you to show initiative in handling problems.

Working together as a team, we can provide the ultimate in service to the patient and have an efficient and cheerful place to work. We hope you are ready to make your contribution to this most worthwhile goal.

The physicians in this office, Richard Carlin M.D., David S. Carlin M.D., Michael A. DeRosa, M.D., Melanie Bennett-Sims, M.D., Allison R. Tyler, M.D., and Michael Willman, D.O. are ophthalmologists. They have spent 4 years in college and 4 years in medical school. Their degree allows them to practice medicine and surgery of any type in the state of Georgia. Following this they spent one year in a hospital situation (internship or transitional year) practicing various phases of medicine. Another 3 years was spent in an ophthalmology residency program where their training was confined to the practice of ophthalmology. J. Blake Thornhill O.D., .is an optometrist. He spent 4 years in college and 4 years in optometry school. His O.D. degree allows him to practice optometry in the state of Georgia. He examines eyes and treats certain eye diseases, but does not perform surgery on the eye.

Currently we do many services in reference to the eyes. We examine eyes for glasses (refraction), and fit soft, rigid gas permeable, hard, bifocal, toric (for astigmatism), and disposable contact lenses, for daily and extended wear. We evaluate eyes for diseases (e.g., cataracts, infections, glaucoma, macular degeneration); evaluate eyes for complications of other diseases (e.g., diabetes, thyroid disorders, brain tumors, anemia); perform tests such as fluorescein angiography; and perform ophthalmic surgery such as refractive, cataract, implant, laser, eyelid, muscle, glaucoma, orbital, and corneal surgery. The physicians have given talks and have written papers on ophthalmic topics for professional and lay organizations and publications.