(L to R) Jim Barnette, IDOC’s national director of member development, confers with IDOC president Mark Feder, OD.

LAS VEGAS—Independent Doctors of Optometric Care (IDOC), a member-based organization providing education, resources and exclusive vendor programs for independent optometrists, was on hand at Vision Expo West, both on the show floor and in the line-up of evening events.

“The 2010 Vision Expo West was a very successful event for IDOC,” said Jill McKenzie, IDOC’s VP of marketing and member services. The IDOC booth remained busy throughout the entire show, with company representatives explaining the organization’s strong commitment to help members grow profitable practices through education at IDOC University and strategic vendor partnerships, according to the organization.

IDOC also reported that vendor partner GPN—providers of The Edge management system—was present in the booth demonstrating their business-management software product, one IDOC described as “designed to help optometrists identify the strengths and weaknesses of their practice.”

“We felt it was important for our members to see first-hand one of the business management tools available to them through IDOC,” Mark Feder, OD, the organization’s president and CEO, told VM. “I use the The Edge software in my own practice and rely on it to monitor both sides of my business: medical and optical.  Providing business resources like The Edge to our members continues to be the primary focus of IDOC,” he added.   

According to the organization, among the new members IDOC signed up at the trade show was Louisiana Senator David Heitmeier, a practicing OD.

IDOC also hosted a cocktail reception, sponsored by Vistakon, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., on Oct. 8 for their members and prospective members. Feder began the evening with a brief presentation on the company’s strategic direction and the benefits of membership. He was followed by several IDOC members who shared testimonials about how their IDOC membership benefited them and grew their practice.

All reception attendees were entered into a raffle for an all-expense paid, 7-day resort vacation in Palm Desert, Calif., which was won by David R. Toland, OD, of Northwest Valley Eyecare in Sun City, Ariz., the company said.

The 2011 IDOC National Meeting will be held at MGM Grand Foxwoods in Connecticut on April 7-11, 2011. The event will be open to all IDOC members and prospective members.

For more information, call IDOC at (203) 853-3333 or visit IDOC.net.

Mark Haw (l) and Ed Baumbach of Vistakon at the IDOC reception.	Jay Binkowitz (l) of GPN with IDOC’s director of vendor relations Lea Phelan.
Mark Feder, OD, president of IDOC (l) discusses of benefits IDOC membership with Robert Collins (c) and Ellen Collins, both of Optix Eyewear.	(L to R) Mark Feder, OD, with current IDOC member William Filchak, OD, at the IDOC reception.