Practice Playbook · Workflow
The Chairside Workflow
Everything else in the program rides on one repeatable sequence in the exam room: ask, test, treat, hand off. Get this consistent and dry eye stops being a special occasion and becomes part of how you practice every day.
Key Takeaways
- A consistent sequence beats a perfect one. The same four steps, every patient, is what makes the program scale.
- Start with a symptom questionnaire at intake so the workup begins before the patient reaches the chair.
- Point-of-care testing turns "your eyes are dry" into an objective finding the patient can see and accept.
- Decide and treat in the room. A plan delivered later is a plan that often never starts.
- Delegate the repeatable parts to staff so the workflow adds minutes, not bottlenecks.
Quick Answer
Run the same four steps on every candidate: a symptom questionnaire at intake, point-of-care testing to confirm and stage, a treatment decision made in the chair, and a written take-home plan handed off through RescueLink before the patient leaves. Assign the repeatable pieces to staff so it adds minutes rather than friction. Consistency is the whole point: the workflow only compounds if it happens the same way every time.
The Four-Step Sequence
- Ask. A short validated symptom questionnaire on the intake form flags candidates before the exam even starts.
- Test. Point-of-care testing confirms and stages: an inflammatory marker, osmolarity, tear breakup, and a look at the glands. Objective findings drive acceptance.
- Treat. Stage the disease and decide in the room. Start in-office therapy where indicated and build the take-home regimen by mechanism.
- Hand off. Send the plan through RescueLink with refills on auto-ship, and book the follow-up before the patient stands up.
Who Does What
Delegate the repeatable steps. The doctor's time goes to the decision, not the data collection.
| Step | Owner | Roughly |
|---|---|---|
| Questionnaire at intake | Front desk or intake staff | Before the room |
| Point-of-care testing | Technician | A few minutes |
| Stage and decide | Doctor | In the exam |
| Plan handoff and follow-up | Champion or staff via RescueLink | Under a minute |
Dry eye diagnosis combines a symptom questionnaire with clinical signs, and validated questionnaires are a standard entry point to the workup (TFOS DEWS III). Confirm any in-office test handling against its current instructions for use.
The Handoff That Closes the Loop
The workflow only pays off if the plan actually starts. RescueLink sends the regimen to the patient by text or email with one-tap ordering, same-day shipping, and auto-ship, so the decision you made in the chair turns into product in their hands and a reorder that stays yours.
DER Clinical Pearl
Show the patient the test result. A number on a screen or a positive strip does more to start a regimen than any amount of explaining. People act on what they can see, so make the finding visible before you make the recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why start with a questionnaire?
Because symptoms and signs do not always line up, and a short validated questionnaire catches patients who would not otherwise raise it. It begins the workup before the exam.
Which point-of-care tests matter most?
An inflammatory marker and a measure of tear stability go furthest for the time they take. Add osmolarity and meibography as your program grows.
Will this slow my exams down?
Only slightly, if you delegate. Staff run the questionnaire and testing, so the doctor's added time is mostly the decision itself.
Why treat in the room instead of later?
Because a plan delivered after the visit often never starts. Deciding and handing off in the chair is what converts intent into action.
How do I keep the workflow consistent across staff?
Write it down as a simple checklist and have the Champion own it. Consistency comes from a documented sequence, not memory.
What if I do not have all the testing equipment?
Start with what you have and a questionnaire. The sequence works at any equipment level; you add tests as you build.
How does the handoff actually work?
Through RescueLink. The plan goes to the patient in one message with one-tap ordering and auto-ship. Setup help is at providers@dryeyerescue.com or (561) 468-8747.
When should the follow-up be?
Book it before the patient leaves, typically a few weeks out, so therapy has time to show an effect and you can adjust.
Make It the Same Every Time
Browse the catalog to equip the workflow, or activate RescueLink to close the loop on every handoff.
Continue through the Dry Eye Practice Playbook
Part of the Dry Eye Practice Playbook. Clinical decisions rest with the treating eye doctor. Confirm all in-office test handling against current manufacturer instructions for use. Dry Eye Rescue is a distributor of medical supplies and over-the-counter products.