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Eye doctor wants to see things his way

Dr. John Mason has left the structured world of a corporate-owned clinic to open his own practice.

By SHARON BOND

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 19, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- Dr. John Mason appears to be moving against the traffic. He just left a nationwide commercial eye clinic to open a private optometric practice.

Mason still examines and tests eyes, treats diseases such as glaucoma, and sells glasses and contact lenses.

But now he has complete control, which to him is the defining difference between a large commercial practice and his private one. He decides what care his patients get and what products he sells them.

"I thought I would be a better patient advocate if I had complete control of care and the product from start to finish," Mason said.

In private practice, Mason also hopes to further develop his interest in pediatric optometry. He also will have more time with his family because he will work fewer hours than required at the commercial clinic. He and his wife, Linda, have two children, ages 4 and 5, and live in St. Pete Beach.

"Often you see going from a private practice to a large commercial practice. That has been the trend for the last 15 years," said Mason, sitting in his office in the Mason Eye Clinic, which opened at 2150 49th St. N two weeks ago.

The trend developed as managed care took hold in this country, although it is more pronounced in general medicine than optometry. A majority of optometrists remain self-employed either through solo practice or as independents within commercial clinics, according to the American Optometric Association.

According to the American Medical Association, of all doctors seeing patients in 1998, the last year for which figures are available, only 25.9 percent were in solo practices. Just three years earlier, that figure was 39.4 percent.

Complaints about managed care are common, with doctors alleging money comes before patient care. Many chafe at having their treatment options limited or having to get insurance company approval or both. Managed care also has resulted in higher case loads for doctors as their incomes have fallen.

Mason, 42, worked at the Tyrone location of For Eyes Optical Co. for 15 years. For Eyes is a national optical company with 124 locations. It provides beginning doctors a good way to make a living without huge startup costs while they pay off medical school debt, Mason said.

He made a "very good income" at For Eyes, a figure he would not divulge. When the private practice is established, Mason estimated his income should increase by 30 percent.

Mason worked longer hours at For Eyes, particularly in the beginning. The six-day work weeks included some evening hours. In the last few years, Mason said he was able to have more five-day work weeks at the clinic.

Convenient hours for patients -- usually evenings and weekends -- is one of the hallmarks of For Eyes, according to Paul Quentel, chief operating officer. For Eyes, headquartered in Hialeah, has optometrists in all its store to give customers one-stop shopping and more affordable pricing, Quentel said.

"We wish him well in his endeavors," Quentel said, adding that Mason's long tenure with the company is typical of many optometrists at For Eyes.

By law Mason was an independent optometrist even while at For Eyes. He paid his own staff, rent and utilities. Yet, he said, he wasn't completely independent of corporate oversight.

"Sometimes they try to dictate hours and fee structures and they expect you to do things in certain ways," Mason said. Clinics also control what brands of lenses and frames are sold.

"All those things infringe on (the autonomy of) a doctor," Mason said.

To gain his complete independence, Mason spent $50,000 buying equipment and remodeling a suite of offices at the building on 49th Street N. He brought his staff from For Eyes and 30,000 patient files.

Mason did not have a figure on how many patients he treated last year or how many of his 30,000 files are active. He is notifying patients of his move and believes they will follow him.

So far, he said, the days at the new office have been full.

- Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report.