Eye Care Leadership Live

Mike Lyons, SPHR
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I speak with eye care and healthcare clinical leaders and the experts who help their clinics succeed. 

  1. Legal Traps in Clinics (And How to Avoid Them)

    1D AGO

    Legal Traps in Clinics (And How to Avoid Them)

    Send us Fan Mail We talk with healthcare attorney Matt Stevens about the real-world legal and operational fights clinics face with insurance reimbursement, audits, and payer clawbacks, plus the steps that keep small problems from turning into career-level crises. We also get practical about employment disputes and why strong systems, especially timekeeping, reduce wage and hour exposure even when people act unpredictably. • what Provider Legal does for healthcare providers as outside general counsel and transaction support  • why insurance reimbursement creates conflict and how payer incentives shape denials and delays  • how to handle SIU inquiries and recoupment demands without overreacting  • common triggers for payer scrutiny including incident-to billing documentation and unusual coding patterns  • strategies to pursue underpayments without jumping into litigation, including escalation tactics  • why employee billing concerns can escalate into qui tam risk and government investigations  • early moves that lower exposure, including compliance plans and third-party billing reviews  • where employment disputes show up most often and how plaintiff firms approach staff claims  • wage and hour vulnerabilities driven by timekeeping records, breaks, and documentation  • accepting that you cannot eliminate claims, only reduce frequency and cost If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show on your podcast app and share it with someone who would value the content. === This episode is brought to you by Seasoned Advice HR, where I help eye care clinics to hire, retain, and manage better — helping you get Better Results Through People. Learn more at seasoned-advice.com.  Contact me directly at mike@seasoned-advice.com  Get my free HR and leadership downloads here: https://www.seasoned-advice.com/signup-for-free-downloads

    36 min

  2. 5D AGO

    Tales From the Trenches: Harassment Investigations (5/1/26)

    Send us Fan Mail A harassment allegation can make even experienced clinic leaders freeze, not because they don’t care, but because every move has consequences. We’ve handled these situations many times, and we break down what actually works when a sexual harassment complaint shows up in real life: how to act quickly without being reckless, how to be delicate without being vague, and how to protect your people while protecting your clinic. We talk through the leadership basics that decide whether employees trust the process or assume the worst. That starts with relationships and psychological safety long before a complaint, then moves into the nuts and bolts of a workplace investigation: getting a clear verbal timeline, capturing details in your notes, reading back key points, and deciding when written statements help or hurt. We also cover witness interviews, what to do when evidence is limited, how video or documentation can change everything, and why confidentiality is essential to keep rumors and intimidation from contaminating what people say. Finally, we dig into decision-making when you’re not 100% sure. We share practical rubrics that combine HR best practices, legal risk, organizational values, and the court of public opinion, plus what to say and do to prevent retaliation when the accused stays employed. If you lead a healthcare clinic and want a repeatable, fair approach to harassment allegations and documentation, this conversation will give you a clearer path forward. Subscribe, share with a fellow leader, and leave a review with the hardest people issue you’ve had to navigate. === This episode is brought to you by Seasoned Advice HR, where I help eye care clinics to hire, retain, and manage better — helping you get Better Results Through People. Learn more at seasoned-advice.com.  Contact me directly at mike@seasoned-advice.com  Get my free HR and leadership downloads here: https://www.seasoned-advice.com/signup-for-free-downloads

    17 min

  3. APR 28

    If You Don’t Define Culture, It Defines You - with Kurt Defenbaugh

    Send us Fan Mail Mike talks with Kurt Defenbaugh about why culture is not a slogan or a perks program, but the lived DNA of a clinic that either gets designed on purpose or assigned by default. We walk through a concrete method for defining core values, then use those values to hire better, develop staff, align physicians, and build a team that trusts leadership.  • culture as alignment rather than happiness  • defining core values by identifying real role models and extracting shared behaviors  • narrowing values to a small set people can remember and use  • hard work authentic care innovation as an example of values that guide decisions  • hiring for values alignment using behavior-based questions and process signals  • moving fast on fit issues while staying compassionate and consistent  • addressing physician outliers by involving doctors early and connecting values to staff treatment  • revisiting values as the business changes rather than clinging to outdated language  • psychological safety as the foundation for growth learning and innovation  • coaching and parenting parallels including trust empowerment and meeting people where they are  Find Kurt on LinkedIn here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderkurt/ If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show on your podcast app and share it with someone who would value the content. I also invite you to subscribe to my HR newsletter for Eye Care leaders. You can find information about that at seasoned-advice.com.  === This episode is brought to you by Seasoned Advice HR, where I help eye care clinics to hire, retain, and manage better — helping you get Better Results Through People. Learn more at seasoned-advice.com.  Contact me directly at mike@seasoned-advice.com  Get my free HR and leadership downloads here: https://www.seasoned-advice.com/signup-for-free-downloads

    47 min

  4. APR 24

    Tales From The Trenches: Hiring (4/24/26)

    Send us Fan Mail Hiring shouldn’t feel like a weekly emergency, but in many ophthalmology and optometry clinics it does: outdated job descriptions, endless resumes, interview no-shows, and the temptation to grab the first person who seems “good enough.” I’m trying a new format called Tales From The Trenches, and I’m sharing practical hiring lessons I’m using right now with eye care clients so you can shorten the chaos and raise the quality of your team. We start with a truth most practice administrators learn the hard way: the front desk is more than a front desk. It’s the intake point for future technicians, opticians, billing team members, and even research staff. When you hire great people up front and train them well, you build a talent pipeline that supports the whole clinic. That also means the person managing the front desk needs to be one of your strongest hirers and trainers, because their decisions ripple across staffing, patient experience, and culture. Then we get tactical about recruiting. I explain why a small spend on sponsored job posts can dramatically improve applicant flow, especially if you want experienced local candidates instead of random out-of-state applications. I also talk about reference checks that actually provide signal, why asking for former supervisors can “self-filter” weak candidates, and how keeping a warm pipeline helps when resignations stack up unexpectedly. I share how an applicant tracking system like Breezy HR makes it easier to revisit strong past applicants and fill roles faster without cutting corners. If you want hiring to stop stealing your calendar and start improving your clinic’s results, hit play. Subscribe, share this with an eye care leader who’s hiring right now, and leave a review so more clinic teams can find the show. === This episode is brought to you by Seasoned Advice HR, where I help eye care clinics to hire, retain, and manage better — helping you get Better Results Through People. Learn more at seasoned-advice.com.  Contact me directly at mike@seasoned-advice.com  Get my free HR and leadership downloads here: https://www.seasoned-advice.com/signup-for-free-downloads

    12 min

  5. APR 21

    Beat Burnout and Build Better Clinics with Dr. Melissa Barnett

    Send us Fan Mail We talk with Dr. Melissa Barnett about how a dry eye and specialty contact lens optometrist becomes an ICF credentialed coach and why that work brings her so much joy. We dig into burnout, clarity, and leadership habits that help eye care teams set real goals and follow through. • burnout, mindfulness, and team communication • the difference between mentoring, consulting, therapy, and coaching partnerships • mindful leadership basics like self-care, empathy, and bringing fun into teams • how she builds Alpine Blue Coaching to help more clinicians and organizations • practical ways to find clarity through journaling, reflection, values, and goal writing • Camino cycling lessons on mindset, endurance, and fresh perspective • speed round takes on sleep, meditation, affirmations, and big goals • what coaching actually looks like for independent high performers • delegation and imposter syndrome strategies, especially for women carrying many roles • what’s next including VOSH service in Nicaragua and upcoming speaking === This episode is brought to you by Seasoned Advice HR, where I help eye care clinics to hire, retain, and manage better — helping you get Better Results Through People. Learn more at seasoned-advice.com.  Contact me directly at mike@seasoned-advice.com  Get my free HR and leadership downloads here: https://www.seasoned-advice.com/signup-for-free-downloads

    30 min

  6. APR 14

    Announcement: Compensation Survey

    Send us Fan Mail This episode is to announce that Mandy Cansler Consulting and I are launching a free, multi-phase ophthalmology compensation survey so leaders can stop relying on generic healthcare numbers and start benchmarking pay with data that matches real practice roles. We explain why ophthalmology-specific compensation data is so hard to find, what we’re collecting in phase one, and how we plan to expand the survey and share implementation guidance.  • why ophthalmology pay data often feels too generic to trust  • what the compensation survey is designed to measure and why scope matters more than titles  • the phase one focus on top administrators, leadership roles and providers  • the specific data points we collect to make benchmarking useful such as region and practice size  • why roles vary so much across practices and how that distorts salary comparisons  • what future phases will include across departments, subspecialties, experience and certifications  • how we think about acting on compensation findings through timing, communication and strategy  Participate in the survey here - https://forms.gle/4fwQhHczFh1orqGPA  If you have question, reach out to me at mike@seasoned-advice.com or through LinkedIn. You can reach Mandy Cansler at mandy@mandycanslerconsulting.com.  === This episode is brought to you by Seasoned Advice HR, where I help eye care clinics to hire, retain, and manage better — helping you get Better Results Through People. Learn more at seasoned-advice.com.  Contact me directly at mike@seasoned-advice.com  Get my free HR and leadership downloads here: https://www.seasoned-advice.com/signup-for-free-downloads

    9 min

  7. APR 11

    Managing Gen Z At Work

    Send us Fan Mail My guest for this episode is Luke Goetting, a speaker and advisor on leading Generation Z and across generations.  We unpack how digital natives changed the rules of retention and why eye care clinics win when they trade secrecy for transparency, titles for skills, and rigid roles for internal gigs. Luke Goetting shares concrete ways to map growth, invite input, and turn ideas into results. • pandemic pressures and the missing middle in teams • why digital natives value transparency, speed, and purpose • the quarterly learning calculus that drives job moves • designing visible growth paths in small clinics • 20% time and internal gig marketplaces • gamification, micro-credentials, and skill maps • the two-thirds rule for real buy-in • patient messaging wins, like adding secure texting • braindates and rapid experiments to surface ideas Learn more about Luke at https://lukegoetting.com/.  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show on your podcast app and share it with someone who would value the content I also invite you to subscribe to my HR newsletter for Eye Care Leaders. You can find information about that at seasoned-advice.com === This episode is brought to you by Seasoned Advice HR, where I help eye care clinics to hire, retain, and manage better — helping you get Better Results Through People. Learn more at seasoned-advice.com.  Contact me directly at mike@seasoned-advice.com  Get my free HR and leadership downloads here: https://www.seasoned-advice.com/signup-for-free-downloads

    33 min

  8. APR 4

    If Your Team Can't Find You... It's Time To Add A Leader

    Send us Fan Mail In this show, I tackle the real question behind manager overload: when an eye care clinic needs more leadership coverage to protect retention, productivity, and culture. We share clear warning signs, practical alternatives to hiring, and what to look for when choosing the next leader. • employee feedback as the first red flag when support is missing • why manager availability shapes psychological safety and retention • the "15 direct reports" tipping point and why weekly one-on-ones matter • the real cost of turnover and how it compares to added management • manager burnout as a measurable operational risk • how lack of leadership drags down training and productivity • culture and trust erosion as a slow moving failure mode • using team lead and coordinator roles as a low risk stepping stone • selecting leaders for people skills and emotional intelligence, not just niceness • why “knowing everything” can hurt leadership and empowerment • promoting from within to build growth paths and fresh ideas If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show on your podcast app and share it with someone who would value the content. I also invite you to subscribe to my HR newsletter for Eye Care Leaders. You can find information about that at www.seasoned-advice.com. === This episode is brought to you by Seasoned Advice HR, where I help eye care clinics to hire, retain, and manage better — helping you get Better Results Through People. Learn more at seasoned-advice.com.  Contact me directly at mike@seasoned-advice.com  Get my free HR and leadership downloads here: https://www.seasoned-advice.com/signup-for-free-downloads

    23 min
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About

I speak with eye care and healthcare clinical leaders and the experts who help their clinics succeed. 

Information

  • Creator
    Mike Lyons, SPHR
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Eye Care Leadership Live
  • Show Website
    Eye Care Leadership Live