Individualizing the Surgical Consultation Without Sacrificing Efficiency

What does it take to make every surgical consultation feel individualized amid increasing pressure for efficiency? George O. Waring IV, MD, speaks with Alexandra Dean, Director of Practice Development at Waring Vision Institute, about building a counseling continuum that starts before the patient arrives and uses intake forms, previsit outreach, and cohesive handoffs to connect clinical recommendations with individual goals. Dean also shares practical guidance on training nonclinical counselors, using technology without losing the human touch, and creating an experience patients remember for how it made them feel.

Related article: “Individualization at Every Touchpoint,” in Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today, June 2026