With more of the month of April 2021 in view along with the full month of March 2021, the GPN x EB Optometric Business Tracker data reveals that while, of course, exams and sales are seeing a whopping increase over March and April 2020 when practice closures due to the pandemic were a reality, the numbers are down between 4% and 21% for April 1-13, 2021, compared to the same period in 2019.
“MTD April 2021 compared to MTD April 2020 shows a significant increase in revenue and exams due to offices being closed in 2020, while a slight decrease compared to MTD April 2019,” says Evan Kestenbaum, GPN co-founder and COO. At the same time, there is a notable recovery surfacing in the number of exams, patient payments, and frame and lens sales in March over January and February 2021.
“ECPs are working through an interesting phenomenon as the number of one-year recalls and pre-appointments has decreased,” says Kestenbaum. “Whether or not ECPs can rally around marketing and filling the schedule will determine the rest of Q2 results.”
Read on for the revealing real-time data from GPN covering more than 2,400 practice locations across the U.S., served up in partnership with Eyecare Business. We are tracking practice exams, patient payments, plus frame, lens, and contact lens sales from coast to coast on a weekly and monthly basis.
» Industry data provided by GPN: gpntechnologies.com
METHODOLOGY UPDATE
Beginning in January 2021, the methodology of sampling has been updated to reflect traditional same-store sales year-over-year. As locations stop sending data throughout the year due to closures, sales, etc., they will either be replaced or removed completely from the sample for all prior years. Therefore, each month will have the same number of stores reporting. This is different than the 2020 methodology whereas locations that closed, merged, or stopped sending data were left in the sample as the Covid-19 crisis had an impact on them.
PRACTICE RESOURCES
GPN is using its eyeTHRIVE business solutions channel (eyeTHRIVE.net) to offer timely webinars and resources to ECPs. The open-forum webinars feature some of the industry’s most successful O.D.s, practice management consultants, and business owners. eyeTHRIVE members are invited to attend live webinars, view recorded presentations, download useful tools, and participate in live Q&A sessions with industry pros.
GET MORE INDUSTRY DATA TRACKING
Visit eyecarebusiness.com/optometric-business-tracker as we reveal the current, weekly real-time data on countrywide practice sales and exams data provided by GPN.
![]({"src":"/media/wucmx2id/cover_eb_0521.jpg","focalPoint":null,"crops":[{"alias":"thumbnail","width":1110,"height":700,"coordinates":null}]})
