Optimizing Clinical Efficiency: How Heru Reduces Labor Costs in Eye Care Practices

Modern eye care practices are navigating growing patient volumes and rising operational complexity, often with limited time and resources. Finding ways to streamline workflows without sacrificing quality has become essential.

By automating key elements of the pre-test process, Heru allows these assessments to be conducted using a wearable device without requiring the direct, hands-on involvement of the doctor. This enables technicians to guide patients through the testing independently, freeing up valuable provider time to create more empathy with each patient.  

This also results in a more efficient workflow that reduces labor costs, saves time, and even creates new revenue opportunities through reimbursable CPT-coded services—all without adding to the administrative burden.

Time Savings Through Automated Pre‑Testing

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage for optometrists is $64.82 (approximately $1.08 per minute), while ophthalmic medical technicians earn a median of $20.09 per hour (~$0.33 per minute). 

Pre‑testing workflows generally require 10–20 minutes per patient when fully administered by staff or the provider. Heru’s automated testing platform consolidates multiple tasks into a standardized, headset‑based process. This innovation delivers notable advantages: 

• Labor Substitution – Work can shift from the optometrist ($1.08/min) to the technician ($0.33/min).
• Technician Scalability – Staff can multitask during testing, completing parallel administrative or clinical responsibilities.
• Reliable Data Capture – Results are standardized, documented, and tracked longitudinally, supporting clinical decision making and long‑term patient management.

To visualize these savings in action, consider this example for a practice that sees 20 patients per day.

• ​​Heru move 5 minutes per patient spend with the doctor to the technician
• 20 patients per day = 100 minutes each day
• At a difference of $0.75 per minute (based on combined OD and tech wages)
• That’s $75 saved per day
• At 20 working days/month, that totals approximately $1,500/month in labor value that can now be reinvested into the clinic.

This type of efficiency not only improves daily operations but also shortens the payback period of investing in Heru, reinforcing its value as both a clinical and economic asset.

Time Saved Meets Revenue Gained

When paired with CPT-billable services like the Full Threshold 24-2 visual field test, Heru’s labor savings translate into even greater financial return. For example, a clinic performing 30 full-threshold tests per month at ~$60 in reimbursement generates an additional $1,800/mo in revenue. When paired with the ~$1,500 in monthly labor cost savings — creates a powerful multiplier effect, helping practices recover their investment faster and operate more efficiently long term.

Beyond Direct Cost Savings

While financial benefits are quantifiable, workflow advantages extend further: 

• Throughput and Flexibility – Freed staff can initiate the next patient encounter or engage in patient education, enhancing both productivity and clinical value.
• Standardization – Reduces variability in test administration and improves reliability of longitudinal comparisons.
• Technician Experience – Less repetitive manual workload translates into greater job satisfaction and lower turnover.
• Patient Experience – Decreased visit times and smoother throughput reduce wait times, redos, and improved perceptions of care and patient retention.
  

A Smarter Model for Modern Eye Care

Heru offers more than just automated vision testing—it delivers a measurable impact on clinical efficiency, staff utilization, and financial performance. By reducing reliance on provider time, enabling technicians to work more independently, and supporting reimbursable diagnostic services, Heru helps practices optimize their workflow without expanding headcount or compromising care. 

The combination of monthly labor cost savings and CPT-billable revenue creates a powerful multiplier effect, accelerating ROI and shortening the payback period. Just as important, Heru enhances the day-to-day patient and staff experience—delivering consistent results, reducing wait times, and freeing clinical teams to focus on what matters most. In today’s increasingly complex healthcare environment, Heru provides a smarter, more scalable way to deliver care.

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Schedule a demo today to learn more about how Heru can transform your practice.