The Bright Side of AI

In April 2026, we ran an excellent article detailing how owners and administrators can use data monitoring to improve their practices. Tonya LaRue, MBA, explained why it’s important to track profit and loss statements, accounts receivable and collections, balance sheets, scheduling, and other metrics. While this is all very important data to monitor, the proposed monthly tracking with a spreadsheet and even (gasp!) some manual input may be a difficult ask for some practices. Isn’t there an app for that?

For this issue, we asked data guru Bill James, MHA, COE, chief financial officer at Talley Eye Institute in Indiana, to discuss ways to automate some that data collection and analysis. During the 2025 ASRS Business of Retina meeting, he presented on his practice’s AI program, which uses automated “scrubbers” to review their patient management and electronic health record databases and identify potential workflow, coding, and billing issues. In his article, Using Data to Catch Problems Early, he shares how the system flagged a change in the allowable reimbursement for an anti-VEGF medication, ensuring the practice had time to minimize any financial ramifications. It’s a great example of how a carefully implemented AI system led to significant savings and efficiency without much ongoing work for staff. The key to its success isn’t necessarily the programming itself, but the collaboration with staff to identify stress points that needed automated monitoring.

Once you have your data under control, we have several other important articles to help boost your practice management acumen. Team communication seems to be a recurring theme in this issue, as our finance author David B. Mandell, JD, MBA, outlines key pearls to consider before selling a practice (spoiler alert: Make sure your advisors work together!). In addition, Jefferey T. Brockette, MSHA, walks through the nuances of renting versus owning real estate for your practice, and our coding column touches on strategies to avoid denials and audit risks when it comes to retinal imaging.

This issue focuses on the practical and actionable, so you and your staff can get ahead of issues before they cause downstream problems. With thoughtfully implemented technology and robust communication, your practice can run like a well-oiled machine.