Frustrated with your EHR? Keep reading.
For most optometrists, the promise of tech-enabled efficiency has turned into a daily grind of slow systems, clunky workflows, and feature overload. But what if the problem isn’t the software — it’s how we’re using it?
In this episode of Power Hour, Eugene Shatsman sits down with Kelly Kerksick, Director of Professional Affairs at RevolutionEHR), Charles Biegel, President of Eyefinity, and Dr. Anthony Sesto, practicing OD and Product Advisor for a rare, no-fluff conversation about the true state of optometric software — and what needs to change.
This panel clarifies what most practices are afraid to say out loud: the tools meant to make our lives easier often become the biggest source of friction in the practice.
You’ll hear:
- Why 30–40% of your system’s features might be going completely unused
- The dangerous assumption that switching platforms will “fix” everything
- How AI scribes, automations, and integrated tools are already reshaping how we document, communicate, and grow
- What burnout really looks like when it’s driven by outdated systems, and how better workflows can re-energize your team
- And most importantly — what the next generation of optometric software must do to serve the doctor, the staff, and the patient more intelligently
Eugene doesn’t hold back, asking the tough questions he hears from clients every week: Why is charting still so manual? Why is onboarding a nightmare? And when will software finally feel like a partner, not a burden?
Whether you’re trying to optimize your current EHR or wondering if a change is worth it, this episode gives you real insight from those who build, use, and live with this technology every day. If you’re tired of tools that promise the world and deliver more stress, this conversation is your wake-up call. Learn how to make your software a strategic advantage for practice growth and patient care.
Key Takeaways
- 30% of What You’re Paying For Might Go Unused: Most doctors don’t even realize how many time-saving features are already built into their systems, but buried behind bad UX or lack of training.
- Switching Isn’t Always the Answer: The grass isn’t always greener. Sometimes what’s missing is a workflow refresh, not a new platform.
- AI Is Already Here (But Not Magic): From dictation to intelligent scribing, we explore what’s real, what’s hype, and how close we are to “hands-free” documentation.
- Bottlenecks Are Built In: Why many EHRs actually cause inefficiency, and what vendors are doing to address it.
- The Future Is Modular: The best EHRs of tomorrow won’t be all-in-ones — they’ll be platforms that integrate smarter, and center the patient experience.
In This Episode
- 00:00 — Introduction
- 04:13 — The evolution of EHRs: What’s changed (and what hasn’t)
- 10:51 — Why doctors underutilize 30% of their systems
- 17:26 — AI scribes and automation: Where the tech is heading
- 24:41 — Workflow traps: When your system slows you down
- 32:11 — Switching platforms: What it really costs to move
- 39:00 — Interoperability, AI, and smarter integrations
- 45:31 — What practices should do now to get more out of their tech
Contact Information
Connect with Kelly Kerksick:
Kelly Kerksick is Director of Professional Relations for Rev360 and plays a very active roll serving the RevolutionEHR OD community. She has lectured internationally on contact lens science and is a frequent lecturer throughout the United States on electronic health records, practice management, and ocular surface disease.
Dr. Kerksick has enjoyed international speaking engagements in London, England, Trinidad, Puerto Rico, and Canada, and has served as the chief editor for New O.D., an optometric publication circulated via e-mail, and has served on many advisory panels.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-kerksick-23263214/
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rev360/
Connect with Charles Biegel:
Since joining Eyefinity in 2014, Charlie’s leadership, technology expertise, and customer-centric mindset have helped elevate Eyefinity’s suite of solutions to meet the changing needs of eye care professionals and practices.
Prior to joining Eyefinity, Charlie was vice president of engineering at AOL, where he was responsible for the product engineering of the AOL Mail, Address Book, and Calendar product lines. These multitenant, cloud products served a monthly audience of 25 million unique visitors with an average of 4 billion page views.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliebiegel/
Website: https://www.eyefinity.com/
Connect with Dr. Anthony Sesto:
Anthony A. Sesto, O.D., is from St. Clair Shores, MI and a 2008 graduate of South Lake High School. In 2016, he graduated with honors with his Doctorate of Optometry degree from the Michigan College of Optometry.
Since becoming an optometrist, Dr. Sesto practiced in a multi-specialty ophthalmology practice where he gained vast experience treating and managing ocular diseases such as diabetes, macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, dry eye and keratoconus.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-sesto-o-d-9173a986/
Website: https://www.normandyoptical.com/
Connect with Eugene Shatsman
Website – https://www.eugeneshatsman.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugeneshatsman