Efficiency isn’t just a goal anymore — it’s survival.

As staffing shortages, rising costs, and operational headaches put pressure on practices, smart innovations are reshaping how optometry works. In this final installment of the Power Hour Innovator Series, recorded live at Vision Expo East 2025, Eugene Shatsman brings you a double feature episode spotlighting two powerful solutions: Barti and Teem. 

Get ready to discover two distinct but complementary ways to drive practice efficiency, from streamlining technology to rethinking staffing entirely.  

In the first half of the show, Eugene sits down with the team from Barti — the company redefining what EHR and AI can do for eye care. 

Here’s the reality: most optometry practices juggle 10–15 software systems to manage scheduling, eligibility, patient communication, billing, and documentation. Barti’s platform brings it all into one ecosystem, all powered by real-world AI. 

What you’ll learn: 

• • How Barti’s ambient AI scribes eliminate 1–2 hours of daily documentation —giving doctors time back to connect with patients. 
  • How automated insurance verification, scheduling, and reminders help reduce no-shows and lost revenue. 
  • Why smart data collection at every touchpoint can create a better in-room experience for patients, not just back-end efficiency. 
  • Why optometry has lagged in innovation — and how practices that embrace change now can leap ahead of competitors in the next 12–24 months. 

In the second half, Eugene connects with Trevor Steele from Teem, a company that’s giving practices a smarter way to solve staffing gaps without the cost and chaos of endless hiring cycles. 

Teem helps practices hire trained remote team members in South America to take on roles like scribing, insurance verification, billing, and front desk support.
It’s not about cutting corners — it’s about freeing up your in-office staff to focus on what matters most: patient care. 

What you’ll learn: 

• • How remote scribes help practices boost daily patient volume by 3–5 patients while maintaining high-quality interactions. 
  • Why practices that integrate virtual assistants see a 20% revenue increase on average. 
  • The real numbers behind hiring a remote team member versus a full-time in-office employee — and how to start with minimal risk. 
  • How reducing staff burnout and administrative overload improves the entire patient experience. 

This double-feature episode is a blueprint for what comes next. Whether it’s using smarter AI-driven platforms like Barti to streamline daily operations, or scaling patient flow with flexible staffing through Teem, the future of efficiency is already here. 

Optometry practices that invest in innovation now, both in technology and staffing, will be the ones leading the market tomorrow. 

This Episode Is Brought to you by:

• • Integrated Innovation: How Barti eliminates tech bloat with an all-in-one platform that improves patient flow and profitability. 
  • AI That Matters: Why AI scribes are solving one of optometry’s biggest pain points — and how early adopters are winning. 
  • Smart Staffing Solutions: How Teem helps practices see more patients, boost revenue, and lower operational stress. 
  • Futureproofing Your Practice: Why tech and staffing flexibility aren’t just “nice to have” anymore — they’re critical to success. 

• • 00:00 – Introduction  
  • 02:10 – Rethinking the Role of EHRs 
  • 03:59 – Why Optometry Software Has Lagged 
  • 10:53 – Integrated Scheduling, Eligibility Checks, and Patient Communication 
  • 18:31 – How AI Scribes Save 1–2 Hours Daily 
  • 27:23 – Predicting the Next 12 Months of Tech Adoption in Eye Care 
  • 35:11 – Closing Thoughts on Barti and Practical Steps to Start Now 
  • 37:11 – The Staffing Crisis in Optometry 
  • 38:07 – Solving Real Staffing Challenges with Remote Team Members 
  • 41:23 – How Remote Scribes Increase Revenue and Improve Patient Volume 
  • 45:03 – Understanding Cost Savings vs. Traditional Hiring Models 
  • 49:31 – Final Thoughts: Why Flexible Staffing Is the Future of Efficient Eye Care 

Connect with Barti 

Barti provides eye care providers with AI-powered EHR software, featuring AI Scribe for real-time charting, AI History for quick access to patient information, a VoIP phone system, integrated payment processing, and full-service Revenue Cycle Management to take the work out of insurance billing — all bundled into one seamless system. 
 
By leveraging the latest technology, Barti helps eye doctors spend more time with patients and less time clicking. 
 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/barti/  

Website: https://www.barti.com/ 

Connect with Teem 

At Teem, we provide optometry practices with reliable and engaged Virtual Assistants, handling the recruiting, payroll, and compliance for you. Our dedicated success managers ensure a smooth experience from day one, helping you integrate a highly skilled remote team member who fits your practice long-term. With Teem, you can focus on what matters most — your patients — while cutting staffing costs by up to 50%. 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hireteem/  

Website: https://www.hireteem.com/

Connect with Eugene Shatsman

Website – https://www.eugeneshatsman.com/

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugeneshatsman