Sherry Lentfer, OD, FCOVDR, and business partner Laura Kompkoff, OD, FCOVDR, have quite the view from their private practice. Their location sits along the southernmost part of highway 1 in Anchorage, Alaska. Katmai Eye and Vision Center is just south of the Chugach mountains and nestled along the waters of Turnagain Arm. The Potter Marsh Wildlife Viewing Boardwalk gives a nightly show of a beautiful sunset and brown bears catching their dinner.
AN ODE TO ALASKA
When Dr. Lentfer and Dr. Kompkoff first decided to go into business together almost 10 years ago, they knew they wanted the design of the practice to reflect their great state. They started with the name and logo.
“Katmai is an Alaskan native name that represents a beautiful and famous national park in Alaska,” Dr. Lentfer says. Their logo—a brown bear claw—also works as an eye with long lashes.
They bought two connecting condo units under construction to create an almost 5,000 square foot space. “It worked out well, giving us the opportunity to influence the exterior of the building,” Dr. Lenter says, which is now a modern metal and wood panel-sided building with large front windows and stone accents.
COMFORT IS KEY
Dr. Lentfer and Dr. Kompkoff wanted the interior to be “functional and comfortable. We are a cash-only office, so it’s very important to make our patients comfortable and give them quality care.” The doctors spend at least 30 minutes with each patient during comprehensive exams, Dr. Lentfer says, and plan the schedule to be available for emergency visits.
The optical space and exam rooms feature a Thai Curry paint color from Behr and wildlife murals, another nod to Alaska. Cream-colored “spa-like chairs that recline” also ensure the patient is as comfortable as possible behind the custom sliding wooden doors of each room.
The doctors designed freestanding wooden and iron shelving and tables to hold their frame displays, and dark wooden cabinets in the exam rooms bring the outdoors in. Hung shadow boxes displaying “very old” frames, ophthalmic and sports equipment bring in a vintage vibe.
VAST OFFERINGS
Instead of a traditional front desk, Dr. Lentfer and Dr. Kompkoff opted for a kiosk to save space. They also use laptops and wireless phones to add convenience and efficiency.
Locally made coffee in ceramic mugs or water in glasses—no plastic bottle waste here—are available for patients to sip on while they browse. Only independent frame lines “of high quality and made and designed in Europe or America” sit on the shelves, all fitted exclusively with Zeiss lenses.
Four exam rooms are equipped for comprehensive exams with autophoropters and four more are specifically set up for vision therapy treatment. The doctors invested in diagnostic technology including Optos retinal imaging, Zeiss optical coherence tomography unit, Lipiscan and a corneal topography unit.
Down the hall there are two more treatment rooms used for dry eye, radiofrequency and cosmetics. They recently hired a medical aesthetician to include more extensive services, including lash extensions, laser hair removal and facials.
FROM PRETESTING TO FOLLOWUP
Patients can stay connected to the doctors via the office’s mobile texting, which features a two-way HIPAA-compliant messaging system. A second app also allows users to earn points for visits, purchases and birthdays, purchase skin care membership plans, refer friends and more.
Nearly 10 years in, Katmai Eye and Vision Center has become an active member of the Anchorage community and a one-stop eye care destination. “The adventure of starting a clinic from scratch and spending more quality and personal time with our patients has been amazing,” Dr. Lentfer says. “I would do it all over again.”
Learn more about Katmai Eye and Vision Center online:
Website: katmaieye.com
Instagram: @katmaieye
Facebook: Katmai Eye
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