Nicole Akpunku, OD, began her journey with Walmart in 2021, practicing in the Walmart Health optometry division in Conyers, Georgia. When Walmart Health closed, she was offered the chance to stay on as an independent optometrist next to the store—a decision she saw as an ideal way to explore private practice in a manageable way.
“I always wanted to run my own practice, but I wasn’t sure where to begin,” Dr. Akpunku says. “After thinking it over, I realized this was a good opportunity to get my feet wet in private practice, while still being in a familiar setting.”
Dr. Akpunku named her practice, Kelechi Eye Associates, after the Nigerian Igbo word meaning “Thank God” and her own middle name. While the clinical aspects of her job remained consistent, the administrative side came with new challenges. “I had to set up the computers, choose an electronic health records system, and handle all the admin tasks,” she says. “The clinical side is the same no matter where you practice, but learning how to manage staff and optimize my schedule and workflow to make it all work for me was new.”
LEAN AND EFFICIENT
Dr. Akpunku currently practices three days a week, with plans to add more days as demand grows. The Conyers location has become busier, partly due to the relationship building and word of mouth.
There are not many optometrists nearby, which increases the need for the services offered at her clinic. “Establishing a new practice can be challenging, and word of mouth from our patients has been the biggest driver of our growth,” Dr. Akpunku explains. “With each new and returning patient, we take care to demonstrate that eye care services are available here.”
Dr. Akpunku operates with a lean team. She employs one technician, whose time Dr. Akpunku contracts for under her license agreement with Walmart. Her technician helps with scheduling appointments, pretesting and contact lens training as well as vision insurance verification and billing. “We have two exam lanes, but I primarily use one while the second is used as a waiting area for dilated patients.”
She is committed to keeping things efficient and patient-centered. “I try to accommodate every walk-in,” she notes, adding that she encourages all patients to be dilated. “For pediatric patients, I put the drops in and have them wait in the second exam room, where they can stay engaged by watching kid-friendly YouTube videos while their eyes dilate. This helps me maintain patient flow and see a walk-in or my next scheduled appointment.”
“I’m thorough, and I’m a stickler for doing a full workup.
I can manage most conditions in-house.”
MANAGING PATIENTS IN-HOUSE
The practice, though small, is equipped with advanced technology. Dr. Akpunku’s clinic uses a Topcon 3D OCT-1 Maestro and a Zeiss Humphrey visual field, allowing her to manage glaucoma, conduct diabetic examinations and monitor patients on high-risk medications like Plaquenil. Dr. Akpunku is focused on prevention and comprehensive ocular health, often taking extra steps to ensure follow through on referrals and care coordination. “I make the appointments for specialty care,” she says. “I’ll fax over my notes and ensure everything is in place before the patient leaves. While it requires time, I find comfort in knowing my patients receive the best care possible.”
Dr. Akpunku provides medical optometry services and is equipped to handle most urgent ocular manifestations. “I’m thorough,” she says, “and I’m a stickler for doing a full workup. I can manage most conditions in-house.”
“As her practice grows, Dr. Akpunku plans to extend clinic hours and bring another optometrist on board. “At first, I chose not to open every day so I could manage everything independently and keep overhead low,” she explains. ‘But with increasing patient demand and clinic growth, I’d like the practice to continue expanding in a way that lets me step back from daily operations, giving me more time to spend with my husband as a newlywed.”
Looking further ahead, Dr. Akpunku envisions expanding to multiple locations and creating a fully functioning system that runs smoothly without requiring her hands-on involvement every day.
Currently, Dr. Akpunku is focused on building Kelechi Eye Associates, providing comprehensive eye care to her community, and ensuring that each patient receives personalized attention, even a busy setting next to Walmart.
