Patent Application

App. No. 12/141,405

Abstract

Claims (134)

1 . A method for providing optometry services and optical goods to patients in a package ( 20 ) comprising:

establishing an optical management entity ( 22 ) owned by a first group of owners in accordance with the laws of a founding state,

establishing a first professional services entity ( 56 ) owned by a second group of owners all different from the first group of owners in accordance with the laws of a first licensing state,

stocking and selling a first share ( 40 ) of the retail optical goods ( 38 ) for the patients by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

performing eye examinations ( 76 ) on patients by the first professional services entity ( 56 ),

issuing prescriptions ( 84 ) for the retail optical goods ( 38 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ),

distributing the retail optical goods ( 38 ) to the patients by the optical management entity ( 22 ) in response to the prescriptions ( 84 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ), and

establishing a combined retail optical goods ( 38 ) and eye examination ( 76 ) package ( 20 ) by the different entities ( 22 , 56 ) at a package fee ( 78 ) for the patients to purchase eye examinations ( 76 ) and the retail optical goods ( 38 ) at the package fee ( 78 ).

2 . A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

offering the package ( 20 ) to the patients by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

selling the package ( 20 ) to the patients by optical management entity ( 22 ),

collecting the package fee ( 78 ) from the patients by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

scheduling appointments ( 82 ) for the patients for the eye examinations ( 76 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ),

followed by said performing eye examinations ( 76 ) on patients by the first professional services entity ( 56 ) and issuing prescriptions ( 84 ) for the retail optical goods ( 38 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ) steps, and

followed by said distributing the retail optical goods ( 38 ) to the patients by the optical management entity ( 22 ) in response to the prescriptions ( 84 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ) step.

3 . A method as set forth in claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

taking possession of portions ( 50 , 52 ) of optometric equipment ( 54 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

granting rights from the optical management entity ( 22 ) to the first professional services entity ( 56 ) to use a first portion ( 50 ) of the optometric equipment ( 54 ), and

performing the optometry services with the first portion ( 50 ) of the optometric equipment ( 54 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ).

4 . A method as set forth in claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

creating a first bank account ( 28 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

creating a second bank account ( 62 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ), and

distributing optometry services fees ( 80 ) from the package fee ( 78 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ) into the second bank account ( 62 ) of the first professional services entity ( 56 ).

5 . A method as set forth in claim 4 further comprising the step of hiring a first licensed practitioner ( 64 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ) with the first practitioner being licensed in accordance with the laws of the first licensing state to perform the optometry services for the first professional services entity ( 56 ).

6 . A method as set forth in claim 5 further comprising the step of performing administrative services ( 86 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ) for the first professional services entity ( 56 ), including withdrawing a management fee ( 88 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ) from the second bank account ( 62 ) of the first professional services entity ( 56 ) for performing the administrative services ( 86 ) and disbursing payments ( 90 ) from the second bank account ( 62 ) of the first professional services entity ( 56 ) to creditors of the first professional services entity ( 56 ) and paying the first practitioner for their services.

7 . A method as set forth in claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

obtaining a first space ( 32 ) at a first location by the optical management entity ( 22 ) to provide a first area ( 34 ) and a second area ( 36 ) separate from the first area ( 34 ), and

granting rights from the optical management entity ( 22 ) to the first professional services entity ( 56 ) to occupy the second area ( 36 ) of the first space ( 32 ) to provide the optometry services.

8 . A method as set forth in claim 7 further comprising the step of hiring and training a first group of employees ( 30 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ) to stock and sell the retail optical goods ( 38 ) in the first area ( 34 ).

9 . A method as set forth in claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

obtaining a first federal identification tax number ( 24 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

preparing a first tax return ( 26 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

obtaining a second federal identification tax number ( 58 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ), and

preparing a second tax return ( 60 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ).

10 . A method as set forth in claim 9 further comprising the step of establishing a second professional services entity ( 66 ) owned by a third group of owners all different from the first group of owners in accordance with the laws of a second licensing state to provide the optometry services.

11 . A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

establishing a second professional services entity ( 66 ) owned by a third group of owners all different from the first group of owners in accordance with the laws of a second licensing state to provide the optometry services,

stocking and selling a second share ( 42 ) of the retail optical goods ( 38 ) for the patients by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

performing the eye examinations ( 76 ) by the second professional services entity ( 66 ),

issuing the prescriptions ( 84 ) for retail optical goods ( 38 ) by the second professional services entity ( 66 ), and

distributing the retail optical goods ( 38 ) to the patients by the optical management entity ( 22 ) in response to the prescriptions ( 84 ) by the second professional services entity ( 66 ).

12 . A method as set forth in claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

offering the package ( 20 ) to the patients by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

selling the package ( 20 ) to the patients by optical management entity ( 22 ),

collecting the package fee ( 78 ) from the patients by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

scheduling appointments ( 82 ) for the patients for the eye examinations ( 76 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ),

followed by said performing eye examinations ( 76 ) on patients by the first professional services entity ( 56 ) and issuing prescriptions ( 84 ) for the retail optical goods ( 38 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ) steps,

followed by said distributing the retail optical goods ( 38 ) to the patients by the optical management entity ( 22 ) in response to the prescriptions ( 84 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ) step,

scheduling appointments ( 82 ) for the patients for the eye examinations ( 76 ) by the second professional services entity ( 66 ),

followed by said performing eye examinations ( 76 ) on patients by the second professional services entity ( 66 ) and issuing prescriptions ( 84 ) for the retail optical goods ( 38 ) by the second professional services entity ( 66 ) steps, and

followed by said distributing the retail optical goods ( 38 ) to the patients by the optical management entity ( 22 ) in response to the prescriptions ( 84 ) by the second professional services entity ( 66 ) step.

13 . A method as set forth in claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

taking possession of portions ( 50 , 52 ) of optometric equipment ( 54 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

granting rights from the optical management entity ( 22 ) to the first professional services entity ( 56 ) to use a first portion ( 50 ) of the optometric equipment ( 54 ),

performing the optometry services with the first portion ( 50 ) of the optometric equipment ( 54 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ),

granting rights from the optical management entity ( 22 ) to the second professional services entity ( 66 ) to use a second portion ( 52 ) of the optometric equipment ( 54 ), and

performing the optometry services by the second professional services entity ( 66 ) with the second portion ( 52 ) of the optometric equipment ( 54 ).

14 . A method as set forth in claim 13 further comprising the steps of;

creating a first bank account ( 28 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

creating a second bank account ( 62 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ),

creating a third bank account ( 72 ) by the second professional services entity ( 66 ), and

distributing the optometry services fees ( 80 ) from the package fee ( 78 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ) into the second bank account ( 62 ) of the first professional services entity ( 56 ) and the third bank account ( 72 ) of the second professional services entity ( 66 ).

15 . A method as set forth in claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

hiring a first licensed practitioner ( 64 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ) with the first practitioner being licensed in accordance with the laws of the first licensing state to perform the optometry services for the first professional services entity ( 56 ), and

hiring a second licensed practitioner ( 74 ) by the second professional services entity ( 66 ) with the second practitioner being licensed in accordance with the laws of the second licensing state to perform the optometry services for the second professional services entity ( 66 ).

16 . A method as set forth in claim 15 further comprising the step of performing administrative services ( 86 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ) for both the first professional services entity ( 56 ) and the second professional services entity ( 66 ), including withdrawing a management fee ( 88 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ) from the second bank account ( 62 ) of the first professional services entity ( 56 ) and the third bank account ( 72 ) of the second professional services entity ( 66 ) for performing the administrative services ( 86 ) and disbursing payments ( 90 ) from the second bank account ( 62 ) of the first professional services entity ( 56 ) and the third bank account ( 72 ) of the second professional services entity ( 66 ) to the respective creditors of the first professional services entity ( 56 ) and second professional services entity ( 66 ) and paying the first licensed practitioner ( 64 ) and second practitioner for their services.

17 . A method as set forth in claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

obtaining a first space ( 32 ) at a first location by the optical management entity ( 22 ) to provide a first area ( 34 ) and a second area ( 36 ) separate from the first area ( 34 ),

granting rights from the optical management entity ( 22 ) to the first professional services entity ( 56 ) to occupy the second area ( 36 ) of the first space ( 32 ) to provide the optometry services,

obtaining a second space ( 44 ) at a second location remote from the first location by the optical management entity ( 22 ) to provide a third area ( 46 ) and a fourth area ( 48 ) separate from the third area ( 46 ), and

granting rights from the optical management entity ( 22 ) to the second professional services entity ( 66 ) to occupy the fourth area ( 48 ) of the second space ( 44 ) to provide optometry services.

18 . A method as set forth in claim 17 further comprising the step of hiring and training a first group of employees ( 30 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ) to stock and sell the retail optical goods ( 38 ) in the first and third areas ( 34 , 46 ).

19 . A method as set forth in claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

obtaining a first federal identification tax number ( 24 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

preparing a first tax return ( 26 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

obtaining a second federal identification tax number ( 58 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ),

preparing a second tax return ( 60 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ),

obtaining a third federal identification tax number ( 68 ) by the second professional services entity ( 66 ), and

preparing a third tax return ( 70 ) by the second professional services entity ( 66 ).

20 . A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein the founding state, the first licensing state and the second licensing state are the same state.

21 . A method for providing optometry services and optical goods to patients in a package ( 20 ) comprising:

establishing an optical management entity ( 22 ) owned by a first group of owners in accordance with the laws of a founding state,

obtaining a first federal identification tax number ( 24 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

preparing a first tax return ( 26 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

creating a first bank account ( 28 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

hiring and training a first group of employees ( 30 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

obtaining a first space ( 32 ) at a first location by the optical management entity ( 22 ) to provide a first area ( 34 ) and a second area ( 36 ) separate from the first area ( 34 ),

obtaining shares ( 40 , 42 ) of retail optical goods ( 38 ) by the first group of employees ( 30 ) of the optical management entity ( 22 ),

stocking and selling a first share ( 40 ) of the retail optical goods ( 38 ) for the patients in the first area ( 34 ) by the first group of employees ( 30 ) of the optical management entity ( 22 ),

obtaining a second space ( 44 ) at a second location remote from the first location by the optical management entity ( 22 ) to provide a third area ( 46 ) and a fourth area ( 48 ) separate from the third area ( 46 ),

stocking and selling a second share ( 42 ) of the retail optical goods ( 38 ) for the patients in the third area ( 46 ) by the first group of employees ( 30 ) of the optical management entity ( 22 ),

taking possession of portions ( 50 , 52 ) of optometric equipment ( 54 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

furnishing the second area ( 36 ) of the first space ( 32 ) with a first portion ( 50 ) of the optometric equipment ( 54 ),

furnishing the fourth area ( 48 ) of the second space ( 44 ) with a second portion ( 52 ) of the optometric equipment ( 54 ),

establishing a first professional services entity ( 56 ) owned by a second group of owners all different from the first group of owners in accordance with the laws of a first licensing state to provide the optometry services,

obtaining a second federal identification tax number ( 58 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ),

preparing a second tax return ( 60 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ),

creating a second bank account ( 62 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ),

hiring a first licensed practitioner ( 64 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ) with the first practitioner being licensed in accordance with the laws of the first licensing state to perform the optometry services for the first professional services entity ( 56 ),

granting rights from the optical management entity ( 22 ) to the first professional services entity ( 56 ) to occupy the second area ( 36 ) of the first space ( 32 ),

granting rights from the optical management entity ( 22 ) to the first professional services entity ( 56 ) to use the first portion ( 50 ) of the optometric equipment ( 54 ) in the second area ( 36 ) of the first space ( 32 ),

performing the optometry services by the first professional services entity ( 56 ) in the second area ( 36 ) of the first space ( 32 ) with the first portion ( 50 ) of the optometric equipment ( 54 ),

establishing a second professional services entity ( 66 ) owned by a third group of owners all different from the first group of owners in accordance with the laws of a second licensing state to provide the optometry services,

obtaining a third federal identification tax number ( 68 ) by the second professional services entity ( 66 ),

preparing a third tax return ( 70 ) by the second professional services entity ( 66 ),

creating a third bank account ( 72 ) by the second professional services entity ( 66 ),

hiring a second licensed practitioner ( 74 ) by the second professional services entity ( 66 ) with the second practitioner being licensed in accordance with the laws of the second licensing state to perform the optometry services for the second professional services entity ( 66 ),

granting rights from the optical management entity ( 22 ) to the second professional services entity ( 66 ) to occupy the fourth area ( 48 ) of the second space ( 44 ),

granting rights from the optical management entity ( 22 ) to the second professional services entity ( 66 ) to use the second portion ( 52 ) of the optometric equipment ( 54 ) in the fourth area ( 48 ) of the second space ( 44 ),

performing the optometry services by the second professional services entity ( 66 ) in the fourth area ( 48 ) of the second space ( 44 ) with the second portion ( 52 ) of the optometric equipment ( 54 ),

establishing a combined retail optical goods ( 38 ) and eye examination ( 76 ) package ( 20 ) by the legal entities at a package fee ( 78 ) for the patients to purchase eye examinations ( 76 ) and retail optical goods ( 38 ) at the package fee ( 78 ),

offering the package ( 20 ) to the patients by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

selling the package ( 20 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ) to the patients,

collecting the package fee ( 78 ) from the patients by the optical management entity ( 22 ),

distributing optometry services fees ( 80 ) from the package fee ( 78 ) into the second bank account ( 62 ) of the first professional services entity ( 56 ) and the third bank account ( 72 ) of the second professional services entity ( 66 ),

scheduling appointments ( 82 ) for the patients for the eye examinations ( 76 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ) and second professional services entity ( 66 ),

performing the eye examinations ( 76 ) by the first professional services entity ( 56 ) in the second area ( 36 ),

performing the eye examinations ( 76 ) by the second professional services entity ( 66 ) in the fourth area ( 48 ),

issuing prescriptions ( 84 ) for retail optical goods ( 38 ) by the first licensed practitioner ( 64 ) and second licensed practitioner ( 74 ),

distributing the retail optical goods ( 38 ) to the patients by the optical management entity ( 22 ) in response to the prescriptions ( 84 ),

performing administrative services ( 86 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ) for the first professional services entity ( 56 ) and the second professional services entity ( 66 ),

withdrawing a management fee ( 88 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ) from the second bank account ( 62 ) of the first professional services entity ( 56 ) and the third bank account ( 72 ) of the second professional services entity ( 66 ) for performing the administrative services ( 86 ), and

performing administrative services ( 86 ) further includes disbursing payments ( 90 ) from the second bank account ( 62 ) of the first professional services entity ( 56 ) and the third bank account ( 72 ) of the second professional services entity ( 66 ) to creditors of the first professional services entity ( 56 ) and the second professional services entity ( 66 ) and paying the respective practitioners ( 64 , 74 ) for their services.

22 . A system ( 100 ) for providing eye care for a patient, the system comprising:

a retail facility ( 34 ) stocked with retail optical goods ( 38 ), the retail facility ( 34 ) being under the operational control of an optical management entity ( 22 ) owned a first ownership group;

a professional services facility ( 36 ) physically distinct from the retail facility ( 34 ), the professional services facility ( 36 ) being under the operational control of a professional services entity ( 56 ) owned by a second group of owners, wherein there is no common membership between the first and second groups of owners; and

a general purpose computer ( 110 ) comprising:

a processor ( 112 ); and

a memory ( 114 ) connected to the processor ( 112 ) and bearing program code for execution by the processor ( 112 ), the program code causing the processor ( 112 ) to perform the actions:

logging deposit, into a bank account ( 28 ) of the optical management entity ( 22 ), of a payment of a package fee ( 78 ) by, or on behalf of, the patient;

logging performance, by a professional services entity ( 56 ) at the professional services facility ( 36 ), of an eye examination on the patient;

logging distribution of prescribed optical goods ( 38 ) by the optical management entity ( 22 ) to the patient at the retail facility ( 34 ), the prescribed optical goods ( 38 ) corresponding to at least one ophthalmic prescription for the patient issued by the professional services entity ( 56 ) at the professional services facility ( 36 ) as a result of the eye examination; and

remitting part of the package fee ( 78 ), from the bank account ( 28 ) of the optical management entity ( 22 ) as payment ( 90 ) to a bank account ( 62 ) of the professional services entity ( 56 ), corresponding to the performance of an eye examination on the patient, less a management fee ( 88 ).

23 . A system ( 100 ) as set forth in claim 22 , wherein the retail facility ( 34 ) and the professional services facility ( 36 ) are located substantially adjacent one another while maintaining physical distinctness.

Assignments (9)