Eye office myths are common, and a wide variety exists—from the feeling of receiving too many tests to thinking that all catar…
We’re here to continue our “Through the Eyes of Dr. Mittleman” recap!
A workplace culture of care has been shown to increase employee engagement by 20% and workplace productivity by 17%—which in turn can increase how much customers trust the organization itself.
Curious about the core philosophy that sets Mittleman Eye apart? In episode 6 of “Through the Eyes of Dr. Mittleman,” Dr. Mittleman discussed 5 key tenets of Mittleman Eye’s culture of care. We’ve outlined each tenet below—Check it out!
Dr. Mittleman describes Mittleman Eye’s philosophy not as a marketing exercise but rather something genuinely embedded in how the office operates.
At Mittleman Eye, a culture of care is one built deliberately. Both the mission statement and five tenets of care are posted throughout the building—not only for patients, but also for staff. The mission, in Dr. Mittleman’s words, is to “provide a lifetime of vision care in a setting of excellence.” “Lifetime” does not mean that patients are only here for a procedure and then cast aside. Instead, it means our team guides patients through every stage of their eye health.
Excellence is an ongoing commitment. It means regularly updating equipment, training staff, and staying current on medications and techniques that are evolving faster than ever. It also means that there is always something new to learn from our five tenets. These tenets move from the structural to the deeply human:
Access comes first because nothing else matters if you cannot get in the door. At Mittleman Eye, we have 10 doctors—two of which were recently hired to help care for a growing number of patients. This large number of staff ensures patients at both the Mittleman Eye Jupiter and West Palm Beach offices can always be seen—even in an emergency and even if it is not their usual doctor. Dr. Mittleman acknowledged that some patients will only see him, and he respects that, but he vouches personally for his colleagues and will step in to consult when needed.
Respecting time is a tenet that honestly meets both the practice and the patients where they’re at. Dr. Mittleman does not pretend the office always runs perfectly—Emergencies happen. A retinal detachment takes priority over a scheduled glasses appointment, as it should. What Dr. Mittleman commits to is transparency and intention. The goal at Mittleman Eye is to keep patients informed of any emergencies and delays in both a timely and respectful manner.
Respecting patients’ time also means respecting how they feel about the space that they spend their time in. The upcoming sixth-floor expansion in our West Palm Beach office is a direct investment for our patients. Our goal is to give patients more physical space so that a busy office does not feel like an overwhelming one.
The “value for money” tenet reflects our commitment to providing patients with a clear-eyed awareness of what they are being asked to spend. It is precisely why counseling for surgery patients at Mittleman Eye involves multiple conversations with different team members.
According to Dr. Mittleman, he would rather talk a patient out of a $500 upgrade that they will not notice than have them come back frustrated.
When Dr. Mittleman does recommend a premium lens or a laser procedure, it is with full acknowledgment that it is the patient’s money and the patient’s decision. In the words of Dr. Mittleman: “I do not want to take food off anyone’s table.”
Plain language goes beyond communication style. It is about partnership. Dr. Mittleman has seen too many patients arrive after years of care elsewhere with no real understanding of what is happening with their own eyes.
A high level of patient-focused care is present in both the Mittleman Eye Jupiter and West Palm Beach offices. Plain language means handouts, videos, translators, and the willingness to bring a patient back with a family member if one conversation is not enough. We pay for a translation service that insurance does not reimburse, simply because it is the right thing to do.
The testing itself becomes a tool for clarity, because showing a patient their own scan and walking them through what it means creates an “aha moment” that no amount of verbal explanation alone can replicate. At Mittleman Eye, the goal is for patients to become genuine partners in their own care.
Caring is the fifth tenet, and the one Dr. Mittleman returned to most naturally throughout the conversation—not as a talking point but as a way of life.
Dr. Mittleman described calling family members who could not come in. He described telling a patient who apologized for taking too much of his time that they were going to be seen for as long as it takes. He described asking a patient to come back the following week, not to dismiss them, but because he genuinely wanted them to understand more about their eye health.
The staff reflect this as well. When patients comment on how happy the employees seem and how eager they are to help, Dr. Mittleman said it is the thing that makes him most proud. That quality of presence—the sense that the people caring for you want to be there—cannot be faked.
All five of these tenets create a synergy that every member of Mittleman Eye embodies. Dr. Mittleman’s closing thought was simple and unhurried: His job is to keep you seeing until you are 100—and if you make it past 100, he will not desert you.
At Mittleman Eye, our team is here to guide you through your care every step of the way. We offer appointments at both the Mittleman Eye Jupiter and West Palm Beach offices. To schedule an appointment, text or call us at 561-500-2020, or go online to mittlemaneye.com/appointment-request.
Dr. Mittleman’s radio series—“Through the Eyes of Dr. Mittleman”—airs every Saturday at 8 am on Legend Radio 100.3 FM (WLML) with Jill & Rich. Want to watch the full episodes after they’ve aired? Check out our YouTube channel!
By opting into SMS from a web form or other medium, you are agreeing to receive SMS messages from Mittleman Eye. This includes SMS messages for conversations (external). Message frequency varies.
If you have questions about this Notice, you may call the Privacy Officer at 561-500-2020