The Future of the Workforce: Why Your Next Hire Might Not Be in Your Office

About this episode

Dr. Steve Vargo and Cory Pinegar discuss the future of workforce management in optometry practices, focusing on virtual assistants and remote staffing.

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo sits down with Cory Pinegar for a practical conversation about virtual assistants, remote staffing, and why more optometry practices are taking a serious look at hybrid teams. Steve and Cory unpack some of the biggest misconceptions doctors still have about virtual assistants—from concerns about communication and quality to fears about accountability, culture, and whether remote team members can truly feel like part of the practice. They also explore why virtual staffing is not a “plug and play” solution, and what practice owners need to do on their end to make it successful. This conversation goes beyond outsourcing as a cost-saving tactic. It’s about building a smarter workforce for the future—one that blends in-office staff, remote team members, and AI in a way that reduces overload, protects team culture, and creates more space for meaningful patient connection. Corey shares practical insights on hiring, onboarding, training, setting clear expectations, and helping virtual assistants become real members of the team rather than just invisible support in the background. Not fully confident in what your practice's numbers are telling you? It's…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Steve Vargo

Guest: Cory Pinegar

Topics covered

• virtual assistants
• remote staffing
• hybrid teams
• optometry practices
• workforce development

Keywords

• virtual assistants
• remote staffing
• optometry
• hybrid teams
• workforce
• accountability
• team culture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: IDOC

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