Optometry Clinic Premises and Equipment Due Diligence in Alberta

1. Freeze the proposed practice and services

Document the proposed optometrists, professional corporation, record custodian, examinations, diagnostics, ocular-disease management, contact lenses, low vision, minor procedures, lab work, telehealth, optical dispensing and retail. Record renovations and equipment moves.

The diligence result depends on the actual practitioners, competencies, services, equipment, product sales and premises. Do not reuse the seller's conclusion for a materially different buyer or model.

• Practitioners and corporation
• Services and competencies
• Records and systems
• Inventory and dispensing
• Equipment and lasers
• Municipal and lease rights

2. Reconcile ACO standards and practice-review evidence

Obtain the current practitioner and professional-corporation records, service scope, standards, continuing-competence and relevant practice-review evidence, deficiencies and corrective actions. Compare documents to the actual rooms, equipment and workflow.

ACO's continuing-competence program includes on-site review of instrumentation, infection control, records, privacy and staff responsibilities. A seller review is not a building warranty, buyer permit or approval for a changed practice.

3. Map records, systems and custodianship

Identify the custodian, health and patient records, diagnostic images, prescriptions, practice-management and optical systems, consent, information-manager agreements, access roles, audit logs, backups, retention, export and migration.

ACO guidance identifies optometrists as HIA custodians and limits successor custodians to licensed Alberta optometrists or ophthalmologists. Keep identifiable information outside ordinary property diligence and build a lawful continuity plan.

4. Test patient, staff and clean/soiled flows

Map arrival, waiting, examination, diagnostics, dilation, contact-lens work, minor procedures, optical selection, fitting, pickup, staff, supplies, waste and reprocessing. Review accessibility, privacy, lighting and emergency arrangements.

ACO's infection-control policy was revised in April 2026 and addresses optometric offices, hand hygiene, PPE, device handling and environmental cleaning. A clean clinic at tour time is not a verified program or buyer-readiness conclusion.

5. Audit diagnostic and clinical equipment

List refraction, slit-lamp, tonometry, visual-field, retinal imaging, OCT, topography, pachymetry, ultrasound where applicable, contact-lens, low-vision, procedure and sterilization equipment by serial number, owner, service, calibration and software.

ACO guidance links the type and level of vision care to appropriate instrumentation. A running device does not establish title, clinical appropriateness, remaining life, data access, support or capacity.

6. Reconcile lasers and regulated equipment

Identify every laser or other potentially regulated device by class, serial number, location, registration, safety program, service and proposed move. Match certificates and room arrangements to the installed device.

Alberta identifies ACO as an authorized registration agency for Class 3B and 4 lasers installed or operated within optometrist facilities. Seller registration does not authorize new, moved, replaced or buyer-operated equipment.

7. Separate optical retail and clinical infrastructure

Map frame display, secure and back-stock storage, dispensing and adjustment stations, order and pickup flow, lab relationships, patient deposits, warranties, remakes and point-of-sale systems. Separate these from clinical rooms and records access.

Retail fixtures and inventory can be landlord-owned, supplier-owned, consigned or subject to brand and return terms. Optical sales can also affect municipal use, lease wording, tax, signage and operating assumptions.

8. Audit building systems and fit-out

Inspect electrical capacity, dedicated circuits, data, cybersecurity infrastructure, lighting and glare control, HVAC, plumbing, sinks, accessibility, acoustic and visual privacy, equipment supports, storage, signs and backup arrangements.

Installed systems can be leased, shared, undersized or specific to the seller's equipment. Compare plans, permits and service records to the actual suite and proposed construction rather than relying on appearance.

9. Confirm municipal use and mixed activities

Describe outpatient health services, diagnostics, optical dispensing and retail sales separately. Obtain address-specific zoning, development, business, building, fire, accessibility, occupant-load and sign records for the proposed combination.

Calgary's Health Care Service and Edmonton's Health Service definitions are broad starting points. The zone, existing approvals, retail component, floor area and alterations still require address-specific confirmation; prior operation is not buyer approval.

10. Audit lease and real-property rights

Review professional and health-service use, optical retail, exclusivity, privacy, signs, hours, after-hours access, equipment, lasers, electrical/data, plumbing, assignment, change of control, alterations and restoration. Compare licensed areas to the lease plan.

For owned property, investigate title, use, permits, condominium restrictions, condition, environment, taxes and capital needs separately. Specialized improvements are not automatically transferable or valuable to another occupant.

11. Build readiness gates and a dated record

For each gap, identify the regulator, professional, municipality, landlord or contractor, evidence, deadline, cost and consequence. Recheck permits, record custodianship, privacy, equipment, lasers, municipal, lease, liens and insurance before waiver and closing.

Possession of an equipped optometry clinic does not authorize professional practice or patient-record access. This framework is educational and not optometry, clinical, legal, health-information, privacy, radiation, infection-control, planning, engineering, appraisal or valuation advice; Commercially does not certify premises suitability.