Charles Aquino is a UC Irvine graduate, optician, and independent consultant with over 15 years of experience helping healthcare practices and small businesses optimize workflow, technology, and compliance. He currently manages operations for multiple businesses nationwide.
“The core of any efficient business system is the handling, preservation, and transport of data. From a prescription sent from the exam chair to a lab, or an online order moving from warehouse to customer, accuracy depends on maintaining electronic data integrity.
My role as a consultant is to identify points of data entry, implement technological solutions for smooth workflow, and establish clear protocols to mitigate human error. With these systems in place, tracking, analyzing, and acting on data becomes simple, reliable, and actionable.”
Charles has extensive hands-on experience in practice management, IT, and compliance:
Successfully led 9 full PM/EHR installations and conversions: Officemate (2), CrystalPM (4), EyefinityEHR (1), EyePegasus (1).
Coordinated over 20 major software updates, ensuring seamless operations.
Integrated multiple patient communication and operational tools: VSP, Weave, SolutionReach, DemandForce, Lens Loader, Electronic Lab Ordering, Claims, and Remittance Advice.
Designed 1,000+ pages of SOP manuals for staff workflows, billing, and inventory.
Implemented HIPAA and PCI DSS compliance policies and technical safeguards, including serving as Security Officer for multiple practices.
Developed reporting systems to track KPIs, measure growth, and maintain profitability.
Managed servers, workstations, firewalls, DHCP, DNS, wireless APs, and cloud-based integrations for multi-location practices.
Led full-scale practice migrations between PM/EHR systems and coordinated hardware/software integration projects.
Troubleshot, trained, and supported staff to ensure smooth adoption of new technology and workflows.
I maintain a robust home lab with multiple VLANs, guest networks, and a Proxmox hypervisor running a suite of Docker containers. This setup supports a VPN server, SMB file sharing, DNS filtering, Home Assistant for IoT automation, Minecraft servers, and development tools like VSCode and Syncthing. My home lab allows me to experiment with enterprise-grade IT infrastructure and refine my skills in a hands-on environment.
I love bringing technology back to life. Over the years, I’ve collected, refurbished, upgraded, and gifted back over 40 laptops and desktops for my local Buy Nothing Project Community. I convert older systems into ChromeOS Flex or Windows 11, ensuring all components are cleaned, upgraded, and optimized for performance. Each system follows a detailed procedure manual I developed to ensure consistency and reliability.
These projects aren’t just hobbies—they reinforce my consulting philosophy: maintaining data integrity, optimizing workflows, and creating practical solutions that work for real people. The combination of home lab experimentation and community tech support keeps my skills sharp and allows me to give back through technology.