Rod Snow (l) and William Guappone, OD.

CINCINNATI—The ECP Network, an eyecare provider alliance with member locations in 34 states, acquired an interest in Summit Eyecare Network (SEN), a network of independent optometrists based in Akron, Ohio. According to SEN’s president, Rod Snow, OD, this will deliver additional benefits to the independent practitioners belonging to both groups.

“The strengths of the ECP Network will be a huge asset to our members, as we will be able to leverage the ECP Network’s longstanding roots in elite practice management resources, discounts, technology tools and business support. This combines well with SEN’s 20-plus years of optometric leadership in health care, including current ACO (Accountable Care Organizations) and ACO-like contracts,” Snow said.

“Optometry networks and doctor alliances nationwide are consolidating. The SEN board of managers believes that this new relationship with the ECP Network is best for our members in Ohio and best for independent optometry across the country,” he continued. “We need to provide our members an offering that meets all of their business needs in addition to the leadership position in health care they already experience.”

The ECP Network will add an additional membership tier, Elite+, to differentiate practices subscribing to certain professional credentialing valued by hospitals. This will be consistent with SEN’s previous credentialing. Elite+ membership will be offered in states in which hospital contracts either exist or are expected to be in place soon.

“This is a big win for all of our ECP Network 1,000+ member practices,” said William Guappone, OD, president of the ECP Network. “It requires a relationship of mutual trust that is not earned overnight. The independent ECP community needs to realize that who they partner with greatly impacts their current and future access to patients. The ECP Network is proud to join forces with SEN as we continue to maintain the best investment for independent eyecare providers nationwide.”

ECP Network board member and former president of the American Optometric Association, James Scholles, OD, JD, commented, “The first major gathering of ECP Network members and SEN members will be at the ECP Network’s national member meeting on Aug. 22 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The combined entities will be headquartered in Cincinnati.”

The ECP Network is run by a Board of Advisors of like-minded independent optometrists with strong financial support by Diversified Ophthalmics, one of the largest independently-owned ophthalmics suppliers in the U.S.