ST. LOUIS—EyeCare Partners (ECP), a leading clinically integrated network of ophthalmology and optometry providers, said late last week that it has expanded its presence in Virginia via partnerships with two eyecare groups. They are: Commonwealth Eye Care Associates (CECA), and Retina Institute of Virginia (RIV). The two new partnerships add a total of seven locations to the ECP network, and 14 doctors (MDs and ODs). The terms of the new partnerships were not disclosed. Through the partnership with CECA, EyeCare Partners expands its footprint in Virginia to include two additional clinical locations. The nine doctors (including three ODs) joining EyeCare Partners are “a mix of industry-leading ophthalmologists and optometrists with subspecialties ranging from cataracts, cornea, dry eye, glaucoma, LASIK and oculoplastics,” the announcement noted.

The new partnership with RIV—which has five ophthalmologists on staff—will also add five additional clinical locations to the EyeCare Partners network.

ECP now has a network of over 300 ophthalmologists and over 700 optometrists spanning 18 states, enabling the organization to serve more than 3 million patients annually across the United States. (In late 2019, the investment firm Partners Group made a significant equity investment in EyeCare Partners.)

“At EyeCare Partners we are focused on elevating eyecare by building a network of top eyecare professionals,” chief executive officer David Clark said. “With the addition of Commonwealth Eye Care Associates, we are excited to integrate the practice’s extensive expertise into our clinically integrated organization. This addition to our network will allow us to provide more patients in Virginia with seamless, personalized care and in turn allow for broader access to a full continuum of eyecare.

 
Added Andrew J. Michael, MD, of CECA, “CECA has been a leader in the clinically integrated model of referral-based patient care for many years. We work in a cooperative effort at CECA, especially with the doctors in our community to ensure patients receive the best care possible. Joining EyeCare Partners allows us to work on a larger scale with a partner that shares our philosophy and approach to integrated eyecare. We are thrilled to be part of the ECP team and look forward to further expanding our expertise, resources, and best practices.”

Clark also said he is pleased to welcome the Retina Institute of Virginia to the ECP network. “Each practice that joins our network brings with it years of experience to further support our mission to enhance vision, advance eyecare, and improve lives,” he said. “The addition of RIV strengthens our industry leadership while ensuring patients in Virginia continue to get the best care while benefitting from ECP’s approach to clinically integrated eyecare.”

Added J. Stewart O’Keefe, MD, of RIV, “Providing our patients with the best care for retinal diseases and disorders is central to what we do at the Retina Institute of Virginia. Joining EyeCare Partners provides us with increased access to clinical research trials and exceptional advanced training opportunities, which will allow us to further deliver on our mission of providing the highest quality of care to our patients. We look forward to expanding the breadth and depth of our practice as part of this partnership.”

ECP emphasizes the importance of doctor leadership through Medical Executive Boards (MEBs) that work in partnership with a diverse group of health care business leaders to achieve the best patient outcomes and business results, the announcement noted. ECP supports its practices by leveraging practice management expertise with the resources and knowledge inherent in its national medical group to meet the growing demand for quality eyecare, thus allowing doctors to focus on what they do best—deliver personalized patient care.

EyeCare Partners’ national network includes over 300 ophthalmologists and 700 optometrists, and over 680 ECP-affiliated practice locations that provide services that span the eyecare continuum in 18 states and 30 markets.