OPT Visionary - Winter/Spring 2015

PAGE 18 THE EVOLUTION OF THE EYE CARE INSTITUTE T he Eye Care Institute (TECI) provides NSUCO students with hands-on training in all clinical areas, including primary care, cornea and contact lens, low vision, pediatric and binocular vision, glaucoma, diabetes and macular disease, visual electrodiagnostics, geriatrics, autism/neuro optometry, ocular nutrition, and optical services. Throughout the years, we have expanded from one patient care clinic in North Miami Beach to five ultramodern facilities providing vision care to underserved populations and the general community in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. In the summer of 1996, the second patient care clinic opened its doors in the new Health Profes- sions Division complex located in Davie. Additional locations in Broward County followed such as the clinic located on Broward Boulevard in the Specialty Care Center and the clinic in the Lighthouse of Broward County. The Lighthouse of Broward partnered with NSUCO to provide com- prehensive low-vision exams by trained NSU fac- ulty members supervising fourth-year students. In 2007, many exciting changes transpired. For starters, The Eye Institute became The Eye Care Institute in order to better portray our mission of offering high-quality, cutting-edge eye care to our patients and providing contemporary facilities for our student doctors to learn and prosper. Additionally, the Optical Service at Davie was remodeled, which was made possible due to the generous contributions of Marchon Eyewear, EyeDesigns, and Essilor. In addition, a larger selection of frames and lens options was showcased for our patients. Lastly, our practice management software, NextGen, was implemented along with EPM and OPTIK. This software enhanced patient care and student doctors’ experiences by improving continuity of care. The electronic medical record (EMR) module went live the following year on March 25, 2008. In actuality, The Eye Care Institute was the first of 10 university health care practices to use this system that translated patients’ paper medical records into an electronic format. Another exciting milestone reached by The Eye Care Institute in 2008 was the inaugural Optical Style Show, which featured a full collection of sunglasses and frames from Coach, Fendi, Nike, Calvin Klein, Sean John, Michael Kors, Karl Lagerfield, Nautica, and Disney. A portion of the proceeds was set aside to provide eye examinations and glasses at three local elementary schools requesting assistance. In 2009, TECI implemented the Neuro-Optometric Visual Rehabilitation Service, which focused on visual problems associated with head injuries and strokes. The official grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony at our fifth patient care location—The Eye Care Institute at Kids In Distress—was held on March 1, 2011. This location is the product of a partnership between NSU and Kids In Distress in an effort to provide health care access to underserved children in the community. In November 2010, third- and fourth-year NSUCO students, under the supervision of resident doctors, faculty members, and the chief of service, Erin Jenewein, O.D., M.S., FAAO, began examining patients. This clinic is primarily funded by grants that help cover the expenses of vision services for those who require assistance and do not have insurance. Because many of these children have never even had a comprehensive vision examination, the clinic provides our students with unmeasurable experience. Currently, TECI has four locations throughout Broward County and one in Miami-Dade. The pa- tient care clinics serve as a vital source of learning for our students as well as a major asset to the members of the community who are receiving eye care from the professionals who teach it. 25 th ANNIVERSARY 1 1 2 1. ZIFF HEALTH CARE CENTER, Davie 2. LIGHTHOUSE OF BROWARD COUNTY, Fort Lauderdale