WINTER 2024
TALKNG HEADS
Why is it important to start renovations in the Primary Eye Care Center?
ICO has been in existence for 152 years, longer than any other optometric educational institution in the world! While that type of longevity is prestigious, remaining at the forefront of education and patient care requires continuous modernization of space, equipment, and curriculum. Our clinic is home to over 85,000 yearly patient encounters; the majority of which come from underserved communities. The Primary Eye Care Center was last renovated in the mid-1980s. We are now embarking on a project to create the most modern eyecare setting in the world!
We have been discussing this renovation for several years. Each time we completed an update elsewhere in the College, it just highlighted the need to find a solution for our Primary Eye Care Center. What ultimately made it come together was when we identified a way to complete the entire project without shutting down operations or requiring faculty, staff or students to expand into late night and weekend rotations. Other clinics of similar size have had to completely relocate to accomplish such a sizable renovation, which would have been very disruptive for all our stakeholders. When we received news that an IBHE capital grant had been awarded, we knew the time was right to get started. The ICO Board of Trustees unanimously agreed. The project will now proceed in three stages, allowing results to be seen in six months, twelve months, and with completion targeted in less than eighteen months.
The much-needed Primary Eye Care Center renovation will also allow us to stay true to a shared value so important to ICO that it is included in our mission statement: that “all will receive optimal healthcare” at IEI for many years to come.
For this issue of ICO Matters, let’s hear what this extraordinary project means for some of the people involved in the planning and day-to-day operations of Primary Eye Care Center at IEI.
Roseanna Thompson
Director of Clinic Operations—
Pediatrics and Primary Eye Care
Right now, in the Primary Eye Care Center each suite operates independently from the other. I think the greatest benefit of this renovation will be to create a more collaborative environment. All the suites will join hands and work better together, with no barriers to flow and availability.
The way things work now is that if there is a student or staff member out for whatever reason or the clinic is overbooked, it is hard to fill all the slots because staff or students cannot easily be pulled from one suite to go to another.
When they are physically less fragmented, there will be more collaboration happening naturally. Staff and students will be working in Primary Eye Care Center as a total concept, not just Suite 1, 2, or 3. When the physical structure is combined, it will help maximize the usage of staff for more efficient scheduling. Coverage for vacations or when a student is out sick for a day will be less of a problem overall.
Another improvement will be the physical layout of the clinic. For instance, right now in Suite 2, there is no scope or sightline of the waiting area from the clinic area. Suite 1, as well, does not currently have a complete view of patients waiting to be seen. In a clinical setting, sightlines are important to managing patient flow and the new layout will greatly improve this.
I have seen how much better, brighter and more cheerful the pediatric department is after the renovation they went through. Previously, the staff were behind a desk, seated low, and unable to see the patients or the parents easily. The renovations changed so much about the space. I am confident the changes coming for the Primary Eye Care Center will produce the same kind of atmosphere.
The environment for anybody makes a big difference. I am excited about what will change in the Primary Eye Care Center. Everything will be more streamlined and efficient. Everyone working together will help both patients and students.
Anne Rozwat, OD
Chief, Primary Eye Care Center; Associate Professor of Optometry
Now is the perfect time to take on these renovations, as they will significantly enhance both patient care and student education at ICO. For years, the Primary Eye Care Suites have been spread across two floors, making navigation more complicated for patients. Consolidating all of the Primary Eye Care Center on one floor, with a central check-in area and clearly visible exam rooms, will streamline the patient experience, making it easier for them to navigate the clinic.
The new space will be visually stunning, creating a welcoming atmosphere for both patients and students. The patient waiting area will feature a full glass wall with a north-facing view of downtown Chicago. Conference rooms, where faculty consult with students, will also have outside views. With vibrant colors and new materials throughout the waiting area and exam rooms, the overall design will leave a lasting impression on prospective students and families during tours, positioning the facility as a key asset in our recruitment efforts.
The new Primary Eye Care Center layout will include three separate suites, each allowing three faculty members and twelve student exam rooms. This setup optimizes patient flow and enhances the student’s educational experience. Each suite will also have a conference room where faculty and students collaborate on patient cases designed to support an ideal learning environment.
In addition to improved layout and design, the new suites will also feature multiple testing rooms equipped with advanced diagnostic tools including visual fields, OCT and ultra wide field fundus cameras. This ensures exceptional care for our patients and provides our students with invaluable, hands-on experience with the latest innovations in optometry. Additionally, there will be dedicated rooms where first-year students can gain practical experience interacting with patients by doing pre-testing. As we move forward, we will continue to explore innovative approaches to clinical training, incorporating refracting and diagnostic equipment to ensure our students are prepared for the future of eye care.
These renovations are more than just a physical upgrade – they represent a strategic investment in the future of optometric education and patient care at ICO. By integrating the latest technologies and creating a state-of-the-art learning environment, we’re preparing our students to become leaders in the field. This new space also allows for future adaptability, giving us the flexibility to incorporate emerging technologies and new clinical methods as they develop. With this enhanced facility, ICO will continue to set the standard for clinical training and patient care while attracting top-tier talent to our program.
Courtney Luce, OD ’22
Assistant Professor of Optometry
There’s so much happening in our field right now with advancements in technology, and it’s crucial for our institution to evolve alongside the technology. By updating our clinic, we can enhance both the clinical and educational experiences of the students and patients. Our commitment to patient care is reflected in these renovations. The improved aesthetics will match the quality of patient care for which ICO is proudly known. Patients, especially those who have been with us for a long time, know the level of care we provide, and now they’ll see that same level of quality reflected in the space itself. There is a baseline clinical experience for both patients and students – everything the student experiences, the patient will experience as well. What impacts students impacts patients and vice versa. I feel these renovations will benefit both.
From the student point of view, we should see improvements that streamline exam flow with the new renovations. In turn this may result in an increase in the number of patient encounters for students to be involved in. It’s also essential to recognize that our Primary Eye Care Center is where students will learn to utilize modern clinical technologies—skills they’ll carry into their externship rotations and future practices. The impact the renovations will have is important to recognize as we try to set our students up for success as best we can before they graduate and begin their careers.
The proposed changes have been well thought-out to truly enhance the clinic’s layout. Every detail has been addressed to improve the daily operations of the clinic. I’m really excited about how different things will feel once the renovations are complete.