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vitreo-retinal consultants, inc. Mark A. Gersman, M.D. Robert E. Wenz, M.D. Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D. Marc F.G. Estafanous, M.D. Sophia I. Pachydaki, M.D. Stephen M. Conti, M.D. Board Certified in Ophthalmology Fellowship Trained in Diseases and Surgery of the Retina, Macula and Vitreous, and Diabetic Retinopathy clinical sites 4676 Douglas Circle NW Canton OH 44718 (330) 494-1116 ■ (800) 438-1169 45 Manor Hill Drive Canfield OH 44406 (330) 533-8851 ■ (800) 742-7268 3135 Highland Road Hermitage PA 16148 (724) 346-4180 ■ (800) 476-3129 2163 Mentor Avenue Painesville OH 44077 (440) 918-7417 ■ (800) 226-1738 with satellite locations serving Boardman, Canton, Dover/New Philadelphia, Garfield Heights, Marietta, Warren,Wooster and Youngstown OH and DuBois and Erie PA physician referral line (800) 438-1169 www.vitreo-retinal.com Clevela nd a nd Columbus," Dr. Wenz ex pl a i n s . " S o pat ient s h a d t o d r ive long dista nces for both routine retina l ca re a nd surger y, of ten at g reat incon- ven ience for t hem a nd t hei r fa m i ly members. Developing retina progra ms in outpatient surger y centers has pro- vided a n even g reater level of comfor t a nd convenience." In addition, V RC ha s increa sed its reach into outlying a reas with multiple pa r t-time satel lite locations in Ohio, ser v i n g B oa rd m a n , Ca nt on , Dover/ New Phi ladelphia , Ga r f ield Heights, M a r i e t t a , Wa r r e n , Wo o s t e r, a n d Youngstown. Locations in DuBois a nd Erie ser ve Pennsylva nia . " We have found t hat our outreach locations are the best way for us to touch more lives ... to be able to bring retina ca re to people i n t hei r hometow ns," s ay s D r. G er sm a n . "C u r rent ret i n a treatments have been revolutiona r y for many patients, especia lly those with macular degeneration, but they require more frequent v isits to our practice. Ma king the ca re more accessible ha s been vita l to reaching the people who need our ser vices most." D r. Pa chyd a k i e x pl a i n s t h at re g- istered nu rses, who have additiona l certification as surgica l first assistants, he lp c a r e for pa t ient s a nd m a n a ge each location. "In a ll, Vitreo-Retina l Consulta nts has about 50 staff members suppor ting our si x physicia ns," he says. " We a l l work toget her a s a tea m, a long w it h patients and their family members. And we work closely with their prima r y eye doctors a nd medica l doctors, a s well, to coordinate ca re in a n effective a nd efficient manner. As a result, we are able to provide the best treatment possible for each patient as a n individua l." HIGH-TECH DIAGNOSTICS, TREATMENT AND EHR "Technolog y, in the areas of diagnostics, treatment a nd EH R , ha s prog ressed to t he poi nt t hat we a re able to pro - v ide t he s a me c a r e you wou ld f i nd at a la rge teaching instit ution," says Dr. Esta fa nous. " We utilize adva nced dia g nostic ima g ing, la ser technolog y a nd ot her treatment s i n our cli n ics. We have developed a world-class retina EHR system that ma kes it possible for our physicia ns to have consta nt access to clinica l data and to easily collaborate when s h a r i n g a pat ient 's ca re w it h a nother medica l professiona l." A d v a n c e s i n t h e t r e a t m e n t o f retina l conditions include technolog y a nd tech n iques t hat have decrea sed surg ica l times a nd improved surg ica l outcomes, adva nced diag nostic imag- ing that a llows for treatments ta ilored specif ica l ly to a patient 's needs, a nd intravitrea l pharmaceutica ls that slow or s t op t he prog re s sion of m a c u l a r degeneration, diabetic macula r edema, a nd a va r iet y of ot her retina l va scu- la r disorders. " T wo of t he mo s t c om mon pr ob - lems we see a re a ge-related macu la r degeneration and diabetic retinopathy," not e s D r. K a u f m a n . "A mon g ot her conditions that we ma nage a re retina l detachments, macu la r holes, retina l vascula r disease, inf la mmations (uve- itis), trauma, a nd eye problems related to systemic medica l problems." "Adva nces in t he pha rmacolog ica l t reat ment of ret i na l d i sorders have resulted in our seeing a greater number of patients each yea r — last yea r a lone, we had more tha n 35,000 patient vis- its," Dr. Conti points out. "Intravitrea l medications have become the sta nda rd of ca re a nd have been able to truly help ma ny more people by of ten preventing sig nif ica nt vision loss. We have made it ou r pr ior it y, however, to keep t he persona l touch w it h our patients, to spend time explaining their conditions and treatment options. It 's important to us a ll that each patient understands his or her retina problem and why we may be recommending a particular treatment." PERSONAL TOUCH "It comes down to the fact that we choose to focus on our communities and the impact we can make here," Dr. Gersman emphasizes. "We live in the communities that we serve. Our patients and their fami- lies go to our schools and our churches. Our whole team strives to give them the highest quality of care with a personal touch every single day. Keeping that in focus is essential to the VRC team." For more information about VRC, visit vitreo-retinal .com . To refer a patient, call 800 - 438-1169. ■ M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S C L E V E L A N D /A K R O N / C A N T O N n M AY/J U N E 2 016 2 3