Expanded and Remodeled Pediatric Eye Clinic - A World-Class Environment
MADISON - "What can we do to make the UW pediatric eye clinic the best in the country?" asked Peter Cerniglia of the Wisconsin Lions Club, in a conversation with Thomas Stevens, MD, medical director of University Station Eye Clinic. That question propelled the pediatric eye care team and Burton Kushner, MD, director of pediatric ophthalmology services, to develop a clinic design to accommodate the growing number of patients in a comfortable, child-friendly environment.
"My four colleagues and I see pediatric eye patients from throughout Wisconsin, the United States and abroad," Dr. Kusher explains. "We were pleased to be able to provide them with world-class eye care. We just needed a world-class environment to deliver the care – and now we have that."
Renamed the UW Health Lions Pediatric Eye and Adult Strabismus Clinic, the new environment includes two additional pediatric eye examination lanes, for a total of 10. Existing eye lanes were also remodeled to make them more family-friendly.
Private patient discussions, surgical scheduling and education of students who are assigned to the clinic are facilitated by the increased space. The remodeling also expands the clinic's capacity to perform a specific type of electrophysiologic testing of vision in preverbal children – a service that is provided by very few clinics throughout the country.
The move of the clinical trials program, which created space for the pediatric expansion, resulted in development of a new clinical trials area in the lower level of the clinic. Clinical trials support the research component of the eye clinic and bring the latest investigational treatments to patients.
In addition, nine eye examination lanes were added in the lower level of the clinic to provide for growth in the adult eye area.
Department Chairman Paul Kaufman, MD says the clinic remodeling and expansion required a substantial financial commitment, and he credits the Wisconsin Lions, Lionesses and Leo Clubs; Lions Clubs International; ophthalmology faculty, staff and other donors; and UW Hospital and Clinics as strong partners that provided the monetary support to make the project a reality.
UW Hospital and Clinics committed $850,000 to the $1.5 million project; ophthalmology faculty, staff and other donors contributed $450,000; and the Lions Clubs raised $200,000.
"Without the leadership and support of these groups in raising the necessary resources, we couldn't have proceeded with a project of this magnitude," Dr. Kaufman explains.
Peter Cerniglia, past director of Lions Clubs International and a member of the Cross Plains Lions Club, says he is pleased that the expanded clinic space allows more children access to pediatric ophthalmology services in a more timely manner.
According to Cerniglia, Lions Clubs International have traditionally had a strong commitment to eye care and have sponsored children's vision screening programs in Wisconsin for many years.
"As Lions, we're proud to be part of this worthwhile project," Cerniglia says. "It's all about making sure these kids have the best eye care."
Date Published: 01/02/2008
