The Southern College of Optometry (SCO) has opened its newest eye care facility, FocalPoint, which offers completely paperless telemedicine via EyecareLiveTM. A SCO spokesperson said it is the first clinic of its kind in the United States to offer completely paperless telemedicine.
Located in the Crosstown Concourse, FocalPoint has 8,000 square feet of space with four doctors on-site and offers several technological advances for eye health and visual welfare, along with new and exclusive eyewear lines. The clinic, which opened July 26, also provides additional clinical instruction space for the college's fourth-year students.
"FocalPoint is the realization of the vision for a hybrid clinic delivering 'Care Anywhere,'" said Dr. Moshe Mendelson, co-founder and chief medical officer of EyecareLive. "The completely paperless facility will allow patients to use digital logins to check in, manage their records and stay in touch with their doctor regarding follow-up care on the telemedicine platform."
In addition to transforming patient access, FocalPoint will be one of locations in the U.S. offering customizable eyewear through HOYA's Yuniku system. Using 3-D scanning, parametric design automation and 3-D printing, the Yuniku platform creates eyewear that fits each individual's facial characteristics.
FocalPoint shares space with Church Health Eye Care. The walls-down facility offers an integrated health care space to serve patients across varying demographics and socioeconomic profiles.
The clinic's new approach - providing integrated care in a first-of-its-kind telehealth platform - promises to involve patients as active participants in their care with a higher level of personal attention. It also raises SCO's national profile among its peer institutions, as the college's students now have unparalleled access to technologies expected to revolutionize private optometric practice in the years to come.
