Pictured (l-r): Maureen Kahn, RN, MHA, MSN, President/Chief Executive Officer, Blessing Health System/Blessing Hospital; Scott Koelliker, President/Chief Executive Officer, Blessing Physician Services; Jason Kvitle, OD, Family Eye Care; Kirk Kvitle, DO, Family Eye Care.
Blessing Health System and another area healthcare provider have entered into an affiliation agreement to improve access to care for area patients.
Through the agreement, Family Eye Care holds “preferred provider” status with Blessing. If a Blessing patient is in need of eye care and does not already have a provider they use, their Blessing physician will recommend Family Eye Care to meet the patient’s need. The final choice of eye care provider rests with the patient and the affiliation does not change ownership of the providers.
“People look to their primary care providers for guidance on healthcare needs,” said Scott Koelliker, President/Chief Executive Officer, Blessing Physician Services. “Through this preferred provider relationship with Family Eye Care, Blessing providers are recommending to their patients an eye care provider committed to the same high level of quality and customer service and with the same values upheld by Blessing.”
Family Eye Care, located at 3325 Maine Street, Quincy, is the practice of Drs. Kirk and Jason Kvitle. Dr. Kirk Kvitle has been a practicing optometrist in Quincy since 1986. A graduate of Illinois College of Optometry, he is therapeutically certified to diagnose and treat eye diseases and is a member of the American and Illinois Optometric Associations.
“We look forward to meeting the medical eye care needs of Blessing patients, including those associated with diabetes, glaucoma and macular degeneration,” said Dr. Kvitle. “Both parties – Family Eye Care and Blessing – have exceptional reputations for quality care.”
Dr. Jason Kvitle is the son of Dr. Kirk and Barb Kvitle. A Quincy High School graduate, he earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and his Doctor of Optometry from The Ohio State University.
He calls the affiliation exciting and a wonderful opportunity to improve patient access to care.
“The affiliation will allow both groups to leverage the strengths of our medical community in the greater Quincy area for the treatment and management of our patients’ eye health needs,” Dr. Jason Kvitle said.
“By creating better access to healthcare through affiliation agreements, Blessing is demonstrating stewardship of resources,” said Maureen Kahn, RN, MHA, MSN, President/Chief Executive Officer, Blessing Health System/Blessing Hospital.
“Rather than spending the large sum of money required launch a national recruitment effort for two new optometrists, we partner with two existing local providers who have a proven track record of quality and customer service to better meet patient needs,” she concluded.