ST. LOUIS – EyeCare Partners LLC announced the acquisition of three optometry practices in Alabama and Georgia.
They are:
- Potter Eye Care, the Decatur, AL, practice of Dr. Dale Potter, O.D.
- Elan Eye, the Atlanta practice of Dr. Chad Poole, O.D.
- Sharper Vision Eye Care, the Duluth, GA, practice of Dr. Mark Gottlieb, O.D.
For years, Drs. Gottlieb, Poole and Potter have provided comprehensive optometric services and eyewear to patients in the Atlanta area as well as northern Alabama.
“Dr. Potter, Dr. Gottlieb and Dr. Poole are fantastic physicians who understand our mission and share the same values,” said Dr. James J. Wachter, chief professional officer of ECP. “They are a great fit with our model and we are excited to welcome them to our team.”
EyeCare Partners offers services throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and North Carolina. According to its website, the company has over 240 offices.
Potter said he had been “trying to decide on the best way to wind down my career” and hoped to focus on patient care rather than “the stresses of managing a business.”
“I have known of EyeCare Associates in Alabama (now part of ECP) for several years,” he said. “ECP is a group of very well respected doctors, many of whom I have personally known for most of my professional career. By joining this group of fine doctors, I believe I can continue serving my patients for many more years with the same care and professional approach I have had in private practice while getting the value for my practice I thought I deserved after all these years.”
Poole said, “For some time I have wanted to spend more time on specialties such as pediatrics, emergency eye care, and specialty contact lenses. EyeCare Partners has many practice locations with extensive resources to assist me in growing these specialties. At the same time, my patients will enjoy the same private-practice feel, with the same doctor and improved organization and inventory management.”
Gottlieb, who ran his own practice for 27 years, said, “I am a medical optometrist and believe in the medical model, my research and conversations with other people in the industry confirmed my conclusion that ECP was the best partner.”
Kelly McCrann, CEO of ECP, said, “ECP is committed to expanding in our existing Atlanta and northern Alabama markets. Adding these top-notch physicians to our family is just another demonstration of that commitment. We are excited to learn best practices from our new partners and continue to expand the communities we serve.”