Eye Center Is Expanding

MUSKEGON — Shoreline Ophthalmology’s expansion is in sight.

The new $2.8 million eye center on Sherman Boulevard in Muskegon broke ground May 9 and should be completed in December with a grand opening planned for January 2006.

“Our practice will be using it exclusively for eye surgeries,” said Executive Director Chris Grek of the new facility.

More and more surgeons have been operating in surgery centers that are outside of the hospitals, Grek said.

“We’re following that national trend,” he said. “We’re bringing the state-of-the-art technology and equipment that’s available right now into this facility.”

Grek said the new 8,800-square-foot building is the natural step for Shoreline Ophthalmology, which was formed in 1996 by five ophthalmologists looking to pool their resources and improve their quality of life and the service to their patients.

“It gives them some control over, certainly, the surgical aspects,” Grek said.

While patients receiving a procedure such as cataract surgery in a hospital may have to wait hours if an emergency surgery takes priority, those at the new center would be able to be seen on schedule.

“It gives us more control over the efficiency of the environment where we can perform the surgery,” Grek said.

That control also can impact health-care costs by reducing the wait time and the uncertainty. Grek said the new building also will help reduce the surgeons’ travel time from the office to the surgery. The new center is located adjacent to the current offices.

“The doctors are very thrilled,” Grek said. “This is a big step for them.”

The new facility will create about 10 new nursing and administrative jobs, as well as enhance the level of service for area eye care.

“It is a major step for our community,” Grek said.