A new professional education centre for eye care specialists has opened in Dubai Healthcare City by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care.

The Vision Care Institute was inaugurated by Emirates Medical Association Ophthalmic Society president Dr. Manal Taryam and worldwide president of Johnson & Johnson The Vision Care Institute, Phil Keefer.

The institute will enable eye care professionals from across the Middle East, from new graduates to seasoned professionals, to learn more about the latest developments in the field under the leadership of world’s top eye care professionals.

“The aim of the organisation is to enhance patient satisfaction through innovative education and training programs, as well as helping to improve communication between the practitioner and the patient which is a crucial element of patient satisfaction and especially important in a highly cosmopolitan region, such as the Middle East. The first training programme will focus on communication and contact lens fitting and management,” Keefer said.

“Dubai Healthcare City is firmly at the heart of the regional healthcare industry and is the ideal location for the first Vision Care Institute in the Middle East. The city offers world-class facilities at the crossroads of the region. We believe the timing is right to establish the institute as the regional healthcare sector develops rapidly and we believe it will play a significant role in enhancing the professional service offered by eye care professionals across the region. We expect to train thousands of eye care professionals every year, once it is running at full capacity and we believe it will make a significant impact on the profession.”

The Vision Care Iinstitute is part of a global partnership with the profession and a concept based on a commitment to life-long learning for eye care professionals. Johnson & Johnson’s centres across the world have trained over 15,000 eye care professionals since opening in 2004.

Vice-President of the institute Ian Davies added: ”We have identified common themes within the profession and developed appropriate training courses delivered by expert faculty based within, and outside, the Middle East region. The focus on enhancing the confidence and competence of eye care professionals will certainly lead to improved patient experience and satisfaction. This launch in the Middle East is in direct response to the needs of the eye care profession and we expect to train a significant number of eye care professionals.”

The institute consists of a lecture hall equipped with the most modern computer and audiovisual technology and which can transmit pictures and commentary from remote examination rooms. There are also state-of-the-art suites, allowing individual work with patients, and two smaller conference rooms for holding workshops. 

Jill Brooks, manager of the institute commented: “All our programmes will be practical and highly interactive and will focus on increasing the confidence and the skills of the eye care professionals. This should help to build a strong rapport with the patient which we know is so important in developing mutual trust and overall patient satisfaction.” – TradeArabia News Service