PENSACOLA, Fla.—Coherent Eye Care, a leader in development and management of clinically integrated eyecare networks, has named Justin Manning, OD, MPH, as director of population health strategies and provider education, according to an announcement Thursday. Dr. Manning is the founder and chief executive officer of eyeLeader, a consulting and education company driven to empower eyecare providers to lead in a changing healthcare system through leadership development and population health management. "As director of population health strategies and provider education, Dr. Manning will be leading the advancement of Coherent's goals within the provider community on a national level,” Coherent president and chief executive officer Jim Brocato said in the announcement. “He will lead new initiatives in continuing education, leadership development, and inter-provider communication. Educating our providers about their role in population eye health management is a key part of our mission.”

(Population health is defined as the health outcomes of a group of individuals, including the distribution of such outcomes within the group. These groups are often geographic populations such as nations or communities, but can be other groups such as employees, ethnic groups, or any other defined group.)

Manning said he believes that a large percentage of individuals do not receive the eyecare they need, “and healthcare providers are not kept up to date on the care their patients receive when they do.” He added, “I'm excited to partner with Coherent Eye Care to advance their clinically integrated eyecare networks and in turn, develop eyecare leaders to have impacts felt across the entire healthcare system.”

Optometry is uniquely positioned to play a key role in the delivery of value-based eyecare, according to this week’s Coherent Eye Care announcement. By partnering with primary care physicians, optometrists and ophthalmologists can ensure that the patient is seeing the right doctor at the right time. Coherent's population eye health strategy provides payors with a broader approach, focusing on prevention, early detection, patient engagement, improved access and care coordination.