Rockwood Clinic PS, of Spokane, plans to open a satellite eye-care center next month near Providence Holy Family Hospital. Separately, the big Spokane medical practice recently reopened its allergy clinic within the main Rockwood location near downtown.

The new eye-care center will be located in an about 1,100-square-foot leased space at 5901 W. Lidgerwood, says Teri Diogo, clinical director for the center. She says the office is being opened in response to increasing requests by Rockwood patients for eye-care services on Spokane's North Side, particularly for pediatric patients, for whom she says there are few clinics in that part of Spokane. Diogo says the center hopes to collaborate with Seattle-based Group Health Cooperative to provide eye-care services to patients of Group Health's Lidgerwood Medical Center, which is located near the planned new eye-care center.

Surgical ophthalmologist Dr. Neil Peterson will see both adult and pediatric patients at the new center, as will optometrist Randy Moffit, Diogo says. The office also will employ an ophthalmology technician and an office manager.

The practitioners will offer routine eye exams, diabetic care, and treatment of surgical complications, cataracts, and glaucoma, as well as pediatric eye care. Peterson will continue to see patients at Rockwood Clinic's main eye-care center, at 510 S. Cowley, where he also performs surgical procedures.

Moffit will work full-time at the North Side clinic, Diogo says.

Meanwhile, Rockwood Clinic has reopened its allergy center, which was closed for about two years following the departure of the clinic's former allergist, says Marie Brumfield, a Rockwood Clinic clinical director.

Rockwood has hired allergist Dr. Hormoz Solomon to diagnose and treat allergy patients at Rockwood's main clinic, located at 400 E. Fifth. The allergy center also will have two supporting staff members.