Vision Care Associates has its roots in family eye care and has developed around this idea that patients become family. Initially, in 1977 Dr. Paul Bell and his son Dr. Gordon Bell partnered their practice of Bell & Bell with Dr. James Olson to form Vision Care Center. Then in 1982, Dr. James Ruch merged with this trio to form the first Vision Care Associates. The first offices were in Aberdeen and Britton, but Mobridge was soon to follow. From there, with the philosophy of bringing exceptional healthcare to rural South Dakota, several other locations were opened around northeastern South Dakota. Vision Care Associates is now South Dakota's largest independent network of eye care professionals with 20 locations in South Dakota and Nebraska. With the continued addition of new medical technology and with the intellectual arsenal of 19 doctors, Vision Care Associates expects to continue their philosophy of "keeping the patient first" for many years to come!