Recorded presentation

Roger Wilson, OD, Vice President for Professional Services and Strategy Assessment, New England Eye Institute, 1255 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02215, 617-236-6229, wilsonr@ne-optometry.edu

This presentation describes an ongoing National Eye Institute Community Award project designed to address specific Healthy People Healthy Vision 2010 objectives in collaboration with the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. A direct outreach and patient education risk assessment project has been implemented at seven Boston area community health centers to increase the utilization of eye care services. The project consists of an outreach team of optometrists, outreach workers and optometry students who conduct interactive risk assessments with potential patients at community events. The team looks for risk factors related to eye disorders and diseases using a survey instrument, provides education about vision problems and the importance of preventive eye exams, distributes culturally appropriate materials about eye health, attempts to identify and minimize barriers to access for eye care services, and then appoints patients for a comprehensive eye examination at a nearby community health center. Preliminary outcomes and lessons learned about this community outreach project are discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand why risk assessment for eye disorders and diseases is preferred over vision screenings in populations that do not seek routine eye care.
• Design and tailor a simple community-based outreach project addressing access to eye and vision care services.
• Recognize how a comprehensive eye examination is an effective portal into health services available at community health centers.
• List health center operations that are necessary in achieving successful community outreach project results.

Keywords: Community Health Centers, Outreach Programs

Related Web page: www.ne-eyeinstitute.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: New England Eye Institute is the recipient non-profit organization of a National Eye Institute Community Award which partially supports the project discussed at this presentation.

Recorded presentation