Optometry in community health centers

Community health centers (CHCs) serve nearly 16 million uninsured, underserved, poor and homeless people at 5,500 service locations throughout the United States and its territories. CHCs have a proven track record in providing culturally and linguistically sensitive care and delivering quality care that improves the health status of their patients. While 100% of health centers provide on-site medical services, only 18% provide eye care. Optometry at CHCs provides vision care and medical eye care to patients who might otherwise go without these essential services. This presentation will explain how optometry is incorporated into CHCs and how optometrists at CHCs function as a core member of the care management team. The attendee will learn the connection between the need for eye care services in underserved areas and how this need can be met through on-site delivery of eye care services by optometrists. A ‘roadmap' forecasting future need and growth for eye services at CHCs will also be discussed. The presentation includes how to access resources that can be used by CHCs to develop a business model to support the start up of an eye care service.