Oral

Health has been described as the physical, mental, social/spiritual well-being of the individual, family and community and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Providers of essential primary vision and eye health services, are adopting a transformative approach by leveraging challenges and opportunites in community health and health care reform, thereby addressing disparities in vision health and contributing to improved health status. These efforts include increasing access to health and enabling services though community health centers, as well as improved alignment of 1) environmental health and the relationships between pollution to eye disease/dysfunction, and 2) environmental justice and sustainable initiatives.

Session Objectives: 1) Explain relationships between pollution of the built and natural environment to eye disease/dysfunction; 2) Disucss vision and eye health initiatives within community health centers; 3) Identify innovative programs to improve community health through engagement of community partners in vision services delivery

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)