Originally Presented on Tuesday, December 1 at 3-4 p.m. ET
Vision and eye health are linked to overall health, success in school, employability, and independence especially as individuals grow older. Despite the importance of vision and eye health on one’s quality of life, many people continue to face barriers to accessing eye health and vision care. Federally qualified health centers are uniquely positioned to improve access to eye health and vision care due to their reach in underserved communities and their emphasis in providing integrated, whole-person care to underserved populations. Yet, in 2019, less than 3% of health center patients received eye and vision care services, representing 0.89% of clinic visits.
This webinar featured members of the Association of the Clinicians of the Underserved and the American Optometric Association who discussed the eye health and vision care needs of underserved populations, challenges to such care delivery, and best practices for integrating eye health and vision care into comprehensive care models. Participants also learned about a new resource and opportunities for technical assistance in establishing eye health and vision care programs.
Presenters:
- Dr. Lori Grover, PhD, OD, American Optometric Association Board of Trustees and Co-Director, Center for Eye and Health Outcomes
- J. Brandon Thornock, MBA, MHA, FACHE, Chief Operations Officer, Safety Officer, Shasta Community Health Center
Learn More
With the generous support of the Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare, the ACU is working with local, state, and national partners to increase access to the proper eye and vision care for underserved populations. We do this by bringing mobile vision vans to underserved communities, providing grants and technical assistance to health centers to help establish permanent eye and vision programs at service sites, and educating communities of underserved populations. Learn more with our online resources, including our recent white paper and vision services readiness assessment.
