Caring for homeless patients to SEE a better future: collaborative initiative to increase access of optometry services.

Thursday, May 17, 2018: 9:00 AM
Lakeshore C (Hyatt Regency Minneapolis)
Gabriela Gonzalez, B.S in Public Health (Health Educator Project Coordinator, Care for the Homeless)
The Health Education Department at Care for the Homeless implements preventive health promotions at multiple health centers in New York City. In 2016, the agency implemented a practice transformation project to increase accessibility of optometry care to fill medical gaps among patients experiencing homelessness and their vision health. We developed a partnership with New York State Lions Clubs and SUNY College of Optometry to make vision screenings and treatment more accessible to patients; focusing on early detection of vision problems. This program aligns with the 2016 Bright Futures-American Academy of Pediatrics Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care.