A Community Based Program Addressing Barriers to Healthcare

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A Community Based Program Addressing Barriers to
Healthcare

• Janis E. Winters OD
• Medical Director
• Vision of Hope Health Alliance
• jwinters_at_ico.edu

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Presenter Disclosures

• Janis E. Winters OD
• (1) The following personal financial
  relationships with commercial interests relevant
  to this presentation existed during the past 12
  months
• No relationships to disclose

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Barriers

• Eye Care
• General Medical Care

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Barriers

• health insurance, cost
• language barrier
• employment status
• socioeconomic status

• education
• community
• culture
• marital status

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What can I do?What should we do?

• Recognize barriers

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Vision of Hope Health Alliance (VOHHA)

• Through 3 years, 3121 uninsured, low-income
  adults received eye care and eye glasses/other
  materials at no cost
• If patients have no PCP, refer to partner FQHCs
• 273 made and 182 kept appointments for primary
  medical care

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Referral

• Partner agenciesService Agencies
• FQHCs

• Walk-in

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Unique

• Optometry as the entry point for general medical
  care.
• Service agency and Walk-in
• Opportunity for education/referral.

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Barriers

• health insurance, cost
• language barrier
• employment status
• socioeconomic status

• education
• community
• culture
• marital status

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Sherry

• I will go into debt to get new eye glasses.

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Sherry Update

• Referral to FQHC
• Diagnosed with DM
• Lost 45 pounds
• BS control
• Routine Eye/Medical Care

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Employment status

• Elba
• I can see the rain!

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No hablo Ingles.

• Why am I suppose to go back to the doctor????
• Interpretation services provided (295)

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I take care of

• Sick husband
• Easter 60 year old
• Grandkids
• Clara 6 children and 8 grandchildren

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In my culture,

• HomeopathicThats what Grandma did, and my mom
  does and thats what I do too.
• Determining the Pharmacological Activity of
  Physalis peruviana Fruit Juice on Rabbit Eyes and
  Fibroblast Primary Cultures
• IOVS July 2008

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Not excuses

• Barriers

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Educate
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The Take Away

• Barriers affect health care choices
• Need for eye glasses can be prioritized before
  health care
• Make referrals
• Drs/programs address barriers

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For more information about VOHHA

• Video
• http//iei.ico.edu/community_outreach/vision_of_ho
  pe.html
• BrochuresVOHHA /Medicare and Eyecare Benefits
• Contact me

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Thanks to our funders!!!

• Washington Square Health Foundation 
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Alcon Laboratories
• Field Foundation of Illinois, 
• Lloyd Fry Foundation
• Bowman Lingle Trust 
• Polk Brothers Foundation,
• Michael Reese Health Trust 
• W.P. H.B. White Foundation
• VNA Foundation
• Individual Donors