appropriate eye screening and follow-up,” says Dr. NewmanCasey. She and her colleagues want to help improve these rates by encouraging people to take advantage of the MI-SIGHT Program now offered at the Hamilton and Hope clinics https://sightstudies.org/about/university-of-michigan/
In the MI-SIGHT Program, ophthalmic technicians like
Londa Reid-Sanders, BGS, COA, OSC, take measurements and photographs of people’s eyes at the community clinics. Testing information is then sent through electronic health records to Kellogg ophthalmologists for assessment and management decisions. The ophthalmic technicians help those in need of eye glasses choose a low-cost pair. The technician then sees the patient back at a second visit one month later to review the results and doctor’s treatment recommendations. The technician helps patients with severe conditions schedule additional eye care, if required, and can connect them with resources for insurance or charity care through the University of Michigan MSupport program.
Reid-Sanders also serves as clinical research coordinator
for the program. She believes MI-SIGHT is important as many people fail to get vision care because of the stigma surrounding a lack of insurance. A significant number of those she tests are diagnosed with eye disease and require ongoing treatment. “This gives people hope that they will be able to get the best vision care they need.”
“We provide the necessary treatment as well as patient
education regarding ongoing eye health,” says Dr. NewmanCasey of the services provided at the Hamilton and Hope clinics. “We want to help patients who would otherwise have greater difficulty obtain the needed follow-up care for their chronic disease. We hope that providing education and support to schedule follow-up care will improve people’s ability to get ongoing care. There are so many logistical barriers — the more we can remove, the better.”
Dr. Newman-Casey and her MI-SIGHT team believe estab-
lishing patient trust is key to successfully engaging people in eye screening and follow up care. “People are more likely to engage in care when there is trust, and people already know and trust their community clinics,” she says.
Recognizing Excellence Angela Elam, M.D., Assistant
engage populations of people most at risk of vision loss from
Professor of Ophthalmology and
glaucoma and who are least likely to have access to eye care.
Visual Sciences at the Kellogg Eye
Center, received the 2020 Joanne
lower incomes, older individuals and those living in rural areas
Angle Public Health Award from
may not have the same access to virtual care as others,” says
Prevent Blindness, a national eye
Dr. Elam, citing such issues as lack of access to technology and
health organization, and Fight for
insufficient broadband access. “With many of these individuals
Sight, the first nonprofit organization
already at higher risk for eye disease, the health disparities gap
in the U.S. to promote eye research.
may widen if telemedicine becomes their only option. That’s
The $25,000 grant was awarded
why we need to bring services such as telemedicine to trusted
“Studies show that racial and ethnic minorities, people with
for her study entitled “Engagement in Telemedicine-based
community sites. We need to meet patients where they are.”
Glaucoma Screening in the Community Clinics.”
praised Dr. Elam and her team, saying, “Their work to engage
“Many Americans are at risk for blindness or vision loss
Michael Brogioli, executive director of Fight for Sight,
due to glaucoma, some because they have limited access to
underserved communities is especially critical during
appropriate treatment for the disease,” says Dr. Elam. In light
this extraordinary time.”
of this, her study focuses on identifying strategies to better
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