Introduction to the ASPECT (Advocacy, Support, Perspective, Empowerment, Communication, and Training) Patient Empowerment Program and the Vision Clinic Initiative of the Macon-Bibb County Health Department

Presenters and Authors

Joy HarrisFollow

Abstract

Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness works to improve the nation’s vision and eye health by promoting advances in public health systems of care that support eye health needs, by advocating for public policies that emphasize early detection and access to eye care, by educating the American public on the importance of taking care of their eyes and their vision, and by advancing initiatives that ensure those living with vision loss are able to sustain a high quality of life. The ASPECT Program– Advocacy, Support, Perspective, Empowerment, Communication, and Training–seeks to strengthen patient empowerment efforts for vision by empowering individuals to be engaged in their eye health from every direction and in every way. The training program is delivered virtually during 8 sessions total at no cost to participants. The sessions focus on building advocacy skills and knowledge, communication techniques, increasing awareness of eye conditions, using storytelling as an advocacy tool, building leadership capacity, and the ability to participate in the annual Eyes on Capitol Hill advocacy day and/or the Focus on Eye Health National Summit. After completion of this training, the Macon-Bibb County Health Department initiated a collaborative partnership with Prevent Blindness of Georgia and a local optometrist to host the first Public Health Vision Clinic which included retinal screenings, full-eye exams and consultation with a practicing optometrist, and the ability to offer lost cost frames with prescriptive lenses to the participants. Further plans are underway to hold the Vision Clinic on a quarterly basis with local optometrists.

Keywords

Keywords: Advocacy, Vision, Health Education, Training

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Introduction to the ASPECT (Advocacy, Support, Perspective, Empowerment, Communication, and Training) Patient Empowerment Program and the Vision Clinic Initiative of the Macon-Bibb County Health Department

Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness works to improve the nation’s vision and eye health by promoting advances in public health systems of care that support eye health needs, by advocating for public policies that emphasize early detection and access to eye care, by educating the American public on the importance of taking care of their eyes and their vision, and by advancing initiatives that ensure those living with vision loss are able to sustain a high quality of life. The ASPECT Program– Advocacy, Support, Perspective, Empowerment, Communication, and Training–seeks to strengthen patient empowerment efforts for vision by empowering individuals to be engaged in their eye health from every direction and in every way. The training program is delivered virtually during 8 sessions total at no cost to participants. The sessions focus on building advocacy skills and knowledge, communication techniques, increasing awareness of eye conditions, using storytelling as an advocacy tool, building leadership capacity, and the ability to participate in the annual Eyes on Capitol Hill advocacy day and/or the Focus on Eye Health National Summit. After completion of this training, the Macon-Bibb County Health Department initiated a collaborative partnership with Prevent Blindness of Georgia and a local optometrist to host the first Public Health Vision Clinic which included retinal screenings, full-eye exams and consultation with a practicing optometrist, and the ability to offer lost cost frames with prescriptive lenses to the participants. Further plans are underway to hold the Vision Clinic on a quarterly basis with local optometrists.