This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Alabama vision, diabetes project opens previously underutilized networks
The Alabama Department of Public Health used the CDC’s PPOD program to manage care of patients with diabetes who were underserved, Betsy Cagle said at the Focus on Eye Health National Summit.
“In Alabama, it’s not just an issue of vision, it has a lot to do with chronic disease, significant pockets of poverty and low access to care,” said Cagle, programs manager at the department of health’s Injury Prevention Branch.
The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), the Alabama Vision Coalition, the Eyesight Foundation of Alabama, the Alabama Optometric Association and the Alabama Rural Health Association collected data on vision loss, poverty and diabetes prevalence to determine the vision and health care needs within the state.
Cagle explained that south central Alabama is a rural area with a poverty level of at least 25%, and most of the state falls into the ratio of 5,000 citizens to one primary care physician. One county has no primary care physician, and 28 counties have five or fewer eye care providers.
Cagle’s team analyzed this to determine their focus and designed a strategy for those at a greater risk for vision loss, such as those with diabetes, to improve access to care.
“While diabetics may not be able to access [all of] these providers, they may be able to see one provider, but maybe not an optometrist or ophthalmologist,” she said, so they utilized the CDC’s PPOD program.
“It seemed like an ideal approach to encourage a variety of providers, including pharmacists, podiatrists, dentists and optometrists (PPOD), to partner in managing care,” Cagle said.
Her group is also working with the Alabama Vision Coalition to use telemedicine to screen patients with diabetes in rural counties. The ADPH has a telehealth branch that is building carts to put into the statewide county health departments, she said, with 19 carts in operation at county health departments.
“A lot of time was spent initially elevating the public awareness about vision risks and how they are related to chronic disease,” she added.
Her team also created public service announcements on age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma.
Cagle spoke about some unexpected wins that came from the program.
The project brought vision and eye health to the forefront at ADPH, she said. It also incorporated vision and eye health into different programs where it previously was not a part of the conversation.
“We were able to take advantage of ADPH’s wide network and reach a much larger audience around the state than otherwise,” Cagle said. “We were pleasantly surprised by the conversations that stemmed from the team-based PPOD approach – integrating providers across disciplines.”
She added that providers were engaged in the conversation and interested in collaboration to improve the health of patients.
The program also opened channels and networks across the state that went previously underutilized, she said.
Finally, the project team partnered with Sight Savers to screen and triage patients at county health departments.
Cagle listed the next steps for the program: growing the PPOD program, strengthening partnerships with other specialties and creating a PPOD website for providers. They also plan to continue educating patients and mapping the gaps in vision services for Alabama’s children.
“There is a growing population of private and home-schooled children who need our attention,” she noted. – by Abigail Sutton
Reference:
Cagle B. Spotlights on states engaging in aging eye health. Presented at: Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health National Summit; Washington; June 28, 2017.
Disclosure: Cagle is employed by the Alabama Department of Public Health.