The effectiveness of a mobile clinic in improving follow-up eye care for at-risk children
Diao, Wei; Patel, Jinali; Snitzer, Melanie; Pond, Michael; Rabinowitz, Michael P.; Ceron, Guadalupe; Bagley, Krystal; Dennis, Korinne; Weiner, Rachel; Martinez-Helfman, Sarah; Santa Maria, Kathleen; Burke, Brian; Aultman, William B.; Levin, Alex V.
Abstract
The study examined whether a mobile eye clinic could enhance follow-up care completion rates. Researchers previously documented that only 53% of students successfully attended ophthalmology consultations after school-based screenings. They conducted a cohort investigation in elementary schools within economically disadvantaged neighborhoods using a mobile ophthalmic unit. Of 132 referred students, 95 had complete consent documentation. The mobile unit successfully examined 82 patients (62%), representing a statistically significant improvement over the historical 53% completion rate (P = .036). School nurses rated the initiative highly, with a mean satisfaction score of 4.8 on a five-point scale. Mobile eye clinics at schools effectively connected children with needed ophthalmic care, demonstrating meaningful potential for addressing access barriers in underserved communities.