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March 2, 2000 Contact: Grant to Fund Eye Exams, Glasses for Children and Families SPOKANE, Wash. -- Financially needy patients with vision problems will receive free eye exams and glasses from the Spokane Eye Clinic and Spokane Optical Company thanks to a $7,500 service grant from the Pearle Vision Foundation. Carol Molinari, an assistant professor in the graduate program in health policy and administration program at Washington State University Spokane, wrote the grant in collaboration with Gail Synoground and Margaret Bruya, nurse practitioners and professors at the Intercollegiate Center for Nursing Education/WSU College of Nursing. Molinari, Synoground and Bruya are responsible for design, implementation and evaluation of the program, while the downtown Spokane Eye Clinic provides the examinations and a choice of several eyeglass designs. "The Pearle Foundation service grant provides quality eye care that includes eye exams and glasses to needy families, especially children and youth. School screening of children from kindergarten through sixth grade does not include a complete eye examination, or any assistance for the purchase of glasses," says Molinari. "With this service grant we can help to eliminate academic disadvantages associated with common vision problems for school-age children in Spokane." "This was a great partnership opportunity that makes the most of both community organizations and the WSU faculty expertise," said Scott Glennie, administrator at the Spokane Eye Clinic and a student in the health policy and administration program. "Carol brought the grant to my attention and asked if we could put this together, and the ICNE clinic was an obvious screening and referral site since they’re already serving the children and families we hope to help." Synoground helped plan the services and procedures. "Our nursing students and faculty will screen and refer families visiting the health clinic. We are seeing more than 2,000 patients annually, and vision care is an important element in one’s overall health," she said. "This project fills a gap in the health care needs of underinsured individuals and provides another link to consistent and comprehensive care for the underserved within our community." Parents who suspect their children have vision problems can have them screened at participating schools or referral sites. Screening will be done at Holmes and Sheridan elementary schools, the ICNE/CHAS clinic at the YWCA and the downtown Lions Club. Referrals will begin March 6. The services are targeted at low-income families, and referrals will be asked about financial need. Some assistance with transportation to the Spokane Eye Clinic via Spokane Transit will also be available. For more information contact the ICNE/CHAS Clinic at 509/323-7600. Bc109-00 This page has been accessed
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