Holyoke Health Center

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Cynthia Canham
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Collaboration with Holyoke Health Center Yields Unintended Benefits

Brookline – Nov. 24, 2008 – The Mejor Vista, Mejor Vida Project initiative revealed that there is a lack of primary eye care in Holyoke, highlighting the inadequacies of healthcare coverage in Massachusetts.

A collaboration between MAB Community Services (MAB) and the Holyoke Health Center (HHC), the Mejor Vista, Mejor Vida Project is now entering its second year. By combining MAB’s expertise in managing low vision with HHC’s expertise in diabetes management, the partners aim to create a model for helping patients with diabetes and low vision manage diabetes. The project partnered with a local ophthalmologist and established action steps for helping patients to access eye exams and vision rehab referrals.

In the first year of the project, the partners focused on identifying patients with low vision, with the goal of referring them to vision rehabilitation services. Difficulties in making accurate referrals arose, however, because due to the lack of primary eye care in Holyoke many patients who appeared to have low vision in fact had correctable eye conditions. Without affordable primary eye care options, these predominately low-income Holyoke residences sought the program’s low vision treatment to meet their basic eye care needs.

The Mejor Vista, Mejor Vida Project thus brought Holyoke residents’ healthcare problems to light. Following these initial findings, during the project’s second year the partners will continue to expand eye care through a partnership with the New England Eye Institute, which plans to establish a clinic at HHC.

Mejor Vista, Mejor Vida has received funding from Covidien, the Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust, and the S. Elizabeth O’Brien Trust.

ABOUT MAB:

MAB Community Services is dedicated to working with individuals with disabilities to eliminate barriers and create opportunities. Founded in 1903 as the Massachusetts Association for the Blind, MAB Community Services is the oldest social service agency in the country dedicated to serving blind and visually impaired individuals. MAB now includes programs for adults with developmental disabilities and a residential treatment program for adolescents with brain injuries.