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Vision of Hope Health Alliance
Reaching out to those who cannot afford vision care
The Vision of Hope Health Alliance (VOHHA) is a community service program that provides comprehensive eye care to uninsured, low-income adults in Chicago. Many of these patients also suffer from underlying diseases that contribute to their eye problems. The Alliance helps to connect these patients to primary healthcare providers when necessary.
Building on the successful Vision of Hope program (launched initially with grants from the State of Illinois and the Washington Square Health Foundation), the Alliance is a network of partnering agencies that identifies uninsured people in need of primary eye care and refers them to the IEI. Through gifts and grants from philanthropic sources and an in-kind commitment from the IEI, people who qualify for the VOHHA program receive – at no out-of–pocket cost – examinations, health education, follow-up care/testing, diagnosis/treatment of eye disease, glasses, and other medically necessary materials. These individuals are treated with the same respect and attention provided to all IEI patients. The IEI then links those in need of medical services to partnering Federally Qualified Health Centers who accept VOHHA patients for primary health care.
Since November 2003, over 1,500 uninsured patients have had eye exams through the program. The vast majority of these patients needed eyeglasses. Many were found to suffer from or have an increased risk for eye disease. Referrals to partnering health centers were made for those who did not have a primary care doctor, to address systemic concerns identified through patient’s history and blood pressure testing. The VOHHA program has affected the quality of life for many individuals not only through better vision but also by reengaging them in the health care system.
The Illinois Eye Institute’s partners for the Vision of Hope Health Alliance are:
The Washington Square Health Foundation has generously supported the VOHHA program and helped to secure matching funds through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Local Initiative Funding Partners Program to expand the program beginning July 1, 2005.
Thank you to all of our funding partners!
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