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More than 500 Atlanta seniors helped during VSP Eye on Diabetes campaign

Posted on August 8th, 2011 by Alex

An Atlanta-area senior is fitted for a free pair of glasses

More than 500 low-income, uninsured and underinsured Atlanta seniors received free health services, including comprehensive eye exams, diabetes screenings and high blood pressure screenings on August 5-6 as part of the VSP Vision Care Eye on Diabetes campaign. This was the largest event to date.

VSP partnered with the Georgia Optometric Association, Medicare Diabetes Screening Project (MDSP) and Atlanta Regional Commission to bring two mobile eye clinics, Eyenstein and Seezar, outfitted with state-of-the-art exam rooms, dispensaries and a finishing lab to provide services to those who have or are at risk for diabetes. The campaign focus is to increase awareness and understanding of the connection between eyecare and a person’s general health.

Unique to this event, all qualified Medicare beneficiaries with prediabetes were enrolled in a 16-session lifestyle intervention class that has proven to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. A program provided through MDSP, the enrollees will have access to a trained lifestyle coach to help them change their habits. Enrollees will learn about healthier eating, simple ways to increase physical activity and other changes that lead to a healthier lifestyle.

“The goal of the VSP Eye on Diabetes campaign is to raise awareness about the importance of eyecare and the role of optometry in detecting and managing chronic diseases, such as diabetes,” said Cheryl Johnson, Vice President of Provider Services, VSP Vision Care. “Partnering with these great local organizations is critical to helping a community seek greater knowledge and understanding of how to incorporate positive preventative care behaviors, such as annual eye exams, into their lives.”

Also, in recognition of the campaign, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal proclaimed August 5-6 “Eye on Diabetes Days in Georgia!” It is estimated that 707,000 Georgia residents have been diagnosed with diabetes, with more than 51,000 newly diagnosed cases of adult diabetes every year.

The Eye on Diabetes campaign will finish this year’s tour in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in September.

Check out some great pictures from the Eye on Diabetes Atlanta event here.

File under: diabetes, eye exam, VSP in the Community | Tagged: Atlanta, Atlanta Regional Commission, diabetes, eye exams, Eye on Diabetes, eyenstein, eyewear, Georgia, georgia optometric association, governor, harrisburg, MDSP, medicare, Medicare Diabetes Screening Project, mobile clinics, nathan deal, SeeLia
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Health Fair & Forum touches volunteers

Posted on February 22nd, 2011 by Andy G.

Andy Gee a.k.a. GeeWhizKid

At this past weekend’s Health Fair & Forum in Sacramento, 14 VSP employees volunteered their Saturday to staff an information booth, provide low-level vision assessments, or assist doctors Elisabeth S. Swan, O.D. and Thomas R. Swanson, O.D. who were also volunteering their services in SeeLia, one of the VSP mobile clinics.

Several of the VSP volunteers share their thoughts from the experience.

Marian H. assisted patients in the screening:

“The vision assessment showed that both a man and his daughter were in need of our services. The daughter is in the second grade and wants to be a teacher or a scientist when she grows up. She was having trouble seeing at school so her teacher moved her closer to the front of the class.
He knew they both needed corrective eyewear but had absolutely no way of providing for himself and his daughter.
I explained the importance of annual comprehensive eye exams and set him up with a VSP Mobile Eyes voucher and a doctor directory.
I couldn’t believe the change in his demeanor. He was so happy he started crying and it took a few minutes to get him calmed down. I assured him we were happy to provide this service.”

Judy M. assisted patients in low-level vision assessments and discovered:

“My most memorable moment was when I realized the young man I was talking to was having a sight-threatening issue, knowing time was so important to saving his eyesight.
Sure, I could be at home or going to a movie, you know, comfortable things. But for so many people there is little comfort. The people that come to these events come for a very real reason. It’s a need.”

Juliet C. manned the information booth, educating visitors on health risk factors prevalent in the African American community.

VSP Employees (L to R): Koi R., Juliet C., Cynthia S. and Doris B. volunteering at the VSP information booth

“I volunteered for this event because of the importance of educating the community on various health risk factors such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.”

Cynthia S. helped educate visitors on what makes up a comprehensive eye exam.

“I volunteered at this event because I grew up in the neighborhood, and this was a way of giving back to the community. I met parents of people I went to school with and it felt good to be able to educate them on the many diseases that can be detected through the eyes. It was amazing how many people didn’t understand the difference between their perception of an ‘eye exam’ and a ‘comprehensive eye exam’ from a VSP doctor.”

Jenny B. assisted in the vision assessment process.

“..to see someone’s face when they realize that VSP isn’t expecting anything from them, that the exam and glasses given to them are free just so they can see better! I met a 52-year old woman who had never had an eye exam in her lifetime, making do with $2 ‘cheaters’ that really didn’t fix her vision problems!”

Me? I got to merge my photography hobby with my desire to volunteer in the community and work alongside VSP employees who I don’t see everyday! Check out the photos from the event at VSP’s Flickr gallery.

File under: VSP in the Community | Tagged: eye exam, eye health, eyecare, healthcare, SeeLia, VSP Mobile Eyes
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VSP Supports the 2010 Sacramento Black Expo

Posted on March 1st, 2010 by Jill N

Gail J. and her grand-daughter.

Gail J. works in VSP’s Human Resources department. She shares her experience as an employee volunteer at the recent 2010 Sacramento Black Expo, of which VSP was a major sponsor.

VSP made quite the impression at Black Expo 2010. We’ve participated in the past by having the standard booth and VSP volunteers on hand to share information about our company, more so from a job opportunity perspective. But this year, it felt different. With our VSP Mobile Clinic, SeeLia, as the backdrop of our booth, it was a thrill seeing the eyes of both children and adults as they approached us. Lots of “Wow! Look how big that thing is!” People were definitely drawn to VSP; and whether they wanted information about vision care, job opportunities, or simply to spin the prize wheel, they walked away with a true sense of the VSP experience.

While VSP made quite the impression to others, my volunteer experience left quite the impression on me. A lot of times, events such as these are basically an opportunity for people to walk by and grab the free giveaways. I didn’t get that sense this time at all. I may have chatted with at least a hundred people during my few hours of staffing the booth, but one person in particular stood out for me. I met an elderly gentleman who didn’t know anything about VSP and when I shared what we were doing at Black Expo (e.g. sharing eye health information, the Mobile Eyes program, job opportunities), he said he knew it was important to go to the doctor every year for a check-up, but he just didn’t have the money and he didn’t think the government was going to fix healthcare with all of their partisanship. I told him about our voucher program and to step inside the mobile clinic to learn more about the program. He emerged a few minutes later with a voucher and list of local VSP providers in hand. He had the biggest grin on his face and thanked me for making his day. I honestly believe the reverse was true … he made my day.

File under: Uncategorized | Tagged: African-American Community, Black Expo 2010, Black History Month, charitable eyecare, customer service, eye health, eyecare, FORTUNE 100 Best list, human resources, job opportunities, kids, Sacramento Black Expo, Sacramento Observer, SeeLia, vision benefits, vision insurance, volunteering, VSP Mobile Eyes, VSP Vision Care
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Celebrating Black History Month & Achievements in the Eyecare Industry

Posted on February 1st, 2010 by Jill N

In 1972, Dr. Marvin Poston was the first African American named "Optometrist of the Year" by the American Optometric Association, the highest professional award from the AOA.

VSPis known for quality service – whether providing eyecare to underprivileged through our number of charitable programs, ensuring patients have access to high-quality vision services or providing doctors with the tools they need to maintain successful private practices. This dedication to service can be directly attributed to the core philosophies of VSP’s founders, one of whom was Dr. Marvin R. Poston.

In 1935, Dr. Poston was the first African American student admitted to the study of optometry at University of California, Berkeley. It took another 23 years for the second African American student to follow in his footsteps and graduate from the Berkeley School of Optometry. Dr. Poston later became the first African American licensed to practice optometry on the West Coast.

Nearly 55 years ago, Dr. Poston, along with several of his fellow optometrists, formed California Vision Services, now known as VSP Vision Care. The company originally was the first to offer a prepaid, vision benefit that provided high quality, cost-effective eyecare. VSP has since grown to become the largest not-for-profit visions benefits provider in the nation, covering 1 in 6 Americans.

Dr. Poston’s optometry practice flourished for four decades in Oakland and Danville, California but his reach extended far beyond those who visited his offices. Befitting one of the founders of a company that prides itself on community support, Dr. Poston began his own tradition of community outreach by establishing vision-screening programs for under-served children and adults. The Children’s Vision Center of the East Bay, the West Oakland Health Group and the East Bay Skill Center are just a few of the organizations that benefited from his efforts.

Dr. Poston received numerous honors during his career, including the Optometric Man of the Year award by the Alameda Contra Costa Optometric Society and Optometrist of the Year by the California Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association. He was also appointed to three terms on the California State Board of Optometry by governors Edmund G. “Pat” Brown and Ronald Reagan. In each of these areas, Dr. Poston was the first African American ever to be honored.

“He was a man of great integrity,” says Norm Jacoby, O.D., a former colleague from Encino, California. “He was very soft-spoken and intelligent, and you listened when he spoke. Marvin was conscious of what new graduates needed when getting started in private practice and that they needed all the help they could get.”

File under: VSP in the Community | Tagged: African American, Alameda Contra Costa Optometric Society, American Optometric Association, Berkeley, Berkeley School of Optometry, Black History Month, CA, California, California Governors, California Optometric Association, California State Boad of Optometry, California Vision Services, Calistoga, charitable eyecare, Children's Vision Center of the East Bay, Danville, diversity, Dr. Marvin R. Poston, East Bay Skill Center, Edmund G. Brown, Encino, high-quality vision services, Marvin R. Poston, Norm Jacoby, Not-For-Profit, Oakland, OD, Optometric Man of the Year, Optometrist of the Year, optometry, optometry students, Posten Crest Vineyard, prepaid vision benefits, private practice eye doctors, Professional Health Management & Planning Services, Ronald Reagan, SeeLia, SeeZar, Sight for Students, The Changing Face of the American Wine Industry, University of California, vision, vision benefits, vision benefits provider, VSP Mobile Eyes, VSP Vision Care, West Oakland Health Group, Wine Business Monthly
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Specs for Success at Animo Justice and Animo Ralph Bunche

Posted on October 19th, 2009 by Jessica G.

The clinic outside of the Animo Ralph Bunche and Animo Justice campus.

Wednesday was my first day working as a tech on our mobile clinic, and it put me to the test! On our day of a series of events in partnership with Green Dot Public Schools, we visited Animo Ralph Bunche and Animo Justice. These schools share the same campus, so we were able to help students from both schools from one location.

These students were amazing! The results of the Green Dot program are apparent after talking to the kids that we saw. They’d just finished taking their PSAT test, and were articulate, polite, and eager to get their eyes examined. Looking back on myself at that age, I could have taken a cue or two from their manners and poise.

All of the students loved the selection of eyewear on the clinic, and were totally excited about the great brands available to them. Who wouldn’t be glad to wear glasses from Fendi, Coach, or Sean John?

File under: eye health, VSP in the Community | Tagged: Animo Justice, Animo Ralph Bunche, back to school, California, charitable eyecare, children, eye exams, eyeglasses, Green Dot Public Schools, Los Angeles, Mobile Eyes, Not-For-Profit, SeeLia, VSP Mobile Eyes, VSP Vision Care
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Posts Tagged ‘SeeLia’

More than 500 Atlanta seniors helped during VSP Eye on Diabetes campaign

Health Fair & Forum touches volunteers

VSP Supports the 2010 Sacramento Black Expo

Celebrating Black History Month & Achievements in the Eyecare Industry

Specs for Success at Animo Justice and Animo Ralph Bunche

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Reorder Contacts

Images of VSP in the Community

Blogroll

Posts Tagged ‘SeeLia’

More than 500 Atlanta seniors helped during VSP Eye on Diabetes campaign

Health Fair & Forum touches volunteers

VSP Supports the 2010 Sacramento Black Expo

Celebrating Black History Month & Achievements in the Eyecare Industry

Specs for Success at Animo Justice and Animo Ralph Bunche

VSP and Twitter

Subscribe to EnVision!

VSP Vision Care's Twitter Updates

Take me to vsp.com

Questions?

VSP Blog Comments Policy