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GROUP TAKES ON AFRICAN VISION CHALLENGES

Mission brings hope, seeks ophthalmology

By Bill Kekevian, Senior Associate Editor

■ The “Eyes for Malawi,” a branch of The Malawi Initiative Village Hope mission, is setting its sights on ophthalmology. “We are trying to recruit both personnel and equipment from ophthalmology,” says Rai Paparatti, Ph.D., founder of the Malawi Initiative.

Rai Paparatti, Ph.D.

The group launched its Total Village Outreach Project to provide, among other supplies, a clinic to conduct eye exams and issue eyeglasses and drops to those in need. “We realized there was a desperate need for eye care in Malawi when we saw that many people could not even afford sunglasses. Children had eyes swollen shut from dirt and debris, which any eye drop would immediately soothe,” says Dr. Paparatti. “In our Village Hope Mission, each year we target a specific village in Malawi and set our sights on completely touching every aspect of that village. We provide each home a food and supply source and then provide a free eye clinic in which we test prescriptions and eye conditions and then distribute free glasses,” Dr. Paparatti says. “Each person also receives free sunglasses and lubricating eye drops,” he adds. The 12-day trip is usually comprised of 25 people altogether, seven to 10 of whom are Americans. Not all are involved in eye care occupationally, but on the trip each person plays a part in providing care. Dr. Paparatti says the team is trained on using an eye chart, pointing, organizing glasses, information recording, and dispensing sunglasses and eye drops. An optometric technician on staff performs the final steps of figuring out prescriptions and finding the appropriate glasses.

Dr. Paparatti says the team has done its best with the staff and materials they’ve been able to access, but is interested in expanding its services. “Whatever way we can bring sight to Malawi would greatly show a desperate world that human life is still important and worth reaching,” he says.

Website aims to be education hub for eye care staff

■ Eye care professionals have a new global center for online continuing education and training. EyeCareCE, formerly Actioned, delivers educational resources for improving efficiency, performance, and providing on-demand learning and continuing education options.

EyeCareCE’s course catalog contains more than 270 courses in 20 content areas. The courses serve from basic to advanced levels, with new courses introduced monthly. Features include: low-cost courses, free courses, a glossary, curriculum, and certification exam preparation. The site utilizes a variety of media and it features assessments such as interactive simulations and downloadable audio and text.

The site, www.eyecarece.org, is a collaborative effort of seven organizations. Together, JCAHPO, ASORN, ATPO, AAOE, the Canadian Society of Ophthalmic Medical Personnel (CSOMP), the Ophthalmic Photographers’ Society (OPS), and IJCAHPO are offering a comprehensive online training resource for the entire eye care team.

MAKING A GAME OF ORGANIZATION DELIVERS RESULTS FOR ONE PRACTICE

Creative training tip: A scavenger hunt can help residents learn their way

By Bill Kekevian, Senior Associate Editor

■ When it comes to explaining Riverside Park Surgery Center’s organization, Teri Heatwole, RN, director of nursing, has taken an unorthodox approach to training new staff.

For nurses and technicians, knowing where to locate particular items is part of the job. But, Ms. Heatwole says, when asked where particular items were located, residents often aren’t sure.

Rather than take new employees on a guided tour, the practice opted to solve their problem the fun way. “We have a little scavenger hunt,” Ms. Heatwole explains. She and another nurse designed a basic spreadsheet listing items in the OR, postoperative and preoperative areas of the practice. (Click here to see an example of this spreadsheet.)

Employees were asked to mark where the items were located. The sheet also featured a question about a detail of each item, such as its stock number or gauge. Ms. Heatwole says the goal there was to get employees to pay attention to the items, not just memorize their locations.

Following the hunt, the team discussed what they learned. Management was able to learn something, too. This project “points out the leaders in our veteran staff,” Ms. Heatwole says.

The program was more successful than planned. “Even our people who have been here for years learned something that day,” she adds.