title: The Effectiveness of a Mobile Clinic in Improving Follow-up Eye Care for At-Risk Children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the potential of a mobile ophthalmic unit in the schoolyard to improve the follow-up rate for children who have failed an optometric in-school screening program. Previously, the optometric program made referrals to the center and only 53% of students attended the desired ophthalmology consultation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cohort study of students conducted in elementary school lots in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. The mobile ophthalmic unit visited schools where students with parental consent who needed examination had been identified by an in-school optometric vision care program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 132 students were referred by the optometric program, of whom 95 (72%) had complete signed consent forms. Eighty-two patients (62%, confidence interval: 54% to 70%) were successfully seen by the mobile unit. Compared to the historical rate of successful completion of ophthalmology consultation (53%), a statistically significant improvement in follow-up was noted (P = .036). On a Likert scale of 1 to 5, the mean school nurse satisfaction rating was 4.8.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings demonstrate the potential impact of mobile eye clinics at schools in connecting children with ophthalmic care. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2016;53(6):344-348.].
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Diao
authors.forename: Jinali
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Snitzer
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pond
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Rabinowitz
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ceron
authors.forename: Krystal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bagley
authors.forename: Korinne
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weiner
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martinez-Helfman
authors.forename: Kathleen Santa
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Maria
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Aultman
authors.forename: Alex V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Levin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000359:Aftercare; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008952:Mobile Health Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015143:Philadelphia; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000175:diagnosis; D012573:School Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D015351:Vision Screening