How to Start a
Vision Screening Program in
Your Community

Community-based vision screening programs can expand access to eye care when built through strong partnerships and thoughtful design.

Experience shows that collaboration, innovation, and sustainable operations make it possible to reach more patients and connect them with ongoing care.

By focusing on efficiency and patient engagement, and by reducing barriers, screening programs play an important role in improving eye health and advancing access to care.

Here's how to plan your launch.

Questions to Consider

Program
Design & Goals

What are the screening program's goals and measurable outcomes?
Who is your target population?
How will patients be identified, invited, and enrolled?

Screening Operations

How will the screening exam be performed?
What personnel are required, and what are their roles?
How will the exam be interpreted?

Communication and Care

How will results be communicated to patients and primary care clinicians?
What protocols will be used to schedule follow-up care when needed?

Administration & Billing

What sources of funding are available?
What equipment is needed?
How will billing be managed?

Evaluation & Quality Improvement

How will outcomes from the screening be measured?
How will findings be used to refine or improve the program?
How will screening personnel be evaluated/retrained?

Before You Start:
Questions to Ask FQHCs &
Primary Care Physician Offices

Needs & Goals

What are your needs?
What are the fundamental goals of this program?
What services will you provide (e.g., screenings only, eyeglasses, exams)?

Clinical Staffing & Support

How will the screening exam be performed?
What personnel are required, and what are their roles?
How will the exam be interpreted?

Resources & Equipment

Do you have funds to purchase equipment to start the program?
Who will own the equipment?
Where in the clinic will the screenings take place, and how often?

Workflow & Integration

How might the program affect the flow of the primary care clinic?
Do you have broadband wireless internet access?
Does your EHR integrate with the eyecare platform?

Data & Communication

How will images be sent securely?
How will we communicate the results securely to patients and other providers?
Can the FQHC/PCP provide access to their EMR platform if care is provided on-site?

Patient Care & Follow-Up

How will FQHC/PCP identify patients who need to be examined?
How can we get patients from the FQHC/PCP site to a hospital/department/office for follow-up care?
Is there a mechanism for providing eyeglasses, eyedrops, etc.?

Billing & Sustainability

What funding mechanisms are in place to support this FQHC/PCP office?
In the event someone bills for their services, how should this happen?

Before You Start:
Questions to Ask Yourself

Clinical Scope

What disease are you screening for?
What is the goal/outcome measures (e.g., care for patients, HEADIS Score)?
Will you provide onsite screening with a clinician or do camera-based screening?
- If you do camera-based screenings, who will interpret the photos (AI, human, both)?
Who will interpret the exams?
Will you offer refractions and eyeglasses?

Patient Management

How will you communicate screening results to patients and primary care clinicians?
Do you have a mechanism to absorb screen-positive exams into the practice?
What if a patient does not have insurance?
How will you track patients who screen positive?

Financial & Other Resources

Who will pay for the equipment and/or staff, both onsite and at the office?
If HEDIS money is obtained, who gets that money?

Billing & Workflow

Who will do the screening/eye exam if there is one?
What workflow is needed to bill for the exam?
Are you prepared to choose a CPT code for the billing?

How to Start a Vision Screening Program in Your Community