Archive for 2008

Mobile Clinic Sees Final Hurricane Ike Patient

Posted on November 7th, 2008 by Rob L.

After nearly two months of providing disaster relief to survivors of Hurricane Ike in Texas, VSP’s mobile clinic saw its final patient in Galveston, Texas on October 28th. Serving Houston and Galveston, the mobile clinic and the 12 doctors who worked aboard it saw 1,198 patients in total. The crew on the ground has informed us that while some portions of the island remain badly damaged, improvements are beginning to take place. However, a massive recovery and rebuilding effort will be necessary before anything in Galveston can return to some sort of normal. The American Red Cross and other charitable organizations have left Galveston as well, and now government agencies remain to continue helping those still in need.

Although our mobile clinic has left the area, VSP is continuing to provide assistance. We are working with charitable organizations in Galveston to provide vouchers for eyecare and eyewear as well as lists of VSP provider locations to those in need. Many of our doctors still face the challenge of fixing their damaged homes and practices, or in some instances, rebuilding their entire practice from the ground up. We will continue to monitor the needs of our doctors, and all of those affected by Hurricane Ike.

I would like to thank the selfless and tireless efforts of our doctors in the devastated areas, as well as VSP employees who worked with our dedicated mobile clinics team in Texas. It is my hope that our involvement in the hurricane relief efforts has helped provide some level comfort and reprieve to those affected by this storm.

- Rob

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Hurricane Ike Relief: VSP in Galveston, TX

Posted on October 15th, 2008 by Rob L.

After getting into Galveston Island to provide relief services, our mobile clinics team and the Red Cross determined that only one of our clinics would be needed there. The other mobile clinic is currently having some much-needed repair work done and will then proceed with various events that were planned before Hurricane Ike hit.

On another note, many of the doctors we have been able to reach expect to be back in their offices by the end of October or early November. Our doctors and staff have seen over 500 patients aboard the mobile clinic since arriving in Texas and will remain stationed in Galveston through the end of this month.

-Rob

File under: Disaster Relief | Tagged: , , , ,
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Engaging Latino Consumers

Posted on October 9th, 2008 by Rob L.

One of the greatest things about VSP’s headquarters is its location; California and Sacramento are home to great cultural diversity. Like our community, VSP serves members, clients and doctors in all geographies, regions, cultures and economic situations. That’s why it is imperative that we understand and reflect the communities we serve. And this is increasingly important as we continue to expand globally.

A significant part of this effort is VSP’s Hispanic outreach. Recently our Hispanic Business Assessment Pilot in association with our Diversity Council achieved a number of milestones:

These include sponsorships of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s 29th Annual Convention; the Fiestas Patrias Santa Ana, the largest Mexican Independence Day celebration in southern California; and the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Latin Music Festival.

We also introduced new Spanish-language communication materials that help increase awareness about the unique health risks that Latinos face, and how eye exams play an important role in preventive care .

Our Spanish-speaking call center representatives provide enhanced service to callers from throughout the United States. We developed new Spanish-language collateral for brokers and clients to better communicate with VSP members and prospective members, and we launched our new robust Spanish-language Web site.

The Web site address is www.vsp.com/espanol and it’s been updated to offer a comprehensive Latino experience. It features all the functionality of our English-language site including our Eyecare Discovery Center, VSP in the Community, Find a VSP Doctor and benefit summaries. Furthermore it provides specialized information relevant to the Latino community. No other major eyecare benefits company has done anything like this.

As VSP moves forward we will continue to examine what it means to be a global organization. To me, it’s about being inclusive and considering the needs of everyone we serve. Latinos are at higher risk for health conditions such as glaucoma and diabetes, and it is our duty to help raise awareness about the importance of comprehensive eyecare in early detection and disease management. These efforts will help all of our members and prospective members have access to culturally-competent care.

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Not-for-profit healthcare and the importance of tax-exempt status

Posted on October 3rd, 2008 by Rob L.

I’d like to share my thoughts on how tax-exempt status helps not-for-profit healthcare companies deliver the best care to the community.

The core mission of a dedicated healthcare organization is to help patients receive the highest-quality care. And not-for-profit healthcare companies are uniquely structured to achieve this vision.

Since they have no owners, shareholders, or dividends to pay out, not-for-profits reinvest surplus revenue back into the delivery of care rather than removing resources from the system. This provides an important social benefit to the community and delivers the most healthcare for the dollar.

Historically the United States government recognized the value of this community benefit by granting tax-exempt status to not-for-profit healthcare companies. This exemption allowed those companies to invest more resources to expand access to high-quality care.

For more than 40 years, VSP had such an exemption; however the Internal Revenue Service withdrew it in 2003. The decision was puzzling because VSP did not change its business philosophy or commitment to the community. VSP asked the IRS to share the guidelines they use to define what constitutes a tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization. They would not, and VSP sought a court ruling to have its tax-exemption restored.

The Sacramento Business Journal provides a solid overview of the issues in this case. There are broad potential implications for the future of not-for-profit healthcare, and VSP has asked the Supreme Court of the United States to consider this case.

Recently, national media outlets including the New York Times, Fox Business, the Wall Street Journal , and Fortune discussed the case, and I encourage you to consider their perspectives.

If VSP regains our tax exemption, we could devote additional resources now being paid as taxes into our programs that expand the community’s access to the best eyecare. We hope that the Supreme Court recognizes the importance of this case to the delivery of healthcare in the United States.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

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VSP to Provide Relief to Ike Victims Through October

Posted on October 2nd, 2008 by Rob L.

Here’s a quick update from the front lines of the Hurricane Ike relief efforts:

Galveston Island, one of the areas most severely battered by Hurricane Ike, will soon open up to relief efforts. Currently, our mobile clinic is still serving those in the Houston area, but will join up with the second clinic in Galveston and begin seeing patients there around October 10th.

The population of Galveston is around 57,000 and officials expect 40,000 of them to return next week. The need is so great in the affected areas, that we expect the mobile clinics team to be deployed until at least the end of October and possibly longer.

VSP has been in touch with 3 of the 4 doctors in Galveston and unfortunately all of them have suffered significant damage, but are looking forward to joining us aboard both mobile clinics once they arrive.

To date, we have been over 300 patients and we have shipped 20 boxes of supplies for the team to take to Galveston.

- Rob

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Hurricane Ike: VSP’s Relief Efforts Continue

Posted on September 26th, 2008 by Rob L.

VSP’s mobile clinics team continues to help those in need at the disaster recovery center in Houston. The center holds about 1600 evacuees, many of them now homeless. In addition to receiving a hot meal and a place to rest for a night, evacuees are also able to access the medical services offered, including their eyecare needs that we are happy to provide. 

So far, our doctors and staff have seen nearly 180 patients, and the need continues to grow. VSP will also be sending our second and newest mobile clinic to Houston to join the team as conditions permit. We will then work with our friends at the Red Cross and other relief organizations to determine if both clinics will be moving on to Galveston, or splitting up to serve two different locations.

 - Rob

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Update on VSP Response to Hurricane Ike

Posted on September 23rd, 2008 by Rob L.

The mobile clinic team finished their first day of exams yesterday, seeing as many patients as they could before learning their location was changing. Today the clinic is moving to the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Houston, and will begin seeing patients there tomorrow. The plan is to stay in the greater Houston area for the next couple of weeks and work with the Red Cross to determine which shelters and recovery centers we can best serve. Dana Rainosek of VSP Legends Lab spent yesterday visiting doctors in the surrounding areas to check on their needs and also inform them of mobile clinic activities.

Here’s a quick recap of the mobile clinic team’s efforts:

  • 21 patients were given exams on Monday
  • 50 vouchers were also given to those in need
  • After Houston, the mobile clinic team will move to Galveston as soon as conditions permit

More updates to come Friday.

- Rob

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VSP Mobilizing to Provide Relief to Hurricane Ike Victims

Posted on September 19th, 2008 by Rob L.

One of VSP’s mobile clinics has arrived in Houston, Texas to provide much needed vision services to those affected by Hurricane Ike. Three VSP doctors who have practices that were damaged will be working with our volunteers aboard the mobile clinic to provide eye exams, glasses and materials, and assist in treating eye injuries caused by the storm. Our disaster relief team is currently working to secure locations with the American Red Cross and will be seeing patients by Monday. The University of Houston College of Optometry will also be working with us in their mobile clinic to help accommodate those in need.

After Houston, the mobile clinic will establish a presence in Galveston and Beaumont.

We are also still reaching out to VSP doctors in the surrounding areas to monitor the status of their practices and assess any damages they have sustained.

Here is some additional information on VSP’s relief efforts:

  • Our mobile clinic will remain in Texas for at least 14 -17 days, at which point we will determine if we need to provide support beyond that time frame.
  • VSP employees are donating supplies such as diapers, infant formula, baby wipes, sunscreen and insect repellant to be distributed to evacuees.
  • We have reached out to 602 VSP doctors in the affected areas and have learned that 10 practices have sustained significant damage.

More updates to come next week.

Rob

File under: Disaster Relief | Tagged: , , , , ,
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VSP Responds to Hurricane Ike

Posted on September 15th, 2008 by Rob L.

We want to do everything we can to help those affected by Hurricane Ike.

We’re working directly with our network of eye doctors and business partners to assess the situation and meet the eyecare needs of all those directly affected by the hurricane.

Any VSP member who loses or breaks eyewear, needs contact lens replacements or an eye exam due to the hurricane, can get them replaced at a minimal cost. Please call 800.877.7195 for more information. Non-VSP members can request a VSP eyecare voucher from the American Red Cross.

We have reached out to 392 VSP doctors in 229 offices to get a better assessment of the damage.  I’ll provide another update later in the week.

 

Rob

File under: Disaster Relief | Tagged: , , , , ,
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VSP and Marchon: Delivering the Best in Eyecare

Posted on August 18th, 2008 by Rob L.

I have some exciting news to share today; VSP acquired Marchon , one of the three largest eyewear companies in the world.

VSP and Marchon are optical industry trailblazers with complimentary leadership experience in eyecare and eyewear. Blending the exceptional products, services, and expertise of Marchon with VSP creates a more integrated eyecare delivery platform.

The partnership allows us to compete more effectively in the global marketplace, and enhance our premier supply network. Improved turnaround times, quality, service, and savings will benefit eyecare professionals, VSP members, and our customers.

Another unique aspect is the merger of Marchon’s OfficeMate Software Solutions with VSP’s Eyefinity to establish the leading eyecare business solutions organization in North America.

These important developments expand the capabilities of the VSP Family of Companies, which now deliver:

Eyecare benefits

A portfolio of internationally-recognized eyewear brands

Integrated eyewear design and manufacturing capabilities

Practice-management technology

Custom interior designs and merchandising systems

Today we welcome Marchon to VSP; together we’ll reach new heights by focusing on quality, service, and operational excellence.

What’s next? Well, we’re committed to continuously strengthening our business, so stay tuned as we announce further efforts to deliver the best in eyecare and eyewear.

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