VSP Blog

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

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

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

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