Community Engagement in Eye Care Services -an experience by Aravind Eye Hospital, India

R.Meenakshi Sundaram Senior Manager – Outreach

Aravind Eye Care System, India

Should We Engage the Community? WHY

• In every household, someone needs eye care

• Community needs to own the problem and find the best solution

Rationale

• Increased uptake of eye care services

• Higher compliance to treatment

• Sustainable eye care services

Community Engagement

results in

WHO

HOW Identification Motivation Retention

WHAT

Aravind’s Strategies in Community Engagement

Outreach Service area and Collaboration with

Community Partners

S.No. Community Partners Camps Out-

patients Surgery

Glasses delivered

Diabetic screened

DR examined

1 Lions and Rotary Clubs 593 139,874 35,908 21,154 4,975 838

2 Spiritual Organizations 206 44,457 11,655 7,887 279 38

3 Banks, Industries and Business Groups 189 46,535 5,065 10,688 446 50

4 Educational Institutions 643 107,156 3,143 20,335 238 23

5 Hospitals, Trusts and Youth Groups 253 61,800 12,614 13,268 2,696 470

6 Village leaders and Individuals 139 19,808 3,063 4,219 - -

7 Government Agencies 437 49,084 1,123 1,384 64 4

8 Others 344 66,554 13,043 11,705 1,187 172

Total 2,804 535,268 85,614 90,640 9,885 1,595

Rate of compliance 84.6% 86.3%

Camps

2011-12

Why should we work with local community

• Ownership

• Good compliance

• Support facilities

• Public Relations

• Walk-in Referrals

• Crisis Management

• Cost Reduction/Mgmt.

• Sustainable programme

Evolution

• Donors

• Friends and relatives

• Satisfied patients

• Internal and external stakeholders

• Community well wishers

To eliminate the socio-economic barriers and

increase the uptake of eye care services

Challenge: Gain Entry

Quality Assurance – Social Auditing

Aravind's Outreach –

Sponsors Feedback form

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

1. Rate the Doctor's behaviour towards patients:

2. Rate the doctor's behaviour towards you:

3. Rate the nursing staff's behaviour:

4. Rate our treatment facilities:

5. Rate the hospital’s communication efficiency

6. Rate the punctuality of the medical staff:

7. Rate the guidance provided by our organizer:

8. Rate the patient turn out in this camp:

9. Your assessment of the camp as a whole:

Open Comments / Suggestions

Signature of the Sponsor:

Building Community involvement

• ‘Sponsors Day’ celebration

• Achievement Award

• Sight First Seminar

• CME for Oph.Assistants

• Training: School Teachers

• Training: Field staff in NGO

Sponsors Day Celebration

A satisfied Community Partner

Period of Association with

Aravind (influenced by

Quality Care and Trust)

Lesson: Community Engagement is a Situation H

osp

ital

Sp

on

sor

Social Marketing Outreach Cataract 36 % : Walk in 64 %

Resource Utilization Surgeon’s Productivity per year: 2,000

Rate of Compliance Surgery 85%, Eye Glasses 86% & Specialty 80%

Helps to achieve the mission Over all surgeries in Aravind in 2011-12: 349,274

Social Recognition

Marketing opportunity

Satisfaction of serving the society

Pride in associating with hospital

‘WIN-WIN’

Participation by the community is the

urgent cry in the mission of restoring vision

Dr.G.Venkataswamy Founder – Aravind Eye Hospitals - Tamilnadu, India