Congressman Brady praises Wills Eye at launch of new mobile diagnostic unit

(Philadelphia, PA – May 14, 2010) -  Congressman Bob Brady (D., PA) was on hand for the launch and dedication ceremony of the Wills Eye Institute’s, state-of-the-art, mobile diagnostic unit. The bus, a first-of-its-kind in the region with tele-ophthalmology capability, will allow Wills Eye to reach more underserved populations, primarily children and seniors, and to promote good eye health in the greater Philadelphia region.

"Lack of access to quality health care is one of the most significant issues facing our country,” said Congressman Robert Brady. The bus will help to ensure that people who often go without critical health services will have access to them, right in their own neighborhoods. Quality eye care, provided by one of the top rated eye hospitals in the nation, and the ability to bring services directly to those who need them most will make such a difference. I applaud Wills Eye for its creative thinking and its commitment to community. This project will not only improve access to care, but also lower health care costs through early diagnosis and treatment."

Joseph P. Bilson, executive director, Wills Eye Institute said,  “Building upon our rich history of service and charity, we are passionate about making eye care accessible to our community and educating people about the importance of eye health.”

A highly trained ophthalmologic team will examine children and seniors in the bus, which is custom-fitted with the latest generation of technologically sophisticated diagnostic equipment.  These devices can be deployed to examine patients and transmit their studies for interpretation by ophthalmologists at Wills Eye Institute. The images, encrypted to safeguard patient privacy, will allow doctors to provide real-time evaluation and diagnosis, and make recommendations and referrals as needed. 

The bus will reach children by visiting schools and day care centers in the Philadelphia region. “Providing a child with the best possible eye care is the first step towards ensuring vision for a lifetime.  By identifying problems early, we can prevent future vision loss and reverse potentially blinding conditions. It’s that simple,” said Dr. Julia Haller, ophthalmologist-in-chief, Wills Eye Institute. “Wills sees many children who go to school ‘legally blind’ simply because they do not have glasses. A simple screening can turn their lives around. When children see better, they learn better.”

The bus also will target senior populations for eye problems through senior centers, religious groups and other community resources. “By 65, one in three Americans will be diagnosed with some form of age-related eye disease,” said Dr. Haller. “Too often, the warning signs of such diseases as glaucoma and macular degeneration are dismissed as part of getting older. The tele-ophthalmology feature on our bus allows us to screen seniors for these and other conditions that can lead to permanent vision loss.”

The eye bus also provides a critical safety net for the large and growing population of diabetics in the greater Philadelphia region who are unaware that they have diabetic retinopathy, the most common and serious complication of diabetes that can result in blindness. Diabetes also increases the risk of developing other eye diseases, such as cataract and glaucoma.

In addition to serving children and seniors, the Wills Eye bus will operate as a community-wide education tool, raising awareness about eye disease and encouraging good eye health at popular local events.

Funding for the Wills Eye bus was provided in large part by a federal grant from the Telemedicine and Advanced Research Center (TATRC).