Pinellas County Schools Leverage Local State Legislation to Help Save Vision for Students

Key Business Outcomes

Pinellas County Schools (PCS) requires students to have a vision check so they are able to meet the Florida state guidelines for vision screening, which mandate a vision check for all students in kindergarten, first, third, and sixth grades. This policy mandates vision checks in all students in kindergarten, first, third and sixth grades.

With a large student population, PCS needed a way to perform annual vision screening exams quickly and effectively, and to refer students who needed a full eye exam. A large percentage of students in PCS’ district were covered by Medicaid, which meant PCS wanted to ensure students who were referred had the means to be seen by an eye care specialist and receive glasses, if necessary.

Prior Method for Screening

To test the vision of their entire student population, PCS support staff without a medical background performed chart-based visual acuity testing. According to state guidelines, if a student fails a visual acuity test, the results must be confirmed by a registered nurse. The registered nurse is responsible for following up with the student’s parents to recommend a full eye exam. With such a large student population, having the nurse rescreen failed exams was becoming too time-consuming.

The current process for visual acuity screening consumed time and resources. In most districts, following this process was nearly impossible. Children who were non-verbal, had developmental delays, or spoke English as a second language were difficult to assess using chart-based screens.

Product Selection

PCS needed to improve their vision screening process to ensure accurate and efficient detection of visual impairments. There were a variety of factors that were essential in selecting the right vision screener; the most important being an easy-to-use device that volunteers could use without a lot of room for error. After researching a variety of different companies, PCS selected the Spot Vision Screener based on:

·      Ease of use of the instrument-based vision screener

·      The Welch Allyn brand's reputation for quality and dependable products

·      On-site product training

·      Technical support for setup and usage

Project Funding

The Medicaid Certified School Match Program Fee for Service for Nursing Service provides funding for skilled services to Medicaid-eligible students with individualized education programs. PCS used funds from this program to purchase two Spot Vision Screeners to support their district's vision screening initiative. Leveraging state regulations for vision screening, the Florida Department of Health assisted the vision screening initiative by purchasing two additional Spot Vision Screeners to be used by the PCS district.

Product Training

To avoid the need for multiple tests, PCS provided product training to screeners without a medical background. This allowed the screeners to administer the vision screening exam as accurately as the registered nurse, so the second round of screening could be bypassed.

Follow-up Strategy

PCS implemented a follow-up plan to provide students with long-term benefits. If a student is referred for a follow-up vision exam, the school nurse sends a letter to the student’s parents. If there is no response from the parents, the nurse follows up with a second letter and, if needed, a phone call. This process ensures the child is appropriately referred to an eye specialist. For students without resources to attend a follow-up appointment or purchase glasses, PCS works with the local Bucs Vision Van and the Vision Service Plan (VSP) to provide no-cost services.