Ophthalmology Assessment and Health Education Team in Chuuk State
Last week, an ophthalmology assessment team from Guam SDA Clinic served on the island state of Chuuk. Headed by Dr. Robert Wresch and supported by Stephanie Wiley, Stephanie Barcinas, and local staff, this team screened patients suffering from such things as diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and pterygia. This team's mission was to assess the eye health concerns of the island community in preparation for the University of Utah's Moran Eye Center ophthalmology surgery team that will be serving Chuuk and its outer islands in the Fall 2017.
In addition to ophthalmic services, a health education team held lectures and clinics to address the non-communicable disease (NCD) epidemic in Chuuk. The NCD clinic focused on evaluation of diabetic and hypertensive patients' treatment and education. Physician assistants Tina Heinrich and Matthew Marsh, and diabetes educator Betty Jo Wresch, RN, did consultations and education classes with patients. Finally, the team also offered continuing medical education (CME) classes for the Chuuk State healthcare providers which focused on diabetes, hypertension, arthritis and inflammation, and red-eye treatment.
