By Lion Marcia Holpuch
What is LOVRNET?
LOVRNET is the LOw Vision Rehabilitation NETwork and your opportunity to really assist people with low vision. In partnership with the Wilmer Eye Institute, the Reader’s Digest Foundation and the Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, Multiple District 22 is the pilot program for a multi-faceted outreach to people with low vision. The goal of the program is to match people with low vision to the physicians, equipment and services that can improve their quality of life. Many volunteers are needed to make this a successful program.
There are two major volunteer options. One is to be a volunteer interviewer. The interviewer will go through a series of questions with the patient that are designed to quickly guide the eye care specialist to the medical interventions that may be most beneficial to the patient. Interviews are done over the phone at a mutually convenient time to the patient and the volunteer. A computer with an internet connection is required for the interviewer. By getting this information in advance from the patient, the doctor is better able to target solutions during the appointment with an improved outcome for the patient.
The second group of volunteers will provide more “hands-on” support and are known as the direct service providers. Service may be provided in any number of ways that help the patient. It may include providing transportation, simple set up of vision assistance equipment, changing batteries or bulbs in equipment or any number of simple tasks of assistance. In some cases, the patient may need help implementing the suggestions from the eye care specialist such as taping down throw rugs, reorganizing food in the pantry, changing wall switch cover plates, or improving lighting. Again, your involvement is at your convenience. The more volunteers we have in the program, the better we will be able to provide quick assistance to the patients.
Volunteers will be involved with medical patients, and all will have to be “HIPAA Certified.” The certification is done online via a video training/quiz format and takes about 30 minutes. You can take the course as many times as needed until you pass. Additional training is also provided online for both interviewers and direct service providers. This program is a major group effort of the clubs in Multiple District 22 and encompasses Delaware, Maryland and the District of Columbia. The Reader’s Digest Foundation and LCIF have provided grant money to fund this effort with the intent to duplicate the program across the country and the world.
To learn more, see the LOVRNET website at www.lionsvision.org/LOVRNET.