Some of the most important health interventions occur before a child can even say what's wrong. Thanks to a generous $5,000 challenge grant from the Southampton Bath & Tennis Club, Sun River Health has added a powerful new tool to pediatric care at our Krause Family Health Center: two handheld vision scanners that can screen infants and young children for vision concerns in under a minute.
Because the scanners are quick and non-invasive - no reading, speaking, or letter charts required - they're especially effective for children as young as six months old, as well as those with developmental or language barriers. That means potential vision problems can be caught early, before they become lifelong challenges.
Pediatricians and family medicine providers at Southampton have welcomed the new technology and now use it to screen patients starting at six months old during well-child visits, sick visits, and whenever a vision-related concern arises. The impact is already evident. Since going into service, the scanners have screened nearly 40 children and helped identify several patients with astigmatism, a vision issue that may otherwise have gone undetected until much later. On-site screening reduces care delays, enables providers to identify concerns and take next steps during routine visits, and spares families the cost and logistics of outside specialty referrals whenever possible.
And this is only the beginning. The scanners will serve hundreds more children in the years ahead, multiplying the value of the Club's investment many times over. The challenge grant also helped secure additional support for the full cost of just over $13,000, covering both scanners and staff training to ensure consistent, high-quality use.
Through this investment in the Southampton community, the Southampton Bath & Tennis Club is helping Sun River Health remove barriers to care, strengthen preventive services, and provide children with the clear start they deserve.
