Los Angeles, CA – September 22, 2006?- AMD Week Activities September 18-22, 2006 – The Macular Degeneration Partnership (MDP), an outreach program of The Discovery Eye Foundation (DEF), took its message of early detection and treatment to Capitol Hill to mark Age-Related Macular Degeneration Week.
MDP Program Director Judith Delgado met with lawmakers and politicians to raise awareness. She points out, ?There is a growing epidemic of AMD and many of our legislators have family members with the disease, so they are at risk as well.?
MDP further educated members of Congress and their staff on the impact of AMD by distributing vision simulation cards. The visit was supported by a grant from AMD Alliance International and was led by The Seniors Coalition.
In recognition of AMD Week, MDP also helped in an important roundtable discussion, ?Prioritizing the Patient: A Holistic Approach to AMD Case Management.? Patient advocates from across the country convened to discuss the importance of clear communication between eye doctors and their patients.
The session?s primary goal was to construct a document to be approved for use in helping physicians better communicate with their patients. Guidelines discussed included the need to use appropriate and sensitive language in presenting the diagnosis to patients and family members, and the need for referrals to information, support resources and vision rehabilitation specialists.