housands of uninsured people are expected to take advantage of three free clinics the National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC) will host in New Orleans on Nov. 14, Little Rock on Nov. 21 and Kansas City on Dec 9-10.
“Large turnouts are expected at all of the events, so we will urge people to register in advance to be seen by health care professionals at the free clinics,” NAFC Executive Director Nicole Lamoureux said. “But as many walk-ins as possible will be accommodated on a first-come-first-served basis.”
About 400 doctors and other medical providers and 700 volunteers are expected to participate in each of the C.A.R.E. (Communities Are Responding Everyday) Clinics. They will provide care for all types of medical issues at no cost to taxpayers. The events will be held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, the State House Convention Center in Little Rock and Kansas City Convention Center Bartle Hall in Kansas City.
The upcoming events will be similar to another one-day, free clinic Sept. 26 in Houston that served almost 2,000 patients. Dr. Mehmet Oz, the health expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show and host of his own The Dr. Oz Show, participated in the Houston clinic.
“Free clinics have been serving America’s working poor since the 1960s, but over the last year, our patient base has grown to include white-collar and blue-collar workers who have lost their jobs and health insurance,” Lamoureux said. “People without insurance are up to four times less likely to have a regular source of health care and are more likely to die from health-related problems.”
More than 1,200 free clinics across the United States provide health care for uninsured people. The care is provided at no charge to the recipients, and the majority of free clinics use no federal or state funding. During 2008, four million people received health care from free clinics with the help of more than six million volunteers, including doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and support staffs.
All types of medical volunteers will be needed to help with the free clinic events in New Orleans, Little Rock and Kansas City. Non-medical volunteers also will be needed to help with documentation, logistical support and patient intake, as well as assisting patients with scheduling follow-up appointments at their local charitable clinics.
For more information, patients may call toll-free 877-233-5159 for the New Orleans clinic, 877-236-7617 for the Little Rock clinic, or 877-249-5030 for the Kansas City clinic. Information for patients and volunteers is also available online at: freeclinics.us/.
About the National Association of Free Clinics
The National Association of Free Clinics is the only nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of more than 1,200 free clinics and the people they serve in the United States.
Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the NAFC is an effective advocate for the issues and concerns of free clinics, their volunteer workforce of doctors, dentists, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, technicians and other health care professionals, as well as the patients served by free clinics in communities throughout the nation.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. —
