NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Volunteers Are Urgently Needed for Free Health Clinic for Uninsured

"More than 18 percent of Georgia's non-elderly population is uninsured, demonstrating a great need for access to free medical services," National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC) Executive Director Nicole Lamoureux said. "In addition to providing needed medical services on the day of the event, this clinic is designed to connect the uninsured to ongoing medical resources."

The C.A.R.E. (Communities Are Responding Everyday) Clinic is scheduled for March 27 at the Georgia International Convention Center near Atlanta from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. It is sponsored by the NAFC and the Georgia Free Clinic Network (GFCN), which includes 18 free clinics around the state.

"Medical volunteers are urgently needed including doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, emergency medical technicians, medical administrators, licensed clinical social workers and more," GFCN Executive Director Donna Looper said. "We also need non-medical volunteers to help with documentation, logistical support, patient intake and translation, as well as to be patient greeters and escorts."

Volunteers can find out more information and register online at http://www.regonline.com/Atlanta_CARE_Clinic. Those interested in attending the clinic as a patient may call 1-877-233-5159 to make an appointment now.

"It is important to note that being uninsured is not the same as being unemployed," Lamoureux said. "About 83 percent of uninsured people have jobs. At past C.A.R.E. Clinics, we found that many of the patients worked at two or more jobs but did not receive health insurance benefits. Some even worked as nurses or for insurance companies but still did not have insurance themselves."

Dr. Craig Dietz, the Clinical Director of the Kansas City Free Clinic, has been a volunteer at all of the previous C.A.R.E. clinics that were held in Houston, New Orleans, Little Rock, Kansas City and Hartford. At these clinics over 7,000 uninsured people received free medical care. "Being involved in these clinics has been a rewarding experience," says Dr. Dietz. "We look forward to working with the Georgia community and adding to the approximately 7,000 previous C.A.R.E. clinic volunteers to help put on this important event."

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 near 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.

SOURCE National Association of Free Clinics