Updates: ‘free clinics’
About a month ago, Orange County hosted its first health care expo, providing free exams (dental and vision) to those who are uninsured and underinsured. The event was focus on the homeless and low-income population, but people from the middle class were also in attendance to receive basic check ups.
According to a 2007 California Health Interview Survey, 18.5 percent of Orange County adults do not have insurance. This number does not include the number of children who are not covered by health insurance; nor does the statistic include the number of people who have recently become uninsured due to the recent economic downturn.
Los Angeles County had two similar events, hosted by “Remote Area Medical”:http://www.ramfreeclinic.org/, that treated 6,556 patients in 2010, and more than 6,300 in 2009. The event provided dental services, HIV tests, podiatry services, mammograms, Pap smear and acupuncture services.
These events were made possible with private and public organizations, as well as local government support. Giving Children Hope’s “mobile medical clinic”:[~1978~] facilitated health services in the all three events.
With the economy not showing any signs of promise- unemployment rates are still up and job creation lags- and the new health care legislation not taking effect until 2014, should the county host more of these events?
Whose responsibility is it to help the underserved residents of Orange County have better access to affordable health care?
What do you think?
An estimated 1,000 people lined up on May 8 for Orange County’s first health expo to get free medical care as part of an event to help the uninsured and underinsured. The event offered free exams, including dental and vision, as well assistance to help residents learn their options for public health care.
Giving Children Hope’s mobile medical clinic was present to help facilitate basic care to those in attendance.
Giving Children Hope was a part of the second Los Angeles free health care clinic, its mobile medical clinic serving as pediatric center in the Los Angeles Sports Arena.
Here is the most recent statistics from Remote Area Medical/Los Angeles (RAM/LA:
“Remote Area Medical/Los Angeles (RAM/LA) finished its second Los Angeles free clinic after seven days at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. Supported by the Los Angeles medical, dental, and vision professional community, the free clinic provided services to approximately 6,556 patients total as of 2 p.m. Monday, May 3rd, with four hours left to go. Patients received free dental exams, dental cleanings, tooth extractions and root canals; vision exams and prescription glasses; mammograms, Pap smears, podiatry consultations, and more. RAM/LA’s first Los Angeles-based clinic, last year at the Forum in Inglewood, lasted eight days and provided approximately 14,500 services to 6,344 patients. This year, the RAM/LA clinic has provided approximately 16,120 services as of 2 p.m. on Monday, May 3rd over a seven-day clinic. An additional 1,620 services over last year have been provided, with a daily average of 2,300 services this year versus 1,820 last year. “This year’s event is about Los Angeles coming together, as a community, to help our own during this economic downturn,” said Don Manelli, RAM/LA event producer. “Over 60 organizations and community groups, large and small, have contributed all of the medical resources and volunteers to help make this clinic a tremendous success.”
“Read full press release here”:http://www.ramfreeclinic.org/assets/files/pdf/RAM-LA_May_3.pdf
Thanks to everyone who prayed for me for last night’s competition! While I am sad to report that GCHope did not win any prize money, I can say that I am thankful that I made it through the presentation! You can view it in our video channel.
In all, it was a great opportunity for us to tell our story and present our new program, the Mobile Medical Clinic to serve the under-served in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. We are excited about the program and know that we will find people who believe in the program and would be willing to support it.
Now I can check off my list of things to do in life: speaking in front of 400 people. Funny enough, I didn’t keel over OR fall off of the stage. God is good!
There’s a lot of talk from the White House these days about healthcare. We stay out of politics on the GCHope blog and office. But, we can tell you about our involvement in meeting the domestic healthcare needs.
Last week I was having a phone conversation with a 911 paramedic. He mentioned that he could talk as long as he wasn’t getting a 911 call and commented that so many people use 911 for non-emergencies. This led to a conversation about access to healthcare and if more affordable healthcare were available to the under-served that could allow our 911 paramedics to respond to life-threatening emergencies. Of course, education is a key component to such a strategy.
Today my morning meeting was regarding the medical needs in our community as we get ready to launch our new Mobile Medical Clinic. The Mobile Clinic will be maintained by GCHope as we partner with other organizations who will utilize it to provide care in our communities. We’ll eventually be equipping it with dental units so that the rooms can be utilized for both dental and general primary care.
The clinic will be making its debut on August 11th at the Forum in Los Angels as a part of the Remote Area Medical event. It will be the only center for pediatrics at the event.
My interview is with Dr. Nevins and Dr. Martinez as they talk about our partnership together serving the healthcare needs in our community.
We also put together two new packages for rural clinics or communities that deal with malaria, cholera, parasites and bacterial infections. The needs in developing countries are different from Western countries and GCHope recommends these new packages to our partners. If you are an organization in need, or you know of one, please have them visit our partner portal for more information or to submit an application.
