Free health care clinic comes to KC

A free health clinic will open from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10. at the Kansas City Convention Center.

Uninsured residents of Missouri and Kansas who want to attend should call (877) 249-5030 as soon as possible to schedule appointments.

Almost 13 percent of residents in both states do not have health insurance, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

“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,” Sheri Wood, Kansas City Free Health Clinic executive director, said. “Not only does the clinic provide an opportunity for patients to receive long-awaited professional help for medical problems, but it is a way to connect them with free health clinics and other safety net providers in their areas.”

Care for all types of medical issues will be provided at no cost to participants or taxpayers.

“It is important to offer uninsured people this type of free medical attention,” Nicole Lamoureux, National Association of Free Clinics executive director, said. “These patients are unable to afford the care they need, and because of that, many of their conditions have gone undiagnosed.”

Various medical volunteers, including doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and support staff, are needed to help with the clinic.

Non-medical volunteers also are needed to help with documentation, logistical support, patient intake and assisting patients with scheduling follow-up appointments at local charitable clinics.

“Almost 1,000 people turned out for a similar one-day, free clinic in New Orleans (in November), so we urge people to register in advance to be seen by health care professionals at the Kansas City clinic,” Lamoureux said. “We also will try to accommodate as many walk-ins as possible, but that will be on a first-come-first-served basis.”

At the New Orleans clinic, 68 percent of patients had not seen a doctor in a year, 31 percent do not see a physician when they are sick, 31 percent go to emergency rooms for medical attention, 71 percent were diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, 57 percent were diagnosed with hypertension, 91 percent had three or more life-threatening diseases, and 67 percent left the clinic with one prescription or more.

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.

For more information about the free health clinic, visit freeclinics.us/.

Trackback(0)

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Write comment