Find a Free Medical Clinic

If you're a patient: Do you lack health insurance? Are you waiting for the public option?
If you're a physician: Do you wish to volunteer at a free clinic? 

You can find a free medical clinic by searching the database of free clinics listed on the National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC) website.

The National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC) is the only nonprofit 501c(3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of the more than 1,200 free clinics and the people they serve in the United States.

What is a free clinic? Here's a definition:

"Free clinics are volunteer-based, safety-net health care organizations that provide a range of medical, dental, pharmacy, and/or behavioral health services to economically disadvantaged individuals who are predominately uninsured. Free clinics are 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, or operate as a program component or affiliate of a 501(c)(3) organization. Entities that otherwise meet the above definition, but charge a nominal fee to patients, may still be considered free clinics provided essential services are delivered regardless of the patient's ability to pay."

I recently took a look to see how many free clinics I could find in various states. You may be quite surprised to find free health clinics that are independent. To view the list of free clinics in your state, visit: http://www.freeclinics.us/freeclinic.php

Let the NAFC help you locate a Free Clinic in your area.

Directory of free health clinics (Free Clinic Foundation of America)

As more people lose jobs and lose their health care benefits, the search for free health clinics may become more critical. One nice (but not quite comprehensive) resource is the Free Clinic Foundation of America (http://www.freeclinicfoundation.com)

If we see a public option emerge, then health care should become universally available. However, in the meanwhile, these free health clinics may become life-saving resources for families and individuals. I've volunteered at some free clinics as a physician and I've always found it rewarding to help people who are grateful for the care they're receiving. Have you ever provided free medical care?

Providing free medical care

I've been on several overseas medical missions trips where we provided free medical care. I even went on some trips as a medical student. We distributed medications, performed some minor surgeries, and evaluated patients for all types of acute and chronic medical conditions. Since we were only there for a short amount of time, we could only make a small impact. However, other medical teams would frequently visit the same towns and villages, so they would receive intermittent care through the year.

Now, you don't even need to go overseas to provide free medical care to those who are in need. According to the WSJ Health Blog: "More than 2,000 people showed up the other day at a Southern California basketball arena seeking free medical and dental care... A nonprofit group called Remote Area Medical is holding a week-long clinic at the Inglewood Forum, the former home of the L.A. Lakers...There weren’t enough medical volunteers to treat everyone who showed up for the clinic’s first day yesterday, and hundreds of people spent the night in the parking lot in hopes of getting care today, the L.A. Times reports."

I've provided free medical care overseas and also in several major U.S. cities. There are so many people in this country who need medical care but they're unable to afford it. We don't have enough groups like Remote Area Medical to provide free care to those who lack health insurance.

More free medical care

Watch this CNN video of people receiving free medical care in Virginia.

AstraZeneca Expands AZ&Me Prescription Savings Program

During these difficult economic times, any type of savings program is appreciated. AstraZeneca is expanding its prescription savings program by extending assistance to qualifying patients who have recently lost their jobs, had their incomes reduced, or experienced a change in marital status or family size.

"AstraZeneca is committed to helping patients get the medicines they need," said Rich Fante, US President, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP. "Our responsibility goes beyond developing medicines to also making them available to those who cannot afford them."

Here are the details of the AZ&Me(TM) Prescription Savings programs:

• AZ&Me(TM) Prescription Savings program for people without insurance: AstraZeneca provides AstraZeneca medicines at no cost to qualifying individuals without prescription drug coverage who make up to $30,000 per year and families of four who make up to $60,000 per year.
• AZ&Me(TM) Prescription Savings program for people with Medicare Part D: AstraZeneca provides low-cost AstraZeneca medicines for qualifying Medicare Part D patients who make up to $30,000 per year or couples who make up to $40,000 per year.
• AZ&Me(TM) Prescription Savings program for healthcare facilities: AstraZeneca provides AstraZeneca medicines at no cost to qualifying non-profit healthcare facilities, such as disproportionate share hospitals, community health centers and community free clinics. This program connects patients to the AstraZeneca medicines they need at the same time and place they receive their treatment.

Patients can learn more about the AZ&Me(TM) Prescription Savings program at www.azandme.com or by calling 1-800-AZandMe.

Providing free medical care

You don't have to go on a medical missions trip to provide free medical care. I've personally had the opportunity to deliver some free medical care here in the U.S. and also in Mexico, Ecuador, and Honduras (these were through medical missions trips). It's very rewarding to provide free healthcare and it seems like more U.S. physicians and other U.S. healthcare professionals are spending time to volunteer and help the community during these difficult economic times. Are you willing to volunteer right now? I realize that we may not be in the midst of a national disaster like Hurricane Katrina, but our nation is facing some serious economic challenges and many individuals and families are in desperate need of medical care.

Watch this brief CNN video as hundreds line up for free medical care at a Remote Area Medical event in East Tennessee. Can't see the video? Make sure you're on Medicine and Technology