Hundreds Receive Free Health Care in New Orleans Through the Help of Sponsors, Donors and Volunteers

WASHINGTON, DC, July 16, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) held another successful free clinic event in New Orleans this month. On July 3, 2013, part of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center was transformed into a massive doctors office, providing about 800 people with free medical care and information on local resources.

The C.A.R.E. Clinic, which stands for Communities Are Responding Everyday, truly exemplified the act of giving back and of volunteering, while at the same time highlighted the fact that there are still so many in this country who go without health care everyday.

"Many people are often surprised to hear that even after full implementation of the ACA, according to the Congressional Budget Office, there may be as many as 29 million people who are still without access to health insurance" said Nicole Lamoureux, Executive Director of the NAFC. "As conversations around the ACA continue, and as states such as Louisiana decide whether or not to expand Medicaid, the NAFC continues to highlight the ongoing need for better access to medical care throughout the nation."

The New Orleans C.A.R.E. Clinic not only provided people who have been without access to medical care to see a medical provider, have a variety of tests completed including electrocardiogram (EKG), cholesterol blood test, glucose test for diabetes, kidney testing, mental health counseling, pregnancy tests and ultrasounds to name a few, but it also connected patients with resource such as Free and Charitable Clinics in the area, as well as other safety net providers and additional important resources and health education.

This clinic was made possible due to the generous sponsors Covance and the Breast Cancer Survivors Foundation, along with generous donations from NAFC supporters. The clinic was also made possible through the support of Rx Outreach, which supplied free, 90-day mail order prescriptions for the patients, as well as Direct Relief USA and AmeriCares which both donated supplies.

"The purpose of our C.A.R.E. Clinics is to offer the underserved a way to receive the health care they need," said Lamoureux. "But this clinic also acted as outlet to connect the uninsured with area Free and Charitable Clinics and other health care resources who can provide ongoing care after the completion of the clinic. This all could not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors, partners, donors and volunteers, and for that we thank them."

This was the thirteenth massive free clinic the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics has sponsored. Similar clinic events treating over 15,000 patients combined have been held in Houston, New Orleans (three times), Kansas City, Little Rock, Hartford, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Charlotte, Tacoma and Dallas.   

For more information about the NAFC and how to donate to ensure the continuance of the C.A.R.E. Clinic, visit the NAFC website at: www.nafcclinics.org. 

A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=19901