National Association of Free Clinics

[hotflashion, BSN, RN]

I didn't see this organization mentioned in any of the threads and a search wasn't successful (or useful) so I thought I'd mention it here.

http://www.freeclinics.us/index.php

From the organization's 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.

Founded in 2001 and headquartered in 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, and the patients served by free clinics in communities throughout the nation."

I haven't had any experience with them but they are the organization that recently held a free clinic in Houston, Texas, that was widely publicized: 700 volunteers on a Saturday morning (9/26/09) saw 2,000 uninsured patients. According to the association's president, the NAFC treated 4 million people in 2008; they expect to see 8 million in 2009. Texas reportedly has the highest number of uninsured people in the country.

If you go to the website you can look up free clinics in your state. These appear to be permanently established free clinics, though the organization runs free clinic days in various locations around the country.

[honeyblpn]

Thanks for the post! I plan on volunteering at a free clinic near my home!

[guitarhero]

How can we apply to volunteer? I didn't see anything on the website.

[hotflashion, BSN, RN]

If you click Events, there are some one day clinics advertised with contact info for patients and volunteers.

Otherwise, what I would do is click Free Clinic > Find a Free Clinic, then call the clinics listed. Or Google to see if the clinics listed have websites. The one clinic near me has a website and volunteer info for that clinic is listed there.

HF

[MagnoliaBlossom]

I have been working (volunteering) at a free clinic in our area for almost three years now.

Ours is for the working poor. Pts. must be working (or have worked within the last three months), make

less than 250% of poverty level per person in the household and have no insurance.

We provide medical care with all volunteer doctors or NPs and our two area hospitals rotate doing labs and

x ray services. All meds are free.

It is a wonderful program and we have a blast. We have a morning clinic on Monday with only one retired doc and we have 4 docs/NPs every Tuesday evening.

I have done medical missions in Honduras for 12 years but this keeps my volunteer spirit going all year long.

[Akeos]

Thank you so much! I've been looking for free clinics to volunteer at with no luck until now!