National Association of Free Clinics is Thankful for New Orleans C.A.R.E. Free Clinic Partners Providing Needed Services to Uninsured

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Association of Free Clinics is teaming up with MSNBC's The Ed Show to hold a free medical clinic on August 29th in New Orleans, and both are thankful for the many partners providing crucial services to the area's uninsured.

The C.A.R.E. (Communities Are Responding Everyday) Clinic will be held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, where uninsured people can receive primary medical care as well as certain additional medical resources and health education.  Some of the additional resources include connection to free mammograms from the Breast Cancer Survivors Foundation, free mail-order medications through RxOutreach for prescriptions written at the clinic, and the Kidney TRUST's free rapid-screening program for kidney disease.

Breast Cancer Survivors Foundation (BCSF) is committed to "helping women survive" by providing free mammograms and diagnostic services to uninsured women. Through a BCSF Grant, the New Orleans C.A.R.E. Clinic will be the first C.A.R.E. Clinic to offer these diagnostic services in partnership with N.A.F.C. and St. Thomas Clinic.  

"Rx Outreach is pleased once again to partner with the N.A.F.C. to provide free medicine for people suffering from chronic conditions," says Michael Holmes, President of RxOutreach. Inc.  "At the New Orleans Free Clinic event, we will be donating free medications up to $250,000 in retail value.  This will provide up to 5,000 months of free medicine."

The Kidney TRUST's free rapid-screening program identifies individuals who have signs of kidney impairment.  All participants learn their results onsite and benefit from a personal education session to explain their results and any individual risk factors.  Everyone receives CKD education and prevention materials and is encouraged to seek medical follow-up as appropriate.

This will be the fifth free health clinic 'The Ed Show' has broadcast from. In the past few years alone, MSNBC has raised over $3 million in viewer donations to help this cause.

MSNBC's 'The Ed Show' telecasts weeknights at 10 p.m. EDT.

Additional services that will be available include free HIV testing through the NO/AIDS Task Force, mental health counseling, and ultrasounds through the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home's Mobile Pregnancy Care Center. Patients are encouraged to call 877-236-7617 to schedule an appointment.  Volunteers are still needed for the event and can find more information at www.regonline.com/2011NOLACARE.  

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

Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., the N.A.F.C. 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, as well as the patients served by free clinics in communities throughout the nation.

SOURCE National Association of Free Clinics