Two-Time Daytime Emmy® Award-Winning Host, Dr. Mehmet Oz, to Volunteer at the Largest Free Clinic of its Kind

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CareNow, a Los Angeles based nonprofit, will host the largest free clinic of its kind from October 20-23 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, located at 3939 S. Figueroa Street in Los Angeles. Volunteering at the clinic will be Dr. Oz, two-time Daytime Emmy® Award-winning host of the Daytime Emmy® Award-winning "The Dr. Oz Show" (KABC-TV, Channel 7, weekdays 3 p.m.), and vice-chair and professor of surgery at Columbia University. Dr. Oz will join more than 800 medical volunteers at the massive free clinic to provide free medical, dental and vision care to an estimated 5,000 uninsured and underserved individuals and families in Los Angeles.

"I am honored to be a part of this CareNow/LA Clinic, which provides medical care to people who need it the most," said Mehmet Oz, M.D. "Making sure that we provide medical care for everyone who needs it should be top of mind for our nation, and I am proud to work among CareNow and their partners to make this happen in Los Angeles."

Last October, CareNow partnered with Maria Shriver to produce the Modern House Call – a massive free clinic in Long Beach that ran in conjunction with the Women's Conference. Prior to that, the same team of local providers and organizers collaborated with Remote Area Medical (a Tennessee-based organization) to produce two large free clinics in Los Angeles. Together, these three events served 15,330 Angelenos and provided 36,120 medical, dental and vision services.

"We are very proud to have a renowned medical figure like Dr. Oz volunteer along with many other compassionate California medical and dental professionals," said clinic organizer Don Manelli. "This year's clinic will set a new standard of care; every patient needing follow-up care after the event will be referred to a "medical home," a local clinic which has volunteered to accept patients for continuing care. Representatives from these clinics will be on site to make appointments before patients leave the Arena."

LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and his staff have worked with the CareNow team to help develop the clinic and coordinate the participation of numerous county agencies.

Patients will need a wristband to receive services at the clinic. Wristbands will be distributed on Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. The parking lot opens at 7 a.m.

CareNow is seeking financial and in-kind support to cover costs associated with supplies and food for volunteers and patients. Donations can be made online at www.carenowusa.org. For information on corporate sponsorship opportunities or to provide an in-kind donation, please contact Jackie Quintanilla at 323.202.1053 or [email protected].

To date, CareNow has confirmed the following sponsors and partners: Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, L.A. Care Health Plan, VSP Vision Care, Essilor  Laboratories, Geffen School of Medicine of UCLA, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Southside Coalition of Community Clinics, Los Angeles Dental Society, VOSH, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, Henry Schein Dental, Western Reserve University, Southern California School of Optometry, Molina Healthcare, Anthem Blue Cross and more than fifty other healthcare organizations, manufacturers and suppliers.

For more information about CareNow/LA, please visit the event page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CareNowUSA or follow CareNow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CareNowUSA.

About CareNow
CareNow brings help and hope to the uninsured and underserved in America's urban centers. The organization works with local community resources and volunteers to produce free clinics providing comprehensive medical, dental, and vision care to individuals and families who are without access to the healthcare they need. There is no cost to the patient for the services provided. Clinics are staffed by professional and general volunteers, and supported by donations – both financial and in-kind – from local and national supporters. To learn more about CareNow and this year's clinic, please visit the organization's website at www.carenowusa.org.

Note to media: Media interested in covering the clinic on any of the clinic days (Oct. 20-23) will need to pre-register and get clearance to film and take photos on the clinic floor.

SOURCE CareNow