Nearly 1,000 individuals receive care at the Baton Rouge Free Clinic

Date: 03/20/19

Baton Rouge, La. – The two-day Baton Rouge Free Clinic provided no-cost dental, vision and medical care to 985 people from across the state.

Held March 15-16, 2019, at the Baton Rouge Airport Multiplex Building, the event brought together approximately 650 volunteers to provide no-cost dental services to 381 patients and physical health services to 292 patients. An additional 312 individuals received vision services, and a total of 356 prescriptions were filled over the two-day clinic. No pre-qualifications were necessary to receive services at the clinic, which was themed, “Love Heals.”

“We are very pleased with the impact of the clinic and with how well our community came together to make it successful,” says Baton Rouge Free Clinic Director and local Councilwoman Donna Collins-Lewis. “We are grateful for our sponsor, Louisiana Healthcare Connections, and our many other community partners for their commitment to improving health in Baton Rouge.”

This year marks the clinic’s second year in Baton Rouge. In 2018, the clinic served more than 1,400 residents through the efforts of nearly 1,600 volunteers over three days. Louisiana Healthcare Connections has been a dedicated sponsor of the event since its inaugural year, providing both financial and volunteer support as well as offering on-site healthcare education to attendees. More than 110 of the Healthy Louisiana Medicaid health plan’s employees served as volunteers at this year’s clinic, including senior medical staff.

“Helping to build healthy communities is the core of our mission, and for us, the Baton Rouge Free Clinic is an ideal opportunity to do just that,” says Louisiana Healthcare Connections Senior Vice-President of Medical Affairs Dr. Marcus Wallace. “We are very appreciative of all the volunteers, local businesses, and city officials and personnel who worked so diligently to make such a difference in the lives of so many.”