Feb. 12--More than 18 percent of Augusta's population is uninsured, and that number will continue to grow, said East Central Public Health District Director Ketty Gonzalez.
"Considering the financial situation, there are a number of people who are uninsured or underinsured," Dr. Gonzalez said. "They are looking for health care providers they can afford."
The health department provides low-cost health services for residents, but there are also private medical centers across the area that provide those services.
Some clinics are seeing an increase in the number of people opting for treatment at a free clinic rather than from a private doctor, said Sister Fran Voivedich, outreach nurse at St. Vincent de Paul Health Center.
"We're busier than ever, and our patients are sicker with multiple problems," she said.
Columbia County has seen a similar trend, said Dr. Al Lightsey, medical director for Faith Care Clinic. The clinic treated more than 150 people last year, and appointments are quickly filling up this year.
"A lot of people thought free clinics would be a Band-Aid, but it's really meeting a need," he said. "Folks are getting a chance they wouldn't get otherwise."
Reach Stephanie Toone at (706) 823-3215 or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com
Several clinics in the area serve uninsured, low-income individuals for free or for a small fee:
Columbia County
Faith Care Clinic
825 North Belair Road, Evans
Contact: (706) 829-2584
Columbia County Health Department Clinic locations:
616 Government Center, Evans
Contact: (706) 868-3330
5915 Euchee Creek Drive, Grovetown
Contact: (706) 556-3727
6420 Pollards Pond Road, Appling
Contact: (706) 541-0753
Aiken County
Free Medical Clinic of Aiken County
Alan B. Miller Building, USC Aiken School of Nursing
471 University Parkway, Aiken
Contact: (803) 641-2825
Aiken County Health Department
828 Richland Ave. W., Aiken
Contact: (803) 642-7543
802 E. Martintown Road, North Augusta
Contact: (803) 278-3621
-----
To see more of The Augusta Chronicle, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://augustachronicle.com.
Copyright (c) 2009, The Augusta Chronicle, Ga.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.