Stamford-based Americares is partnering with Quest Diagnostics to provide 10 clinics across the U.S. with no-cost diagnostic services for one year as a means of increasing access to care for low-income, uninsured and underinsured patients.
The recipients of this offering are Christ Clinic in Katy, Texas; Community Health Services of Union County in Monroe, North Carolina; Hope Clinic of McKinney, Texas; Lake County Free Clinic in Painesville, Ohio; Mission Lexington Inc., dba Mission Health Lexington in Lexington, Kentucky; San Francisco Free Clinic; San José Clinic in Houston; Shepherds Clinic Inc. in Baltimore; The Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington / Mother of Mercy Free Medical Clinic in Arlington, Virginia; and Universal Heritage Institute in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Additionally, four clinics in Baltimore, Chicago, Houston and Richmond, Virginia, will each receive a grant made possible by the Quest Diagnostics Foundation to implement or sustain telehealth services. The telehealth funding may be used to purchase equipment or subscriptions to telehealth platforms, as well as for technical support with implementation, policies and best practices.
Americares noted that clinics providing services to non-English speaking populations and marginalized communities were given priority.
“Free and charitable clinics, which are a critical safety net in communities all across America, often rely on donations and need support to provide patients with essential health services,” said Americares Vice President of U.S. Programs Saqi Maleque Cho. “Telehealth is especially important for free clinic patients as it allows them the flexibility to see their health care provider without leaving work and losing income.”
Photo: Lab Technician Bianca Gonzalez prepares to draw blood from a patient at San José Clinic in Houston, one of 14 clinics benefitting from the expanded collaboration between Americares and Quest.
Photo by Mike Demas/Americares
