Columbia Free Medical Clinic Receives $10,000 from Providence Hospitals and Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina
October 26, 2012
COLUMBIA, SC – October 26, 2012 – Providence Hospitals and the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina have awarded $10,000 to The Free Medical Clinic of Columbia. Primarily serving patients from Richland and Lexington counties, The Free Medical Clinic of Columbia provides health care—at no cost—to individuals and families who cannot pay for services and who have no health insurance.
Pictured at right: Tom Keith, president of the Sisters of Charity Foundationof South Carolina, (left) and George Zara, president and CEO ofProvidence Hospitals (right) present Dennis Coker, executive director ofthe The Columbia Free Medical Clinic, (middle) with a check for$10,000.
George Zara, president and CEO of Providence Hospitals explains, “Providence is honored to present The Free Medical Clinic of Columbia with this grant along with our Sister ministry, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina. The clinic’s dedication to Columbia’s underserved residents is true to the spirit of our hospitals’ mission, which is to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to God’s people.”
Located on Harden Street, The Free Medical Clinic provides free primary care for patients who have nowhere else to go. Many of their patients suffer from chronic diseases and conditions. The clinic also provides medications, diabetic supplies and patient education.
“The Foundation’s vision is for families in this state to the resources to live out of poverty, and access to health care is often a determining factor,” said Tom Keith, president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina. “The Free Medical Clinic serves families residing around both the hospital and foundation and this funding will help strengthen and support their work as they serve those in our community.”
About Providence Hospitals
Providence Hospitals is the Midlands leading provider of cardiovascular and orthopaedic services. Providence is composed of two hospitals, thirteen physician practices, a network of rehabilitation centers, three sleep centers, a school of cardiac diagnostics and is an accredited chest pain center. In total, Providence employs about 2,000 dedicated staff. Founded in 1938 by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Augustine, Providence is known state wide for outstanding clinical quality and compassionate care. The Providence open heart surgery program has ranked consistently in the top 15% of open-heart programs since 2006. Both the orthopaedic and cardiac services have received the South Carolina BlueCross BlueShield center of distinction designation.
providencehospitals.com
About the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina
The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, established in 1996, is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System. The Foundation is committed to addressing the needs of the poor and underserved in all 46 South Carolina counties, and strategically uses resources to reduce poverty through action, advocacy and leadership.
sistersofcharitysc.com
