Free clinics to host statewide conference in Greenville
February 4, 2020
Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette will address conference attendees
The S.C. Free Clinic Association (SCFCA) will host its annual statewide conference at the Westin Poinsett in downtown Greenville, Feb. 5-7, with this year’s conference theme being PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES.
“The doctors, medical professionals and all those who give freely of their time to S.C. free medical clinics provide an invaluable service to their patients and their communities,” says S.C. Lt. Governor Pamela Evette who will attend and address the conference on Thurs. “Not only do they offer medical services, but they also provide health education and preventative care, meaning every dollar received allows for $10 in services. I am grateful to these men and women for all they do for their fellow South Carolinians and for the Palmetto State.”
According to Virginia Ann Mullikin, SCFCA’s executive director, “Free clinics look for every avenue and opportunity to be able to provide quality medical care for their patients. They think ‘outside of the box’ and collaborate with partners to be able to treat the whole person.”
Wednesday’s conference slate will include a presentation and training event conducted by a Prisma Health educator who will provide an eight-hour course on Mental Health First Aid beginning at 9:00 a.m. This course will enable clinic employees to better recognize symptoms for patients in need of mental health services.
Thursday’s slate, which will kick-off the conference in earnest, will also begin at 9:00 a.m. and will feature speakers including, but not limited to, Lt. Gov. Evette; Nicole Lamoureux, CEO of the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics; and Breanna Lathrop, author of HOW NEIGHBORHOODS MAKE US SICK.
Friday’s slate will include presentations and discussions of pilot projects which will incorporate community health workers into the free clinics and expand tele-health services in clinics going forward.
“Last year, our clinics served more than 41,000 unduplicated patients,” says Mullikin. “That number increased by more than 1,000 patients from 2018.”
The SCFCA is 501(c)(3) non-profit organization as are each of the 41 independent SCFCA-member clinics operating in 25 counties across the Palmetto State.
The Westin Poinsett Hotel is located at 120 S. Main Street in downtown Greenville.
– For more information about the SCFCA and S.C.’s free clinics, please visit www.scfreeclinics.org.
