RotaCare Pittsburg Free Medical Clinic at St. Vincent de Paul, 2210 Gladstone Drive, Pittsburg, is scheduled to open on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. It will then be open weekly on Wednesdays during the same times. Appointments can be made on Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. by calling 925-439-2009. Walk-ins will also be seen, but on a first come first serve basis.
RotaCare Pittsburg’s mission is to bring free medical care for relief of pain and suffering to those who have the most need and the least access to medical care.
The clinic, developed by St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County, is sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Alamo and Pittsburg, and co-sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Antioch, Brentwood, Danville, Danville-Sycamore, Delta-Antioch, Dougherty Valley, San Ramon, and San Ramon Valley. As an Urgent Care/Primary Care Clinic, it will be providing quality, all-volunteer non-emergency medical care for adults with acute or chronic conditions who are uninsured or unable to pay for healthcare.
Services will include the treatment of diabetes, asthma, hypertension, cough, cold, flu or sore throat, minor lacerations, wound care, allergies, sinusitis, ear infections, urinary tract infections, sprains or muscle strains, headache/backache, and rashes, poison oak, minor skin infections and burns, mild stomach aches and prescription refills
Unemployment is 18%+ in East Contra Costa County, higher than the rest of the Bay Area. 25 % of Americans (according to NPR) do not have Health Insurance, and Heart disease is the foremost cause of death in Contra Costa County. Additionally, there are approximately 400,000 individuals diagnosed with diabetes in Contra Costa County. Prevalence is highest among Whites (37.8%) and Latinos (26.5%). There is a rapid increase in obesity with two- thirds of Contra Costa adults either overweight or obese.
A primary focus of the education/treatment will be in the areas of Diabetes/Asthma/Hypertension/ Obesity, as the low-income and uninsured are populations that are known to suffer disproportionately from these chronic conditions. Monthly Diabetes classes are being planned and will be offered in English and Spanish. Early intervention programs for pre-diabetes patients will also be implemented.
Funding for the Clinic to date has been made possible by the Keller Canyon Mitigation Fund, Bank of American Charitable Foundation, The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation, and the Kaiser Permanente Diablo Area Community Benefit Grants Program.
Current President Melanie and Past President Debbie are taking a trip to Monterrey Mexico to visit some of the Matching Grant projects the Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary Club helped fund as a result of their trip in 2008.