By: Las Vegas Now Staff
Thousands of Southern Nevadans are out of work and cannot afford health care. Now, there is a new program that could help them by providing free medical care.
The Take Care clinics inside of Walgreens' stores are offering some help for those who need it most.
“I feel terrible,” said Gavin Pring who has had better days. He thinks he might have strep throat.
“With guys we'll just wait and wait and hope it gets better.” Pring has no steady job and no health insurance. He and his wife Megan usually go to a UMC Quick Care clinic and pay cash but with the Take Care clinics, they now have more options.
The Take Care clinics inside of Walgreens stores are offering free medical care to patients who have lost their jobs and their medical insurance. Physician Assistant Jay Cology says treatments for minor ailments won't cost anything.
“Strep throat, bladder infections, respiratory problems, skin problems, rashes, things like that.” Cology said, describing the ailments treated for free.
They do ask that you provide proof that you are unemployed and you must be a pre-existing patient of Take Care clinics to receive treatment. Future patients will have to pay for at least one visit before they become eligible. Cology says right now the average wait time at their clinics is 2 to 20 minutes but it could get longer.
“We are anticipating a fairly good increase especially with the recent economic problems here in Las Vegas.”
For patients like Gavin Pring, any free help to get rid of his sore throat is more than welcome.
There are 13 of these clinics around the valley. The free health care is only available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Prescriptions and vaccinations are not included.
