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Real Medicine Foundation Los Angeles Clinic at the Florence Western Medical Center
Update June 2008
By Joyce Colton
With the generous support of PhRMA, this September the Saturday morning clinic at the Florence Western Medical Center will address the allergy and asthma needs of South Los Angeles families by providing allergy services every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month. This concept, borrowed from an asthma program formerly located at MLK, will coincide with the clinic’s bi-weekly Saturday morning children’s program. During this time children will obtain essential treatment while also learning health education, computer literacy and other life skills education.
Allergy services will be provided by Dr. Sonal R. Patel, M.D., who specializes in Pediatric/Adult Allergy & Immunology at White Memorial Pediatric Medical Group. The PhRMA grant will supplement the cost of providing free or low cost services to under or uninsured patients. Other services supported by grant money include allergy and asthma education materials and free asthma medication and inhalers for families who are unable to afford medicines.
Millions of people suffer from allergies caused by every day exposures to agents such as dust mites, cat dander, and pollens. Agents can also cause allergic problems such as asthma, nasal and sinus allergies, hives, and even severe anaphylactic reactions.1 Asthma is one of the most common long-term diseases of children. It causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. Asthma can be controlled by following a medical management plan and by avoiding contact with environmental “triggers,” such as cockroaches, dust mites, furry pets, mold, tobacco smoke, and certain chemicals. Asthma is also one of the leading causes of school absenteeism and disproportionately effects low-income populations, minorities, and children living in inner cities. These children experience more emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths due to asthma than the general population.2
1 “Healthy Youth! Hot Topics, Asthma” National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion March 5, 2008, June 2, 2008 <http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/asthma/index.htm>.
2 “Asthma and Allergies in the Work Place” Center for Disease Control and Prevention June 2, 2008 <http://www.cdc.gov/health/asthma.htm>.
Update April 2008
By Joyce Colton
Real Medicine Foundation program leader, Kevin Thomas, MD, MPH recently took over the operations of the Florence Western Medical Center in South Los Angeles. This 5,000 sq. ft. facility on 73rd and South Western Ave. provides care to over 1,600 managed care and 1,600 fee-for-service patients. The clinic takes all government and most commercial insurance and provides care at very reasonable cash prices. Dr. Thomas ensures no one is turned away. The clinic is open Monday-Friday from 9-5 and every first and third Saturday of the month from 8-1 with services in Primary Care, Gastroenterology and Podiatry. The clinic also has on-site pharmacy, lab and radiology services. In the near future, the clinic has plans to be open for dental care, after-hours visits and urgent care. For an appointment call 323-778-2131 or stop by the clinic at 7301 South Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90047. Our plans also include food and clothing drives.
Saturday March 22, 2008, the Medical Center opened its doors to the community for a special Easter celebration. 75 people attended for Easter basket raffles and refreshments generously provided by Care 1st and Pacific Alliance Medical Center. There was even an appearance by the Easter bunny. Here are pictures from the event.
Photo Gallery Los Angeles Clinic at the Florence Western Medical Center March 22, 2008 (Click here to view all images in this series.)
The Real Medicine Foundation clinic located at the Florence Western Medical Center is focused on increasing health care access and health education to the South Los Angeles community. Today, the clinic is involved in numerous health programs such as The Road to Healthy Living,
Partnership for Prescription Assistance and participation in Black Barbershop Month. The clinic also plans to open its doors to neighborhood children every 1st and 3rd Saturday morning for health education, computer literacy and other life skills programs. There are also plans to open the Real Medicine Outreach Van supported and staffed by the Florence Western Medical Center. This van will provide services to children in need of free health care in surrounding neighborhood schools.
Road to Healthy Living
In partnership with the Pacific Alliance Medical Center, the RMF clinic is providing health education to neighborhood senior citizens with the objective of raising awareness about common health issues such as diabetes care and cancer screenings. While attending health classes and participating in annual exams or health screenings, seniors earn points towards items such as pre-paid phone cards, watches and AM/FM Radios. The RMF clinic provides health programs to seniors on the medical center premises as well as travels to assisted living and senior homes to provide services there.Partnership for Prescription Assistance
The RMF clinic is launching the "Help is Here" Express bus on May 8th. These big orange buses sponsored by the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) has traveled through 1,500 cities in the United States helping to enroll participants in private and public patient assistance programs including 180 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. The PPA has helped provide free or nearly free prescription medicines to 4 million people across the country. The big orange bus also helps to direct patients to free health care clinics in their neighborhoods.
Black Barbershop Month
Did you know May is Black Barbershop month is the state of California? Because African American men are disproportionately affected by diabetes and hypertension, the RMF clinic, in collaboration with the black barbershop health care program, will visit black barbershops in S. LA to provide diabetes and hypertension screenings during the month of May. The goal of this program is to facilitate health education, early detection and referral to an appropriate health care partner for regular treatment. By screening African American men for both diabetes and hypertension in barbershops in LA, we will save lives and address health care disparities.
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