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Named for Broadway’s beloved caricaturist, The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic was established in 2003 with a $500,000 grant from Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS to address the immediate needs of members of the entertainment community who are uninsured or underinsured.
People in the entertainment industry work in uncertain careers and may not make medical care a priority, ignoring symptoms, concealing diagnoses, and putting off treatment. The Hirschfeld Clinic provides necessary medical services and works to prevent illness and emergency room visits that result from neglecting health care.
The clinic provides primary and specialty care, health screenings, and patient education. Lab testing provided through the clinic is free to uninsured patients.
In 2008, BC/EFA awarded $750,000 to The Actors Fund for the continued operation of The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic.
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In calendar year 2008, The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic provided the following services to the 1,298 patients who walked through its doors at The Aurora:
- 2,269 client visits;
- 2,038 primary care examinations;
- 840 preventive health examinations and follow-up;
- 637 sick/urgent care visits;
- 178 mammograms;
- 227 gynecological examinations;
- 181 dermatological exams and
- 706 flu shots
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Primary care at the clinic includes routine preventive medical care, ongoing management of medical problems and urgent sick visits. Preventative care includes flu vaccinations, mammograms, prostate exams, breast examinations, tuberculosis and diabetes screening, blood pressure and cholesterol testing, vision screening and a lot more.
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“Thank you so much for all the kindness, time and medical services made available to me at the clinic. What a dream come true for so many of us trying to make a living as performers, going from job to job yet seldom putting together the weeks required in any one year for union coverage. Having no health insurance, I could not be more grateful."
- Client, The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic
“Thank you so much for your care and sharing your time with me. The coupling of your skills, compassion and generosity is greatly appreciated, particularly when I was in such pain. For everything that’s being done and made available at the Hirschfeld Clinic, I am so grateful.”
- Client, The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic |
For more information about The Actors Fund, visit www.actorsfund.org.
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