Hundreds Attend Free Health Clinic [Updated]

Updated, Oct.20, 2:00 p.m. PDT | CareNow health clinic opened its doors Thursday to hundreds of anxious people waiting to receive free medical, dental or vision care over the next four days.

There are more than 800 medical professionals, including Dr. Mehmet Oz from "The Dr. Oz Show," are volunteering their time to help under served and uninsured Angelenos in the largest free health clinic. 

"I'm getting my mammagram, I'm getting my orthopedic work done," uninsured Patricia Hopkins said. "I'm going to take advantage of all they are offering here."

Other uninsured patients like Hopkins are grateful for the clinic. Otherwise, they aren't sure where to turn to.

"It's more than generous. Too many companies care about the almighty buck." Tim Young said. Young is unemployed and looking for dental and optometry care.

CareNow worked in partnership with Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was looking forward to helping county residents who can't afford health insurance.

"This is not an abstraction. This is concrete. When we think about 49 million Americans who have no health insurance," Ridley-Thomas said. "Let me bring that home for you if you will. Los Angeles county, where unemployment is highest in the nation, that number of those with no health insurance is 2.2 million people. And that's why we say care now, right now."

CareNow organizers handed out wristbands Monday afternoon to the thousands of Los Angeles residents.

The clinics will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., the last day being Sunday, October 23. Event organizers expect to serve 1,200 people each day. 

A similar event two years ago in Inglewood treated more than 14,000 people during an eight day event, amounting to a about $2.8 million in health care services.