“Free health care for all” on Kaua‘i this week has the state Department of Health phones ringing constantly. Tropic Care Kaua‘i will start Tuesday and run through March 9 at three clinic sites around the island from 8 a.m. to
“Free health care for all” on Kaua‘i this week has the state Department of Health phones ringing constantly.
Tropic Care Kaua‘i will start Tuesday and run through March 9 at three clinic sites around the island from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. with the exception of March 6, when the clinics will close at 3:30 p.m. The clinics will be open daily, including weekends.
Clinic sites include Kaua‘i Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji, located next to the Hanapepe Armory, Kaua‘i Community College and All Saints Episcopal Church in Kapa‘a.
Free services available at the clinics include physical examinations, vision checks and glasses, dental care, and nutrition and physical counseling.
Kaua‘i Public Health Nursing Supervisor Toni Torres, who is also acting as medical coordinator for Tropic Care Kaua‘i, said they have many received calls, particularly about dental care and vision checks.
People taking advantage of the free dental care can expect teeth cleaning, minor dental repairs and extractions.
People participating in vision checks can expect single lens glasses only, Torres said. They will have to come back to the clinic on another day to pick up their glasses.
She said the Tropic Care Kaua‘i free health care services will be on a first come, first served basis. Appointments will not be accepted, and people are reminded to bring whatever they need to be comfortable while waiting.
“They can bring their iPods, iPads, water, snacks, lunch, reading materials,” Torres said. “One lady even said she was bringing her beach chair.”
She said because of an anticipated lack of enough parking, people are encouraged to ride The Kaua‘i Bus to get to the sites. The county is offering free rides on The Kaua‘i Bus until March 10.
Carla Dusenberry of Hanapepe’s Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji, one of the three sites where clinics will be located, said people can park in the Hanapepe Armory parking lot.
The gate will be open, and people can come to the church where services will be available. She said a tent will be set up on the lawn area where people can wait once they sign in.
Each of the services will have a numbering system, and Torres suggested people wanting several services done should concentrate on the one they really need to get done.
Once that is taken care of, return to the clinic on another day to wait for another service, she suggested.
“But people must register first,” Torres said. “Once they receive a number, be prepared to wait. Everyone’s patience is needed and appreciated.”
She also suggested avoiding the first two days, if possible.
“This is going to take place until March 10, and there is a lot of time for people to have their health care issues addressed,” she said. “It’s going to take everyone’s patience and cooperation to make this work.”
Tropic Care 2012 is a partnership between the Kaua‘i District Health Office and the Department of Defense Reserve Affairs, the County of Kaua‘i and the State of Hawai‘i. It is also a part of Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s New Day initiative.
The free medical care is being provided to train about 400 military reservists — including physicians and dentists — from around the country in real-world, rapid deployment missions.
Call 241-3387 for more information, or to request special assistance or an auxiliary aid at least seven days in advance of a planned visit.
