Free Health, Dental, Vision Care to Be Offered on Maui, Molokai and Lanai
“Tropic Care Maui” to benefit residents, serve as rapid response training for military personnel
WAILUKU, Maui, Hawai`i – Mayor Alan Arakawa today announced that free health, dental and vision care will be offered to residents of Maui, Molokai and Lanai in early June. The program will include nine clinic days between June 4-12, 2013 on different days at several locations in Central Maui, West Maui, South Maui, Hana, Lanai and Molokai. Clinics will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or as posted at individual sites.
Performing the health care services will be approximately 400 uniformed personnel including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, ophthalmologists, dentists and others from active and reserved ranks of the armed forces around the United States. The military personnel will be participating in a rapid deployment exercise named Tropic Care 2013. Maui County was selected as the designated location for this free program after Mayor Arakawa signed an official request to the U.S. Department of Defense in 2011.
The free clinics will be open to all residents. Identification will not be required, and no fees will be charged. People can expect health services that include physical examinations, vision checks (and single-lens glasses), basic dental care and nutrition counseling, among others. The clinics will not accept advance appointments and participants will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.
“This program will provide vital health care services for residents, especially those who don’t have or cannot afford any medical insurance,” Mayor Alan Arakawa said. “We are fortunate to have received a green light with the application we submitted many months ago, and I am confident that hundreds, if not thousands, of Maui County residents will benefit from these services.”
Tropic Care is being made possible through collaboration between Mayor Alan Arakawa, the State of Hawaii Department of Health and the Innovative Readiness Training Program of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. Last year Tropic Care helped an estimated 12,000 Kauai residents receive roughly $1 million in free health services, according to military officials.
“This opportunity will allow the Department of Health to save thousands of dollars and collect substantial and important data to map the landscape of Maui County’s health status,” added Dr. Lorrin Pang, Health Officer of the Maui County District. “Tropic Care is a huge undertaking but our Federal, State and County levels of government are doing this so the community can reap the benefits.”
Joe Pontanilla, Mayor’s Office staff member tasked with helping coordinate the program, noted that if someone needs glasses, they can have a pair made for free. “Military personnel will also be equipped to administer basic lab tests, dispense medication, fill cavities and many other important health care services,” Pontanilla said. “This is truly a blessing for our community.”
Details on exact locations and days/times for each clinic will be released as soon as logistics are finalized.
For more information, call Communications Director Rod Antone at 270-8222 or via email at [email protected].
TROPIC CARE MAUI COUNTY UPDATE:
Dental Care, Medication, Other Questions Answered
WAILUKU, Maui, Hawai`i – The following is a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) that pertain to the TROPIC CARE MAUI COUNTY clinics that will begin next week on Maui, Molokai and Lanai.
Clinics will be held in Central, South and West Maui, in Hana, and on Molokai and on Lanai. For details on clinic locations, days and hours, visit www.mauicounty.gov/TropicCare or call the Mayor’s Office at 270-7855.
Performing the health care services will be approximately 400 uniformed personnel including doctors, nurses, ophthalmologists, dentists and others from active and reserved ranks of the armed forces around the United States. The military personnel will be participating in a rapid deployment exercise named Tropic Care Maui County. Maui County was selected as the designated location for this free program after Mayor Arakawa signed an official request to the U.S. Department of Defense in 2011.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I make an appointment to receive care at Tropic Care Maui County?
No. Tropic Care clinics will not accept advance appointments; participants will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.
Do I need to bring I.D. to receive care?
No. Identification will not be required, and no fees will be charged. Non-citizens, individuals with no local address and those with no health insurance are welcome to attend.
Will Tropic Care give me free health insurance?
No, it will not provide insurance. However, Tropic Care Maui County will offer free health care services by military personnel participating in a rapid deployment exercise.
What if I need a doctor’s note signed or a form saying that my child had a physical exam? Will those forms be available there?
No. You are responsible for bringing any forms and records that you need signed by medical personnel. The members of the U.S. military that are providing these free clinics do not have these forms on hand; however, they have said that they will sign any appropriate forms that people have with them that pertain to the services received. These include the Students Health Record-Form 14, the Sports/Athletic Physical Examination Form, College Entry Physical Examination Form, dental health certificates and the Physical Examination form for children and special needs adults entering foster care homes.
What kind of dental care will be provided during Tropic Care?
The dental care services provided will primarily include dental screenings with limited filling of dental cavities not requiring sedation, extractions, and limited cleaning of teeth depending on available time.
What kinds of things will be covered during a basic health screening?
A health screening usually includes height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration.
What kinds of services will NOT be provided?
Vaccinations; dental work requiring sedation; dental caps, dentures, root canals, fluoride application, sealant or braces work; waist measurements.
Will any medications be given out through Tropic Care?
Only over-the-counter medications may be administered, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen (Tylenol). No prescriptions will be written and prescription medication will not be provided.
Will Tropic Care take place again next year?
No, Tropic Care Maui County is a one-time event.
What happens if a person needs more care after the Tropic Care visit?
If further care is needed, Tropic Care participants will be referred to their established medical, optometry or dental health provider. If the individual does not have an established relationship with a provider, a community resource list of affordable services will be provided.
Can I volunteer to help with Tropic Care Maui County?
Yes. To sign up, email [email protected]. Volunteers will be utilized to help keep things flowing smoothly as participants line up and wait to receive care, including helping answer questions, keep people calm, and assist with the safe flow of people into and out of the clinics. Volunteers should be flexible, and willing to serve in various capacities as needed.
How old do I need to be to volunteer with Tropic Care Maui County, and how long will the volunteer shifts be? Is there a need for bilingual volunteers?
All volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. Each shift will be 4 hours long, and volunteers need to show up 30 minutes prior to the start of their shift to receive briefing / instruction. Yes, bilingual volunteers are especially needed to help provide information to non-English speaking participants.
For more information:
www.mauicounty.gov/TropicCare or call the Mayor’s Office at 270-7855
