Women receive free health screening

The Conejo Free Clinic, in partnership with Kaiser Permanente of Thousand Oaks, recently hosted the seventh annual free women's health screening for 102 underinsured and uninsured women at Kaiser's facilities in Thousand Oaks.

"We had over 100 women attending the free clinic," said Teresa Seeley, the clinic's executive director. "The women started lining up more than two hours prior to the start of the health screening at 9 a.m."

The event covered a multitude of tests, including breast selfexam and breast cancer education, breast examination by healthcare provider, blood pressure, cholesterol, Pap smear, diabetes, thyroid disorders, anemia and other health issues.

Ventura County Medical Services provided mammograms on site, and 83 of the women received a free mammogram.

Six volunteer providers made the three-hour clinic run smoothly.

Doctors, nurse practitioners and physician's assistants peformed the exam room services, breast and pelvic exams, and Pap smears.

Fifteen volunteer nurses— registered nurses, medical assistants and LVNs—assisted the providers.

Seventytwo other professional/skilled volunteers and community volunteers ushered the women patients through all of the testing.

The Conejo Free Clinic's services are utilized by the working poor, uninsured, underinsured, unemployed, single parent households and students.

More than 100,000 individuals in Ventura County are without insurance.

An additional 17,000 will lose medical coverage in 2010 as a result of MediCal budget cuts.

Unemployment has continued to rise in Ventura County since 2001 with the county ranking 48 of 58 in poverty statistics for the state.

The Conejo Free Clinic is more than 32 years old.

With the support of professionals, the clinic will continue to provide services to those in need of medical and legal services, according to clinic officials.

For more information, go to www.conejofreeclinic.org.