MARION COUNTY

Munroe Regional Medical Center (MRMC), a hospital located in Ocala, has 77 volunteer health care professionals providing in-patient services to eligible residents of the county. MRMC, in collaboration with the Marion County Health Department and We Care of Marion County, provided health care to 113 indigent patients at a value of $65,583 in 1998. Volunteers are always needed and if you have any skills you would like to donate in a medical setting, please call the Volunteer Coordinator at (352) 351-7659.

Project Dentists Care of Marion County is coordinated through the Community Health Services (CHS) and provides emergency dental care to the residents of the county who meet the eligibility criteria. 34 local dentists volunteer their services and see patients referred from CHS on a rotation basis. If you are interested in volunteering your services, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at (352) 732-6599.

Radiology Associates of Ocala, P.A. volunteer their services to the Marion County Health Department in providing 300 free mammograms annually at no cost for eligible patients. The health department does the financial eligibility of all patients referred for this service. If you are thinking of offering your services, please contact the Health Department Volunteer Coordinator for details at (352) 629-0137, ext. 2080.

The Salt Springs Children’s Clinic, a free walk-in clinic, sees pediatric patients at the Salt Springs Community Center one Saturday a month. The clinic operates with one doctor, a nurse, and 5 staff volunteers. The pediatrician from Sarasota provides primary health care services to residents of Salt Springs and the surrounding area who meet the financial eligibility requirements. Last year, the clinic saw 154 children at an estimated value of $12,675. The coordinator expects the numbers to double for 1999.

We Care of Marion County, Inc., is a non-profit organization providing specialty health care for the medically indigent residents of Marion County. The 232 volunteer health care professionals saw over 1000 patients in 1998, donating an estimated $2 million in health care services. There is always a need for health care professionals of all specialties and if you would like to contribute your time and talent, please call the Volunteer Coordinator at (352) 732-9235.

The Marion County Health Department provides a broad range of services to the residents of the county, they includes:

• Immunizations
• Treatment and control of sexually transmitted disease, TB, and HIV/AIDS
• Prenatal care
• Family planning
• Treatment for minor acute conditions
• Nutrition services
• Dental services
• School health services

Volunteers of all talents are needed to support the day-to-day operations at several sites. Last year 20 volunteers donated 5,698 hours of their valuable time to the Health Department. The volunteers provided services from clerical support to direct patient care. If you are interested in volunteering, contact the Volunteer Coordinator at (352) 629-0137, ext.2080, Suncom 657-2080.