SC Mission

In August of 2010 and 2011, adults who don’t have access to health care services received free medical, vision and dental care during two-day clinics in Greenville and the Midlands.

The South Carolina Hospital Association, AccessHealth SC, the South Carolina Optometric Association, United Way, Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, hospitals in the Midlands and a host of other partners joined together to have the SC Mission events. Working together, licensed health practitioners provided dental, medical, and vision services to low income, uninsured adults on a first-come, first-served basis. Behavioral health services, sexually transmitted disease counseling, and patient education on the most common chronic health conditions were also available.

During both events, thousands of volunteers -- including physicians, nurses, dentists, optometrists, pharmacy and lab specialists, medical and nursing students, and lay persons -- participated in providing care to uninsured and underserved South Carolinians.

“There is an enormous unmet demand for health services among the low-income uninsured of our state,” said SCHA President and CEO Thornton Kirby.” Our goal is to provide assistance to those in need."

SC Mission 2010: Greenville and SC Mission 2011: Midlands partnered with hospital-based clinics, federally-qualified health centers and free clinics to encourage follow-up care, said Melanie Matney, AccessHealth SC executive director. “Beyond the care they received at the event, we wanted people to walk away with better avenues to continuing care,” said Matney. “Every South Carolinian needs a medical home where they can get consistent, proactive care rather than depending on the local hospital emergency room.”

Click here for additional information on SC Mission 2011.