CATHOLIC CHARITIES HEALTH CARE CENTER, INC. (THE "CENTER") IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING FREE, COMPREHENSIVE CARE TO UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED INDIVIDUALS, WELCOMING ALL WITH DIGNITY, REGARDLESS OF RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION.SINCE OPENING ITS DOORS ON NOVEMBER 5, 2007, THE CENTER HAS PROVIDED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF FREE MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE VISITS WITH APPROXIMATELY 4,500 SUCH VISITS OCCURING EACH YEAR. NEARLY HALF OF THESE ANNUAL VISITS ARE PROVIDED TO PATIENTS WHOSE INCOME IS AT OR BELOW 250 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES, WHO CANNOT AFFORD HEALTH INSURANCE AND WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS SUCH AS MEDICAID OR MEDICARE. THE CENTER WAS DEVELOPED USING THE VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE MODEL, WHICH EMPHASIZES THE USE OF MEDICAL, DENTAL AND LAY VOLUNTEERS TO CARE FOR THE UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED WITHIN A CULTURE OF CARING, SO THAT EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY HAS ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE. APPROXIMATELY 4,500 VOLUNTEER HOURS ARE DONATED EACH YEAR TO THE CENTER, ENABLING THE CENTER TO EVOLVE INTO A SIGNIFICANT MULTI-SPECIALTY CENTER THAT PROVIDES A MEDICAL AND DENTAL HOME TO SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA'S UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED.
