2011 program: more than 550 volunteer dentists, hygienists, optometrists, ophthalmologists, nurses, doctors and others from 20 states

THANK YOU Chicago!

CURE Network was established in July 2010 with the sole purpose of improving access to specialty medical care for underserved individuals. Dental, vision and other specialty medical care is out of reach for an estimated 1.9 million residents of Illinois who are uninsured. The face of the underserved has changed in recent years. No longer does it include only the poor and homeless individuals in our communities. Individuals and families don’t have access to the health care services they need due to job loss or insufficient coverage. Dental, vision and other medical services have become luxuries to many who just can’t afford the care.

CURE Network collaborates with existing health care providers who serve the uninsured or underinsured to address challenges in access to specialty care. Our goal is to provide some relief to an already stretched system of providers who either don’t offer dental, vision and other care or simply cannot keep up with the demand for these services. While we realize we cannot solve the access to care issue, our hope is to offer new opportunities for people in need of these health care services to receive them.

CURE Network’s first opportunity was August 19-21, 2011 at Malcolm X College when we hosted a Remote Area Medical® clinic and served nearly 2,000 people in great need of dental, vision and other medical screenings. More than 550 volunteer dentists, ophthalmologists, nurses and others (from 20 states) supported the three day program which offered dental services — cleanings, fillings and extractions—comprehensive vision screenings and eyeglass production and medical screenings including women’s health, bone density, diabetes and other services. In addition to offering services, CURE Network’s other priority is ongoing care. All participants were referred to provider options in their neighborhoods and encouraged to continue their care after the event. Surgical and non-surgical follow up care for vision patients with eyesight-threatening issues was coordinated through University Retina & Macula Associates, Access Community Health Center and the Illinois College of Optometry.

Dental Clinic		Medical Clinic		Vision Clinic
Total Patients Cleanings Extractions Fillings	1147 353 965 758	Patients seen by a Nurse in Triage Patients seen by Physician	1322 353 463	Total Patients Eyeglasses Made Frames Only/Prescription	772 428 332
Total Value of Donated Services = $827,920

Thanks to all our volunteers!