Seattle/King County Clinic brings together healthcare organizations, civic agencies, non-profits, private businesses and volunteers from across the state of Washington to produce a giant free health clinic at Seattle Center. The four-day, volunteer-driven clinic provides free dental, vision and medical care to anyone in the region who struggles to access and/or afford health care.
Once again, in the heart of Seattle, the 2024 Seattle/King County Clinic has taken significant strides in addressing health care disparities. This year's four-day clinic served more than 2,900 individuals, emphasizing the profound impact this has in the community.
Supported by our staff and specialty providers, we were delighted to connect patients with ophthalmology services. This year, we connected 66 patients to specialty care. Of those served, 43 were referred to Kaiser Permanente and 23 to the UW Eye Institute.
Additionally, for the first time, our Pro Bono Counseling team was onsite to provide behavioral health services. Collaborating with partners from City University, we offered counseling services to 49 patients onsite. These patients were also signed up for long-term counseling through our Pro Bono Counseling program.
The success of the Seattle King County Clinic owes much to the thousands of volunteers who created a welcoming and compassionate environment for patients in need. We extend special appreciation to the remarkable team of ophthalmology providers from Kaiser Permanente and UW who generously volunteered their time and expertise.
Reflecting on his volunteer experience, Project Access Northwest board member Bob Sims, MD, shared, "It was a very worthwhile experience seeing folks in need of medical, dental and vision care."
Project Access Northwest would like to thank Julia Colson, The Seattle Center, and everyone involved, year after year, for making this clinic a vital lifeline for so many in our community.