Free Medical Care Available on Mondays for Sandy Victims

The North Shore-LIJ Health System Mobile Medical Van is at Camp Bulldog at Shore Road Park every Monday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. through the end of July to help Hurricane Sandy victims, thanks to a new grant.

Through its Project Coastal Care mobile health van, primary health care is offered by NSLIJ doctors, according to the Village of Lindenhurst's text messaging system (text VOL to 411247 for updates).

The Project Coastal Care van is staffed with at least one doctor, other healthcare professionals and a driver.

The van first visited Camp Bulldog on January 28, and on that day alone 42 patients were seen by the medical professionals, according to NSLIJ officials.

And from the time the program started back in November after Sandy through January, almost 900 people in Long Beach, Broad Channel and other locations have been treated.

Although the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy might be fading for some, there are still thousands affected around the area, said North Shore-LIJ on its Facebook page in January.

Since then NSLIJ van has continued helping and visiting Lindenhurst and other areas hit hard by the superstorm.

At the end of February NSLIJ received a $350,000 grant from The Robin Hood Relief Fund, allowing to Project Coastal Care continue into the Summer.

“We're proud to continue the work of our mobile medical van with the generous support of The Robin Hood Foundation," said Ira Nash, MD, medical director of the North Shore-LIJ Medical Group, which has been coordinating the health system’s Project Coastal Care mobile van efforts.

“We have already touched the lives of hundreds of people in the areas stricken by Hurricane Sandy, and look forward to being able to help provide basic medical services as these communities rebuild,” he said in a release.

The effort is being spearheaded by Maria Carney, MD, North Shore-LIJ’s director of community-based geriatrics and former Nassau County health commissioner.

“This is truly a humanitarian effort. For the people who live in these decimated communities, the medical infrastructure is almost non-existent,” she said in a release. “We’re fulfilling our mission to serve these storm-ravaged communites.”

The van provides free medical evaluations by NSLIJ doctors and nurses, primary and urgent care services, blood pressure checks, diabetes evaluation and prescription refills.

Staff is also available to respond to medical questions and concerns of local residents, and offer medical advice.

Flu (while available) and tetanus vaccines are also available from the mobile van’s medical team.

People could seek treatment for a variety of ailments, including maintenance of chronic and acute illnesses; upper respiratory infections and wound abrasions.

Patients are treated free of charge, and aren't asked for proof of insurance.

For more information about Project Coastal Care, residents could call 516-823-8370. See also the accompanying flier shared with Lindenhurst Patch by VOL Deputy Mayor Kevin McCaffrey.

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