(Long Beach, NY) – Douglas Melzer, CEO of the Long Beach Medical Center, is pleased to announce that the Medical Center has been awarded $450,000 in grant funds to continue primary care services for low-income and uninsured patients in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. These funds – $200,000 granted by the Robin Hood Foundation and $250,000 by AmeriCares – will help offset operating costs for the hospital’s Family Care Center, which was destroyed by 10 feet of flood water during the superstorm.
The Family Care Center has reopened at 761 Franklin Boulevard in Long Beach. It provides primary care for about 2,000 adolescents and adults each year. Nearly half of the patients who rely on its services are uninsured. Prior to the hurricane, the Family Care Center was funded by Long Beach Medical Center, but those funds are no longer available as the hospital undergoes more than $56 million in repairs to its mechanical, electrical and heating systems.
Photo: Dr. Lee Edwards examines a patient at the reopened Family Care Center.
“The Medical Center is grateful to have the support of AmeriCares and the Robin Hood Foundation,” said Melzer. “So many individuals have lost their health insurance in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. These funds will ensure access and continuity of care to local families as they recover from this disaster.”
The Family Care Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred. The Center offers a nominal fee for anyone without insurance and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, Affinity and Health First. For more information or to make an appointment, call 544-2351.
About AmeriCares
AmeriCares is a nonprofit global health and disaster relief organization that delivers medicines, medical supplies and aid to people in need around the world and across the United States. Since it was established in 1982, AmeriCares has distributed more than $11 billion in humanitarian aid to 164 countries. For more information, visit americares.org
About Robin Hood Foundation
The Robin Hood Foundation is New York’s largest poverty-fighting organization. It focuses on finding, funding and creating programs/schools that generate meaningful results for families in New York’s poorest neighborhoods. The Robin Hood Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund has granted tens of millions of dollars to organizations throughout New York’s tri-state region that help individuals and families recover from the devastating effects of the storm. For more information, visit www.robinhood.org
