University of the Pacific’s pharmacy school is hosting free health care clinics throughout San Joaquin County during October and November to provide a variety of services to community members at no cost.
The Medicare Part D Outreach Clinics, provided by the university’s Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, are intended to help Medicare users save money on their prescription drug costs, help people better understand their prescriptions and their over-the-counter medications, as well as receive various health care screenings and services.
UOP professor Rajul Patel said Medicare patients have dozens of prescription drug plans to choose from so the clinic helps people look through all their plans based on the medication they take, which pharmacies they like to visit and other factors.
After evaluating the patients’ needs, the clinic helps patients find the lowest-costing plan.
UOP said they are expecting 150 to 250 people to attend the various clinics being held.
Upcoming clinics will be held Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the LOEL Senior Center located in Lodi, and Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Valley Mountain Regional Center in Stockton.
Next month’s free clinics will be held in Ripon, Tracy and Lodi.
Beginning Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., people can receive care at the Bethany Home, Town Square Campus located at 1350 Nikkel Way in Ripon. The next event will take place Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Tracy at the Lolly Hansen Senior Center.
The final clinic will be hosted at the Hutchins Street Square in Lodi on Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
According to the university, students from the pharmacy school under the supervision of faculty will offer diabetes testing, blood pressure measurement, cholesterol testing, bone-density testing, flu vaccines and other tests.
Another service being offered at the clinics is that attendees will be able to receive help with Part D plan review and enrollments by pharmacy students.
More information about the clinics and the services being offered can be found online.
Victoria Franco is a reporter based in Stockton covering San Joaquin County for Bay City News Foundation and its nonprofit news site Local News Matters. She is a Report for America corps member.
