KAPA‘A — For those who have not taken advantage of the no cost health care services available at Tropic Care Kaua‘i, the Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training program ends at noon on June 20 at the Kapa‘a Middle School main clinic and at the Kilauea Elementary School satellite clinic.
“We’ve been pretty steady throughout,” a Kaua‘i District Health Office volunteer said. “At Kapa‘a for Tuesday, we’ve room for 500 people in each of the departments, including optometry, dental and medical. At this rate, we should be sold out in optometry by 2 p.m.”
Optometry and dental are the top two requested services, the satellite clinic at the Waimea Canyon Middle School selling out within the first two hours of opening last Friday. Additionally, Tropic Care Kaua‘i offers services in dermatology for the first time in six appearances on Kaua‘i, as well as mental health. A veterinarian is working with the Kaua‘i Humane Society for no cost spay and neuter.
According to the Tropic Care Kaua‘i Public Affairs Office, Tropic Care is projected for 1,854 visits at all three clinic sites through June 20.
The Tropic Care 233 health care professionals are doing 5,490 treatments, and will have spent 29,828 hours of training.
“This is pretty flexible, give or take a couple of people,” said U.S. Air Force TSgt. Laura Fitzmorris of the public affairs office team. “We take walk-ins.”
On Tuesday, distinguished visitors included Kaua‘i Health Director Dr. Janet Berreman. The visitors were provided a tour of the general Tropic Care health care offering, as well as the “T triple C” or Tactical Combat Casualty Care training where U.S. Coast Guard Kaua‘i Officer in Charge Petty Officer Michael McHugh was participating after working with Tropic Care personnel aboard one of the Nawiliwili boats.
Clinic hours for the Tropic Care clinics are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. On June 20, the clinics are scheduled to close at noon.
All services are on a first-come, first-served basis; attendees should be prepared to wait. The Kaua‘i Bus is also offering free fares through June 20.
