Venice : Clinic Visits on Rise

Patient visits at the Venice Family Clinic have increased by 77% compared to last year, according to executive director Fran Selzer.

The working poor, the unemployed and homeless children and adults received medical care without charge in 4,863 visits from July through September this year, compared to 2,752 visits for the same three-month period in 1984.

The clinic serves as the “family doctor” to low-income men, women and children from the West Los Angeles area, providing free medical care six days and four nights a week. From July through September, 55% more children under the age of 13 were treated, along with 80% more 20- to 44-year-olds and 65% more people 45 and older.

Despite the expansion in space and staff, the clinic still must turn away nearly 100 people a month, according to Selzer.