RotaCare Free Clinic in San Jose helps the Latino Community

In Spanish, the term “Doctor or Medic” means a health care provider, who by knowledge helps the needs of a patient. A doctor, by this definition therefore has a great social responsibility to the people in the community.

In America, not everyone can access healthcare services because they either lack resources, cannot afford health insurance, or don’t know of programs or clinics that can help. RotaCare San Jose Clinic, is one of nine RotaCare facilities founded in 1989 by a Rotary Club in the Bay Area. It is a very unique organization as its medical service is free. Not only that, the clinic is run entirely by volunteers who are healthcare professionals from local communities.

La Oferta recently interviewed Dr. Manuel Pantiga, Co-Director of the RotaCare San Jose Clinic, who let us know that he “does not live to serve, but serves to live”.  It’s a phrase that describes the altruistic work of eight volunteer doctors who give free medical care to low-income and uninsured families in San Jose every Wednesday. 

LO: How did the idea for RotaCare start?  

Dr. P: It all started with a neurologist who was asked by a local Rotary Club to start this free medical clinic. It’s a great service to help those who cannot afford healthcare. The clinic didn’t have much resource at first as we counted on medicine surplus from other medical institutions. Overtime the clinic grew and expanded its capacity to serve people. And then I joined and became director of the clinic 14 years ago. Every Wednesday we see many patients, who are primarily Latinos. For those who might need special treatment we send them off to Valley Medical, where they can find financial help for the type of care they need.

RotaCare Free Clinic is supported by many community organizations and corporations like Cisco and Kaiser Permanente. Their donations help fund lab equipment, X rays, and medical supplies.

LO: What types of help that RotaCare Free Clinic provides? 

Dr. P: The Clinic provides general medical care to local San Jose residents, most of whom are Latinos.  It is important to mention that we do not look into the legal status of our patients. Everyone is welcome. The clinic has eight doctors who offer various expertises from ophthalmology to gynecology, internal, and general medicine. The majority of our patients are women and people with diabetes, hypertension, and various medical ailments.

LO: What has been the reaction of the Latino community to RotaCare Free Clinic?

Dr. P: It has been great. We get an average of about 40 patients on each Wednesday when the clinic is open. Sometimes we don’t have enough time to treat more people. Aside from the medical treatments we could provide, we also advise patients how to find alternative sources to finance major medical treatments. 

LO: What are the needs of the clinic? Any new projects in the future? 

Dr. P: We need more equipment for our lab. The number of our patients is constantly growing so often at times that the equipment falls short. We also need volunteers for our mobile clinic, which extends our services beyond just one day a week. Our community, especially Latinos, need a lot of help. To grow we need more doctors and nurses who could donate their time. They too would benefit from this work because it would help them become great humanists.  

LO: What is your opinion about the recently passed healthcare reform?

Dr. P: My opinion is that all people should have heath insurance. This is a great need in our community. The government should make a reform that benefits not just one group but also everyone in general. 

The RotaCare San Jose Clinic is located at 100 Oak Street, San Jose, CA 95111.

Hours are every Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Patients need to be in line outside of the clinic at approximately 2:00 p.m. to be signed-up by a volunteer. For more information call (408) 715-3088.