From: Nigel.Allen@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Nigel Allen)
Subject: Va. Attorney General Praises Volunteer Health Care Professionals
Organization: Echo Beach
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 22:53:02 GMT

Here is a press release from the Attorney General of Virginia.
 Va. Attorney General Praises Volunteer Health Care Professionals
 To: State and City Desks
 Contact: David A. Parsons of the Office of the Attorney General,
          804-786-2435

   RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 15 -- Attorney General Mary Sue Terry 
praised health care professionals Tuesday who volunteer their 
services at free clinics across the state.
   Speaking at the Free Clinic Conference sponsored by Blue Cross and
Blue Shield at the Richmond Hyatt, Terry called the burgeoning
network of free clinics in Virginia "one of the most successful
systems for the delivery of quality health care to the working poor
that this country has ever seen."
   "Your clinics often are the brightest lights of hope and help in
otherwise dark and dangerous neighborhoods.  Of the 32 million people
in this country with no health insurance, 880,000 live among us in
Virginia," Terry said.  "That's something we cannot tolerate.  That's
a problem that must be solved.  And as government has struggled,
often unsuccessfully, to deal with this problem, you've rolled up
your sleeves, gone to work, and done it yourselves."
   Senate Bill 499 was part of the attorney general's legislative
package adopted during the last session of the General Assembly aimed
at extending government's hand in the struggle to provide quality
health care for the working poor.
   Many health care practitioners were willing to volunteer their
services without compensation, but feared potential medical
malpractice liability.  Terry recognized the need for a change in
state law and acted.  At her direction, the office of the attorney
general proposed expanding liability protections that were in the
existing law and also applied them to health professionals who see
patients referred from free clinics in their own offices.
   "We set out to do what government could to remove them.  And now
that we have largely removed the liability obstacle to volunteerism
in your clinics, I'm proud to report that 857 professional volunteers
have registered with the state's Department of Risk Management to
work in your facilities and care for those that so desperately need
them," Terry said.  "We in the office of the attorney general look
forward to standing along side your doctors, nurses and other health
professionals when the quality of their care is questioned in the
courts.
   "Your success is best demonstrated by your attitude toward what
you are doing....It shows when you see that your success is
infectious -- new clinics are springing up all over Virginia.  In
Charlottesville, Rocky Mount, Galax, Bedford and in Prince William.
   "Your success is even infecting those who aren't health
professionals.  Lawyers are donating legal services to get your
businesses going.  Landscapes are making your facilities' exteriors
inviting, not only to patients, but to all who pass by.  In short,
everyone is working together to make it work."
 -30-

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