CARES Medical Clinic

Pages in this Section

Providing free medical care while educating future leaders in healthcare.

CARES is a nonprofit, student-run organization that provides free medical care to uninsured residents of South Carolina. Since 2005, the CARES Clinic has been operated and managed by professional students of MUSC with direction and medical supervision from volunteer licensed medical providers. CARES has a dual mission of service to vulnerable populations and educating future generations of healthcare professionals; both aims converge on a vision of advancing health equity for all people while providing a high standard of care and addressing health-related social needs for all patients.

The CARES Medical Clinic has been awarded several distinctions, including multiple acknowledgements from the Medical University of South Carolina "MUSC Gives Back - University Wide Organization Community Volunteer Award for Student Organizations".

Additional patient resources.

Our impact extends beyond our clinic with these important initiatives and programs.

CARES for the Unhoused

CARES for the unhoused includes a primacy care clinic held at the Navigation Center, as well as a street medicine outreach program serving the Charleston area.

Pediatric Prevention Clinic

CARES Pediatric Prevention Clinic partners with the Charleston County School District to provide free vaccinations to uninsured or underinsured children.

Rural Outreach

CARES partners with Low Country Food Bank, St. Stephen Middle School, and community groups to provide health care and address health needs, like food insecurity.

Patient Resources

About CARES and what we offer.

Learn more about our commitment and how we are improving healthcare in our community.

Services We Provide:

Primary Care
Patient Education
Women's Health
Immunizations
Referrals
Specialty Nights

Mission Statement:

The CARES Medical Clinic is committed to providing quality healthcare at no cost to the underserved populations of South Carolina while educating future healthcare professionals through our service to these patients.

We aim to:

Offer primary care, preventive services, and referral options at no charge to uninsured adults through our clinic in Mount Pleasant, SC.
Expose students, early in their training, to the nuances of providing patient care to a population with diverse and ever-changing healthcare needs.
Foster interprofessional cooperation of students, healthcare professionals, and members of the community in addressing healthcare disparities.
Understand community healthcare needs through service to the underserved.

Eligibility

CARES Medical Clinic patients must meet the following eligibility criteria:

No active insurance (those insured under Medicare or Medicaid do not qualify)
18 years or older
Uninsured children under 18 years, if referred through our pediatric prevention clinic locations or partners