Written by Chifen Lin
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Adriana DiBenedetto
The air was abuzz with vibrant energy as Tzu Chi volunteers in Orange County, California, held their first free medical outreach event of the year in Santa Ana. Here, Tzu Chi Medical Foundation volunteers joined hands to provide the local community with a variety of services, including dental care, vision care, Western medicine, and acupuncture. The day’s event attracted 61 patients.
The on-site operational flow was smooth, and the division of responsibilities was clear, demonstrating the team’s long-term, accumulated service experience and tacit understanding. Dedicated bilingual volunteers also assisted with on-site translation to ensure seamless communication among medical staff, patients, and community volunteers.
Service Upgrade: Introduction of Blood Testing
A highlight of this year’s free medical outreach was the inclusion of blood testing for the first time, making the medical assessment more comprehensive.
Dr. Jack Chiang, coordinator of this medical outreach event, shared that they have made a few adjustments this year. The first addition was the introduction of an online appointment system, so the team can know not only the number of patients in advance but also their needs. What’s more, this event marks the first inclusion of blood drawing services during Tzu Chi’s free community medical outreach to provide more comprehensive treatment.
“We put a Google form online so that patients can fill in basic information; they can also choose the department they want to see this time.” According to Chiang, blood draw could not be performed due to limitations in the past. “We were unable to draw blood because of some objective difficulties. But this time, I found that these difficulties have gradually been resolved,” he said. “Surprisingly, there were more patients requesting blood tests than I had expected. And that indicates a genuine demand.” A total of 24 patients had blood tests that day, with reports available in about 1 to 2 weeks. From there, follow-up treatment will be arranged according to the results.
According to Tzu Chi volunteer Wendy Kung, these free outreach services in Santa Ana have been ongoing since 2013. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, care was maintained without interruption through mailed medications, and by building a profound sense of trust with patients.
“Now that we have the ability to draw blood, the effects of the medication on patients can be seen more clearly, and we will have more specific data to provide a basis for subsequent treatment,” said Wendy Kung with satisfaction. “Overall, today went well; we drew blood from 24 patients. The patients were quite satisfied and happy during the process.”
Connecting Community Resources
Bilingual volunteers, too, played a key role on-site. One volunteer translator, Marlee George, shared that, “The reason that I came was because they needed help with translation from Spanish to English, and English to Spanish. My family and my husband came to help [and] see all the positive things that come out of helping the community.”
George mentioned that she assisted a patient who needed a tooth extraction that day, sharing, “He was super grateful. I got to see the impact it has on these people.” In addition, local volunteer Nathan Green also leveraged his network and invited friends to join the effort.
“I know very little Spanish, so I’m not a translator. But I know somebody who works in the community here in Orange County, California. So, I was able to talk to folks that I know who can translate and who can be helpful,” said Green.
It's rewarding to be part of a community of people that wants to give back and help others.
Green also noted the difficulty many locals face in accessing the services they need, whether due to gaps in healthcare coverage, barriers to language or transportation, and beyond. “So, having a program like this, which Tzu Chi brings in, it’s great,” he said. “It’s very valuable for the community so that people can have access to medical care.”
A Testament to Long-term Trust
This was the third time that Crispina Soriano had participated in the free clinic. She and her daughter arrived at 5:30 AM to queue up, hoping to obtain a pair of prescription eyeglasses.
“I really like the service here, whether it’s vision checks, dental care, or any other services offered, they are all very good,” Soriano shared. “These are a great help to the community, so I really enjoy coming here. I came here for vision care. You provided me with a lot of help. I am also very satisfied with your service philosophy.”
You have provided excellent service to the entire community, and I’m really grateful.
She also said that she hopes to invite friends in need of support to future events, expressing, “Every time you hold an event, I really want to bring more friends to show them the service here. Thank you so much for all the help and effort you have put in.”
Upholding Continuous Improvement
Tzu Chi’s free medical outreach in Orange County has continuously improved its service quality and efficiency, and hopes to continue doing so for many more years to come.
And indeed, the medical and volunteer teams stated that they will pursue further optimization and expand services to enable more people to receive timely and comprehensive care. By combining professional medical care with Tzu Chi’s humanistic spirit, events like these not only address physical ailments but also bring peace of mind and hope to the community.