The West Virginia Association of Free Clinics (WVAFC), a nonprofit organization established in 2004, now has a Web presence to promote its health care services to the state’s uninsured and underinsured citizens, thanks to a collaboration with the NTTC.

The NTTC developed the Web site (http://www.wvfreeclinics.org) as an important first step to strengthening the free clinics’ network and enhancing its information technology infrastructure. These measures are essential elements to the HEALTHeWV initiative the NTTC will soon implement in rural health clinics throughout West Virginia, with the help of its project partners, the U.S. Air Force and Marshall University.

Dr. Mazharullah Shaik, HEALTHeWV program director, says the over-arching goal of the Web site project is to promote the free clinics at the grassroots level. “With the number of uninsured growing each year, the new Web site allows the West Virginia Association of Free Clinics to effectively promote and educate health care consumers, the general public and legislators about their available services and the significant contributions they make to the health and well-being of West Virginia’s uninsured citizens.”

Darwin Molnar, NTTC vice president of Wheeling operations, says the NTTC will also leverage the HEALTHeWV program to benefit NASA and its space program. “The experience we gain from the HEALTHeWV project will strengthen our competencies in health care and allow us to share best practices to benefit NASA’s occupational health care informatics program.”