Central Florida's Only Free Heart Clinic for Uninsured is God-Send

Wanda Forbes was nearly three months into a new job when she suffered a heart attack. Doctors rushed Forbes into surgery and saved her life, but she faced new setbacks: She was uninsured and soon after laid off.

Forbes needed vital follow-up medical care, but without insurance or income she couldn't pay for medications or office visits. She went six months without cardiac care.

That was until her husband took her to the Trina Hidalgo Heart Care Center, the only clinic of its kind in Central Florida. The clinic provides free care to the uninsured suffering from cardiac conditions.

Since opening its doors in Orlando 10 years ago, more than 2,000 people have been treated at the Heart Care Center. Combined, they've made more than 21,000 visits over the years.

It's amazing. It's a God-send,said Forbes. I am just so grateful.

About 45 percent of the Heart Care Center's patients have heart failure a disabling condition with a 50 percent death rate within five years.

The Heart Care Center is a national model to ensure no heart failure or cardiology patient goes without medical treatment due to an inability to pay, while also reducing readmission rates and health care costs for all.

The team at the Heart Care Center, funded by Florida Hospital and the Florida Hospital Foundation, ensures patients are educated about their condition, linked to community resources and receive consistent care. The clinical team also makes sure patients are supported in other ways, such as with transportation to appointments.

We are called to extend the healing ministry of Christ not just in our hospitals, but in our community, said Kimberly Bell, assistant vice president of operations with Florida Hospital's Cardiovascular Institute. The Trina Hidalgo Heart Care Center is the perfect example of what happens when our community and other organizations come together and help our neighbors with life-saving health care that they otherwise could not afford.

The Trina Hidalgo Heart Care Center has been supported by Florida Hospital and through private donations, roughly $2 million has been provided through the Florida Hospital Foundation.

In honor of the 10-year anniversary of the Trina Hidalgo Heart Care Center, Cushman and Wakefield today announced a $125,000 donation to the Florida Hospital Foundation, earmarked for the center.

The Heart Care Center does so much for so many with so little, and we feel honored to support their efforts, said Jeffrey S. Sweeney, senior director at Cushman and Wakefield of Florida. Cushman and Wakefield is pleased to be part of a continued legacy of giving to those in need.