Volunteer Doctors Provide Free Surgeries To Uninsured Patients At Kaiser San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— Thirty-three people without medical insurance received free surgeries Saturday at San Francisco's Kaiser Medical Center.

In its 19th year of service, Operation Access is a program where doctors and nurses volunteer their time and service.

One of those patients, Guadalupe Vargas of Pittsburg described through an interpreter of the painful bunions on her right foot.

Her interpreter said she had lost hope about walking correctly.

KCBS' Anna Duckworth Reports:

But hope for Vargas and a handful of others selected for the 'Super Saturday Surgery Session' was restored.

Ben Aune, Operation Access' CEO said typically the operating rooms are not being used Kaiser patients on the weekends.

He said about 100 volunteer nurses and doctors participated in the event.

Through partnerships with local community clinics and medical professionals, the non-profit has provided over 8,000 uninsured people with procedures ranging from hernia surgeries to colonoscopies since 1993.

Vargas said for her it's life changing for the better and is very thankful.

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