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The new school year is underway in Central Florida, and 402 children are in their classrooms thanks to free back-to-school physicals they received from Shepherd's Hope. This year's physicals also identified 51 young patients who required specialty follow-up care ranging from otolaryngology (ENT), ophthalmology and cardiology.

It is the fifth consecutive year Shepherd's Hope has partnered with Nemours Children's Health System to offer free school physicals and other medical services for local uninsured and underinsured families. A grant from the Harper Family Charitable Foundation also helped fund this year's 10-day initiative.

The children needing specialty follow-up care were referred to Shepherd's Hope's Community Referral Provider Program (CRPP) for assistance. The CRPP gives sovereign immunity to volunteer physicians and other health care partners in the community who provide free specialty care services to Shepherd's Hope patients at their office or clinic locations.

"Hundreds of uninsured families every year rely on Shepherd's Hope for their children's school physicals. And each year, we also provide assistance to help many of these children who require specialty follow-up care," said Marni Stahlman, president and CEO of Shepherd's Hope. "Our ability to meet the essential health care needs of these families is only possible because of our partnerships with Nemours."

"We are honored to be part of a program that offers so many families the ability to start the school year off right," added Dr. Al Torres, Chief of Critical Care at Nemours Children's Hospital. "As a pediatric health system that is focused solely on children, we understand the importance of creating healthy habits early on in life."

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Shepherd's Hope is the leading voice for the uninsured and underinsured in Central Florida. Founded in 1997, the faith-based nonprofit organization provides free primary care and specialty care medical services to uninsured men, women and children from five free standing health centers in Orange and Seminole counties. In 2017, Shepherd's Hope provided 19,575 free patient visits and medical services thanks to partnerships with 2,800 licensed medical and general volunteers, 3 community hospital systems, 100 diagnostic/secondary providers and 23 multi-faith partners. To learn more, visit www.shepherdshope.org or call (407) 876-6699, ext. 228.

Nemours is an internationally recognized children's health system that owns and operates the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Del., and Nemours Children's Hospital in Orlando, Fla., along with outpatient facilities in six states, delivering pediatric primary, specialty and urgent care. Nemours also powers the world's most-visited website for information on the health of children and teens, KidsHealth.org and offers on-demand, online video patient visits through Nemours CareConnect.

Established as The Nemours Foundation through the legacy and philanthropy of Alfred I. duPont, Nemours provides pediatric clinical care, research, education, advocacy, and prevention programs to families in the communities it serves. To learn more about Nemours, visit http://www.nemours.org/welcome.html