Having an injury or falling ill can be anxiety producing enough without having to worry about how on earth you are going to pay for medical care. For millions of recently unemployed (and thus suddenly uninsured) Americans, this fear has become reality and many families are desperately looking for a place to turn for health care.

28.7% of those surveyed by the National Research Corporation Ticker earlier this year, revealed that at least one member of their household had “deferred” medical care within the past month. 33% percent of that group said they did this because they were simply unable to pay for medical care. 15.1% said it was because the necessary medical or dental treatment was not covered by their existing health insurance plan. Fortunately, free clinics are beginning to pop up here in the states and around the world, to provide much needed medical and dental care to those in need who cannot pay for it.

In addition to providing medical care for those who need it the most, free clinics and similar charity run projects, are an excellent training ground for many different types of health care providers. Dental assistants are needed to care for long ignored tooth and gum problems in the poor, homeless and addicted.

While in most of these situations, the quick solution is an emergency extraction, a clinic staffed by volunteer dental assistants can provide more comprehensive dental care. Physician assistants are valuable in supplementing the primary medical role that physicians typically play in free clinics.  Medical assistants and phlebotomists are also valuable additions to free clinics.

This is all evidence of how a career in health care pays dividends far beyond a paycheck (although as recession proof jobs, health care paychecks are pretty accessible these days). Health care truly works when you can provide it to those who need it the most.