A Neil Diamond Tribute Supports Free Medical Clinic of The Ozarks with local Area Appreciation

Branson Entertainment “Diamond” & Medical Clinic Team Up for One Day to Raise Funds & Awareness for A New Free Medical Clinic of the Ozarks located in Branson.

Branson’s Neil Diamond Tribute Artist, Keith Allynn, will be hosting a Local Area Appreciation for his show, appropriately named, “A Neil Diamond Tribute”, Sunday, September 27th, 2009 at 5:00 pm. The Show is Free to Stone, Taney, Christian & Green County Residents with a donation for the New Free Medical Clinic of the Ozarks.

The Clinic is a free, nondenominational faith-based medical facility for people who have no medical insurance. The clinic opened on November 11, 2008 and is currently opened Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights between 6 and 9 pm to see patients by appointment. Monday night clinics are specialty clinics for orthopedics, gynecology, pediatric and respiratory patients. Since November, over 600 patients have been helped.

Each person sees a physician or nurse practitioner and receives their medical care and necessary medicines at no cost. Each person also has a visit with a trained lay chaplain who presents the gospel to everyone and prays with each patient for their specific needs.

Everyone serving at the clinic volunteers their time and talents. There are no paid employees. The volunteers include 21 doctors, 40 nurses, 16 lay chaplains and over 30 lay volunteers. Expenses of the clinic include monthly rental of the office, utilities and cost of generic drugs purchased from Lakeland and Wal-Mart Pharmacies. All of the clinic equipment and supplies have been donated.

Skaggs Hospital has been an integral part of our services by providing a paperless system and IT person to maintain all medical records through the clinic. As well as free lab and x-rays, which alone is an invaluable resource and cost savings to the patient and the clinic.

A Prescription Program for long term prescription needs is also in place for patients with Diabetes, Heart Disease, etc. Many drug companies have a free prescription plan available, but the hoops can be confusing and time consuming for patients. At the clinic a nurse assists patients in jumping through those hoops making the assistance quicker to receive.

Keith Allynn, known to fans as “The Diamond Image”, due to his close look & sound to Neil, is excited about raising both funds and public awareness for the Free Clinic. His show opened in late June at the Hall of Fame Theater in the Branson Mall, located next to Wal-Mart on Hwy 76.

His “Diamond Style” show is a 70 minute concert which tells the story of Neil’s life, (and some of Keith’s Life), through Neil’s songs. Favorites include, Cherry, Cherry, America, Play Me, Craklin’ Rosie and You Don’t Bring Me Flowers, (a duet which featuring Allynn’s wife, Diana Lynn) to name a few.

A Neil Diamond Tribute normally plays Tuesday – Saturday at 1:00 pm. This encore performance on Sunday, September 27th at 5:00 pm is for the area appreciation and filming of Allynn’s first DVD release. Many area entertainers and surprise guests will be in attendance. Allynn will end his first season on December 11th.

Doors open at 4:00 pm with general admission seating. Staff of the Clinic will be on hand to accept donations and provide information on becoming a volunteer or a patient.