Lice Clinics of America’s Oregon Clinics Make Professional Head Lice Treatment Available for All
For Mark Meyer and George Macoubray, owners of Lice Clinics of America® treatment centers in Portland and Salem, Oregon, making professional lice treatment available to all community members, regardless of their income and ability to pay, “Just makes sense,” states Mark Meyer, owner of Lice Clinic of America.
“This is more than a business for our employees and us,” Mark said. “Most of us have been through the head-lice nightmare, and we’re here to help families with the fastest, most effective treatment available.”
In April, Mark and George were recognized by Lice Clinics of America with the company’s 2018 Community Outreach Award, given to clinic owners that demonstrate extraordinary service to their communities.
Lice Clinics of America is the exclusive provider of head lice removal services using the revolutionary AirAllé® medical device, an FDA-cleared device that is clinically proven to kill live lice and more than 99 percent of eggs (nits) using carefully controlled warm air to dehydrate the lice and eggs. The treatment takes about an hour and is guaranteed to be successful.
Mark and George are fortunate to have an anonymous donor who supplements treatment fees for people on Medicaid, making up the difference between the price of the treatment and what discount the clinic gives to those customers on Medicaid.
“Through this program we have helped about 20 people, including a homeless family living out of a car,” Mark said. “We’ve had mom’s crying in the clinic because we solved the problem they have been fighting for far too long. We also discount participants in the Oregon Health Plan and Apple Care (Washington), so that families can have a much more affordable treatment.”
Mark also reaches out to local schools and encourages school nurses to send families to the clinic regardless of their economic status. “We tell school nurses to send us any kids that are out of school because of lice, and we’ll take care of them,” Mark said. “We offer to take care of families much more than people and organizations take us up on our offer.”
The battle against head lice has gotten far more difficult in recent years as head lice have become immune to the chemical pesticides in the most popular lice products. The most recent study found that so-called “Super Lice” comprise 98 percent of head lice in most states. The pesticides used in lice products have also been linked to developmental and behavioral problems in children.
“We don’t want to see people waste their money and time using products that don’t work and can even have health risks,” Mark said. “Our solution is fast, effective, and safe, and we want to make it available to as many people as possible in our communities.”
With more than 300 clinics in more than 30 countries, Lice Clinics of America is the largest network of professional lice treatment centers in the world. The AirAllé device has successfully treated upwards of 1 million cases of head lice worldwide with a success rate better than 99 percent.