Remote Area Medical (RAM) and Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge are partnering again to bring a free medical, vision and dental clinic to the Oak Ridge Recreation Center, 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike. People who need the free services will begin arriving in the parking lots before 11:59 p.m. Friday or earlier to be among the first in line for the free services.
Billy Edmonds, Free Medical Clinic executive director, has said it’ll be the “largest medical event in Anderson County’s history.” It is expected to surpass free RAM clinics held in past years at First Baptist Church in Clinton and the one held in Oak Ridge on Feb. 18-19, 2023.
Nurse practitioner Cathy Duncan sees a patient at Remote Area Medical’s pop-up clinic in Oak Ridge, Saturday Feb. 18, 2023.
The clinic will offer medical, dental and vision services, a way to get same-day eyeglasses, and an on-site pharmacy, Edmonds said in talking about this weekend’s clinic in a previous news story. He urged people to take their children and get their vaccines, as well as their sports physicals, which he said can be expensive.
All RAM services are free to anyone and and no ID is required. The parking lot will open no later than 11:59 p.m. Friday and remain open for the duration of the clinic. Once in the parking lot, patients will receive additional information regarding clinic processes and next steps, according to RAM information. Clinic doors open at 6 a.m., and services are offered on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached.
Sunday’s clinic will be open a shorter day – perhaps closing by 2 p.m. or earlier, according to a news release from the city of Oak Ridge – so patients are advised to arrive as early as possible.
Due to time constraints, patients should be prepared to choose between dental and vision services, but all patients will be offered general medical care.
The RAM clinic will offer free dental cleanings, dental fillings, dental extractions, dental X-Rays, eye exams, eye health exams, eyeglass prescriptions, eyeglasses made on-site, women’s health exams and general medical exams, according to a news release from the organization formed by the late Stan Brock, who was known by baby boomers for his appearances on Mutual of Omaha’s “Wild Kingdom” television show.
Why is this free clinic needed?
As Remote Area Medical explains in its information, basic healthcare is a challenge – or an impossibility – for millions of Americans.
Why?
“Due to geographic, economic, or cultural barriers, much of the U.S. population is uninsured or underinsured,” the RAM information stated.
Volunteers needed – medical personnel and non-medical
RAM is seeking volunteer medical, dental and vision professionals and general support staff for the clinic. General support volunteers are also needed on May 2 to help the clinic set up and on May 4 to take it down. Overnight parking volunteers to greet patients are also needed, and interpreters can volunteer to aid patients through the process, either in the parking lot or during clinic operations. Individuals do not need to work in the medical field to volunteer as general support, the release stated.
Those who would like to volunteer can email volunteers@ramusa.org and mention you’d like to volunteer in Oak Ridge this weekend.
Remote Area Medical (RAM) is a leading nonprofit organizationdedicated to providing free, high-quality healthcare services to those who face barriers to access.Through its pop-up clinics, RAM delivers essential medical, dental, and vision care to underserved anduninsured communities across the country. Since its inception in 1985, RAM has been committed toreducing pain and suffering by offering compassionate, no-cost care to those in need. Over the years,RAM has served more than 940,000 individuals through over 1,400 clinics, making a significant impacton public health and community well-being.
The Oak Ridger’s News Editor Donna Smith covers Oak Ridge area news. Email her at dsmith@oakridger.com and follow her on Twitter@ridgernewsed.
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This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Get free medical, dental, vision care in Oak Ridge this weekend