HARROGATE, Tenn. - Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) hosted the third annual Remote Area Medical (RAM) Health Expedition on Saturday, providing hundreds of local residents with free medical, dental, optical and veterinary care.
Doors opened for patients at 6:30 a.m., and — as usual — people were already lined up outside. One couple from Oak Ridge showed up at the Phillips Veterinary Technology Center as early as 4:30 p.m. on Friday and camped all night to ensure they were there early enough for the veterinary services offered.
RAM offered free medical services such as specialist exams, osteopathic manipulations, diabetes screenings and education, cholesterol screenings, pulmonary function testing, pap smears, breast exams and medication assistance.
Some patients on Saturday were even able to receive mammograms and bone density screenings from the Resource Imaging Group who brought a motorized coach that was equipped with high tech machinery for both procedures.
The vehicle Resource Imaging Group is one of only two coaches existing in the United States that is equipped to perform both procedures.
This was the first time Resource Imaging Group has participated with the RAM Expedition at LMU and Jim Lindsay, Medical Director for Resource Imaging, said they were very pleased to be there.
Jim Venable, Chief of Staff at Southern College of Optometry (SCO) in Memphis, Tenn., four optometrists and 26 third and fourth year interns from SCO were also first time volunteers at this year’s RAM.
Venable, who is a native of Claiborne County, said LMU President Nancy Moody asked if SCO wanted to participate.
“This gives our students a wonderful opportunity to serve the community and practice on equipment outside the traditional office setting,” said Venable.
Venable and his colleagues, along with local optometrists and volunteers, provided complete eye exams to RAM patients. Glasses were also made and provided to some patients while on site.
Also volunteering for the first time at the RAM clinic at LMU was a group of Pre-Med and Pre-Dentistry students from Southern Virginia University.
Other volunteers included Lincoln Memorial University - Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) students and faculty, local citizens, physicians, opticians, and dentists.
Dr. Charles Tompkins, who volunteered to open his office to patients last year because there were not enough dental chairs, once again opened his doors to RAM patients. Dr. Tompkins and two to three other dentists and approximately five dental hygienists worked on RAM patients who were transported from LMU by shuttle to his office. Dental services that were offered included extractions, cleanings and fillings.
The veterinary section of RAM, which is only offered about ten times a year, provided free spay and neutering to approximately 300 cats and dogs to households with income levels of $15,000 or less. There were eight veterinarians volunteering on both Saturday and Sunday. Also volunteering were several members of the community and veterinary technician students from the Vet Tech program at LMU.
Since its founding in 1985, RAM has provided services at over 500 health expeditions both in this country and overseas. On average, the group conducts one exhibition per month in various communities throughout the Southeast. The organization was recently featured on the CBS News program 60 Minutes, which highlighted the work RAM is doing within the United States. For more information on RAM visit their official website at www.ramusa.org.
Staff writer Andrea Schneider can be contacted via e-mail at aschneider@middlesborodailynews.com.
Photo: RAM’s youngest volunteer, Hayden Wiselogle, came all the way from Indianapolis, Ind. with her mother and grandparents to help dispense eyeglasses. John Clester, Wiselogle’s grandfather, is in charge of the Lions International Eyeglass Recycling- Indiana Center, the largest eyeglass recycling center in the world. (ANDREA SCHNEIDER/ Middlesboro Daily News)
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